Angels Report 7/16

Anaheim Angels 54-38

LATEST TEAM INFO

Since the All-Star break the Angels are 3-3. They broke a three game loosing streak tonight on the hot arm of Jarrod Washburn. The Angles are still on the Seattle Mariners tail, only three games out of first place. But the Oakland A’s are tied with the Angles in second place. One of these teams can come out of the next couple weeks with a nice lead in the AL West. They all end up playing each other in a couple series in the weeks to come. If the Angels want to make a run at the playoffs then this is the time they need to step up their play. The schedule for the Angles gets very hard and if they really want to show people that they are for real, now is the time to do it. They start with a series at Oakland, they play Seattle at home, and then Oakland comes to Anaheim and then the Angles travel to Seattle and after that they play Boston and New York at home. Those are the three best team in the AL and they need to play like they belong if they want to make the playoffs.

Recently, in the two losses to the Kansas City Royals and the one loss to the Minnesota Twins, Angels pitching have been hammered. In the three games the Royals and Twins scored 26 runs. The majority of the damage was done against Ramon Ortiz and Scott Schoeneweis, who came into relief of John Lackey. In the three losses Angles hitters only compiled 11 runs, against Paul Byrd, Miguel Asencio, and Johan Santana.

The Angles have had some hard hits to their bullpen lately. Al Levine, Troy Percival, and Dennis Cook are all on the DL. With the strength of the up coming schedule the Angles are going to have to buckle down and just play. Their bullpen was not the strongest when at full strength. Now they have a big disadvantage. They will defiantly have to go out and get another arm to keep the bullpen somewhat intact and if they want to keep in this playoff hunt.

PLAYER UPDATES

Bengie Molina- He is day-to-day with a strained hamstring. If you have a more viable option behind the plate, go with him.

Brad Fullmer- He as been loosing at bats with addition of Wooten to the lineup.

Adam Kennedy- There is nothing new going on here. He is still not producing like he is wanted to.

David Eckstein- He was beaned Friday to take the league lead with 13. He is ahead of last year's pace, when he was hit 21 times.

Troy Glaus- He has one extra-base hit in his last 20 games. He is hitting .194 in that stretch, with 20 strikeouts in 62 at-bats. As an up side he is batting .421 with four RBI in the last seven days.

Garret Anderson- He as been the only source of power for the Angles so far this second half. Over the last seven days he is only batting .217 with two home runs and six RBI.

Darin Erstad- He had an infected blood blister on his foot drained Tuesday morning. He was not in the starting lineup on Tuesday against Minnesota.

Tim Salmon- He has started the second half pretty slow. Over the last seven days he is batting .300 with zero home runs and only one RBI.

Scott Spiezio- He is now in a platoon at first base with Shawn Wooten. In his last five games he is batting .250 with no home runs and three RBI.

Shawn Wooten - His solo shot against the Royals was the only run scored in Anaheim's victory Thursday. Wooten doesn't have a regular spot with the club, but manager Mike Scioscia will find a way to get him in games.

Aaron Sele- In his last start he pitched six innings and gave up eight hits and four runs in the loss.

Ramon Ortiz- He had his worst outing of the year Sunday. He allowed nine runs in two innings as his ERA rose from 3.21 to 3.80. Raul Ibanez hit a grand slam and a three-run home run off Ortiz.

Kevin Appier- In his last start he gave up five hits and three earned runs in an Angels win.

Jarrod Washburn- The 27-year-old right-hander has not lost since April 13, going 11-0 with a 2.58 ERA in 15 starts since then. Washburn shut down the Twins 4-2 Tuesday for his 11th straight victory

Dennis Cook - He has a suspected torn labrum in his shoulder, and an examination Monday should determine when, or if, he can return this season.

John Lackey- Lackey was let down by the bullpen, but has allowed less than three earned runs and has pitched six innings or more in each of his four starts.

Scott Schoeneweis- He will share time in the closer role with Troy Percival sidelined. He allowed five runs in two innings in a loss on Monday.

Al Levine- He is expected to pitch on a rehab assignment Tuesday and Thursday to strengthen his shoulder.

Troy Percival- A Foot infection as put him on the DL. An examination Sunday confirmed that the infection had reached the Achilles' tendon and would take some time to heal

INJURY REPORT

Dennis Cook - An injured shoulder chased lefty reliever Cook to the 15-day disabled list on July 13. An exam Monday revealed a partially torn rotator cuff and torn labrum. The fiery veteran balked at surgery and has opted to rehabilitate his left shoulder.

Al Levine - He has been out nursing a tender shoulder since June 28. He began a rehab assignment on July 15, and hopes to be activated before July 21.

Troy Percival - An infection in his left foot landed closer Percival on the 15-day disabled list July 14.

On the Farm

With Percival on the 15-day disabled list, a spot on the roster opened up for pitcher Matt Wise to be recalled from Triple-A Salt Lake.

INSIDE THE SERIES

Angles v. Royals

In a four game set with the Kansas Royals the Angels won two and lost two. The Royals out scored the Angles 19 runs to 15. Angles pitchers did not come to play in the first series after the All-Star break.

In game one the Angels won the game 1-0. They got another great pitching performance from Jarrod Washburn. He earned his tenth strait victory. In his first game off the DL, Shawn Wooten drove in the only run. He went 2 for 3 in the game.

In game two the Angles opened it up and scored 11 runs on the Royals. Anderson hit two home runs with three RBI and Scot Spezio went 2-5 with three RBI. Appier earned the win pitching six innings giving up three earned runs with five k's.

In the third game the Angles lost the game 4-0. Combined Erstad and Glaus went 0-7. Sele got the loss pitching a solid game giving up four runs in six innings pitched.

Game four was the worst outing of the season for Ramon Ortiz. He pitched only two innings in an Angles 12-3 loss. He game up seven hits and nine earned runs. Salmon went 2-3 and Glaus went 2-4 with an RBI.

Angels v. Twins

In the two game set the Angels won one and lost one. In the loss the score was 10-8 and in the Angels win the score was 4-2.

In game number one Angles pitcher got lit up for 10 runs. John Lackey pitched a good game. He pitched six innings and gave up three earned runs. The game was lost when Scott Schoeneweis came out of the bullpen. He pitched two innings and gave up five earned runs. Angles hitters hit the ball real well scoring eight runs. Troy Glaus went 3-3 with two RBI. Shawn Wooten went 1-4 and drove in two runs.

In game number two Washburn earned his 11th straight victory. He pitched six innings gave up two earned runs and struck out four. Garret Anderson hit a home run in the fourth inning and drove in two runs.

QUICK VIEW

Bengie Molina (DROP) - If there is a better option at catcher, then drop Molina.

Shawn Wooten( ADD) - He is a good hitter and as get gets in season form he will be getting lots of at-bats.

Scott Schoeneweis (ADD) - Add him here only if you are in need of some saves. He is will be getting save opportunities with Percival on the DL.

Troy Percival (HOLD) - Even though he is on the DL do not drop him. He will be back and he will be closing games again real soon.

PITCHING MATCH-UPS

Jul. 17: Ana - Appier (7-7) Oak - Hudson (7-7)
Jul. 18: Ana - Sele (7-6) Oak - Zito (12-3)

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