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Banged-up Angels tackle Twins

Apr 18, 2009 - 6:21 AM By Mike Lipka Stats Writer

LA Angels (4-6) at Minnesota (5-7), 7:10 p.m. EDT

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- In what has already been a tragic season for the Los Angeles Angels, two more crippling injuries and a devastating loss are merely the latest roadblocks.

One night after the team blew a late five-run lead and found out Vladimir Guerrero will miss at least a month, the hobbling Angels try to rebound Saturday night when they continue their weekend series against the host Minnesota Twins.

Los Angeles' season was permanently marred by the death of rookie pitcher Nick Adenhart, who was killed in a car accident April 9, hours after throwing six shutout innings against Oakland.

The season hasn't gotten any easier for the reigning AL West champions, who were already missing injured pitchers John Lackey, Kelvim Escobar and Ervin Santana. Dustin Moseley, who had been off to a strong start in the team's makeshift rotation, left Friday's game after three innings with elbow stiffness.

Before the series opener, the Angels (4-6) placed Guerrero on the disabled list with a torn muscle in his chest, an injury that will likely sideline the former AL MVP until at least late May.

"It's part of baseball," third baseman Chone Figgins said. "That's why you have guys in the minor leagues. That's why you have guys on the bench. They help the team get the team on track."

Los Angeles' 11-9 loss in Friday night's series opener at the Metrodome added insult to the injuries, as manager Mike Scioscia's club led 9-4 before three different relievers allowed seven runs in the bottom of the eighth inning, capped by Jason Kubel's grand slam.

The Minnesota left fielder hit for the cycle and drove in five runs in the win, which came after the Twins (5-7) trailed for the 12th straight game to start the season.

"To come back and get that win after being down like that, that's exactly what we talked about last night," Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said. "There's no quit. These guys are going to play. It's a nine-inning ballgame, and they played a full nine."

Pitching has been the main problem for Minnesota, which has allowed 30 runs in its last three games. On Saturday night, Kevin Slowey (1-0, 7.94 ERA) will try to rebound from a pair of poor starts.

Slowey has allowed 22 hits in 11 1-3 innings this season, including a career-high 13 in 5 1-3 innings Monday against Toronto. The right-hander gave up five runs and two homers but didn't receive a decision in the Twins' 8-6 loss, and is still looking to recapture the strong form he showed during spring training.

"I'm sure I'll go back these next couple of days and go back to look at what I was doing then," Slowey said Monday. "But there's nothing that I can think of now where I can say I was doing this in spring and I'm not doing it now."

Slowey faced the Angels twice in 2008, with his lone decision - a loss - shortened by a biceps injury.

Normally a reliever, Darren Oliver (0-0, 2.45) will step in for Los Angeles' banged-up rotation Saturday in Adenhart's spot.

The left-hander has not started a game since 2004, when he had a 6.90 ERA in 10 starts for Florida and Houston. Oliver was 7-1 with a 2.88 ERA out of the bullpen last year, allowing one run in five innings against the Twins.