INSIDE PITCH
When the Angels and Rangers parted company nine days ago, the Rangers had just taken two of three in a series in Texas to pump their lead up to three games over the Angels in the AL West.
The Angels took heart in the fact that they would play two last-place teams over the next 10 days—the Mariners (seven times) and Twins (three times)—while the Rangers had to play the Rays and Red Sox, with most of those games on the road.
It hasn’t worked out the way the Angels hoped. Los Angeles has gone just 5-4 against the Mariners and Twins after a 2-1 loss to Seattle on Tuesday. Meanwhile, the Rangers have gone 5-3, adding a half-game to their lead.
“Every time it looks like we’ve slipped a little too far back, we win a few and they lose a few,” Angels right-hander Dan Haren(notes) said. “We’re going to need to put on a little bit of a run here with 20 games or so left.
“The offense has picked it up lately even though the pitching has taken a step back. If we put those two things together for the last three weeks, hopefully we can win a lot of games.”
Haren didn’t mention the defense, and that was the area that cost the Angels on Tuesday. Los Angeles made four errors in the game, two of them leading directly to unearned runs for the Mariners. Meanwhile, Seattle ace Felix Hernandez(notes) was shutting down the Angels’ offense.
“We’re in this thing,” Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. “This certainly didn’t eliminate us tonight. Any time you lose ground to the team you’re chasing, the challenge gets a little steeper. But in the next three, four days, we could be right back where we want to be.”
NOTES, QUOTES
• SS Erick Aybar(notes) was hitless in four at-bats Tuesday, snapping his career-high hitting streak at 15 games. Aybar also made a costly error in the game, one of four by the Angels that led to two unearned runs for the Mariners in Seattle’s 2-1 win.
• RHP Ervin Santana(notes) took the loss Tuesday despite giving up no earned runs. The Mariners scored two unearned runs off him in his six innings. The start was the 200th of Santana’s career. In his past 11 starts at Angel Stadium, Santana has a 2.28 ERA (23 earned runs in 90 2/3 innings).
• Rookie RHP Garrett Richards(notes) made his first relief appearance as a professional, allowing two singles in a scoreless seventh inning Tuesday. The Angels’ need for bullpen depth behind setup man Scott Downs(notes) and closer Jordan Walden(notes) could lead them to try Richards in that role down the stretch despite his inexperience. He did spend one year as a closer at the University of Oklahoma.
• The Angels added two players from Class AAA Salt Lake, INFs Alexi Amarista(notes) and Gil Velazquez(notes). Amarista appeared in 20 games with the Angels earlier this season, going 7-for-48 (.146). He hit .292 in Class AAA. Velazquez appeared in nine games with the Red Sox over the 2008 and 2009 seasons. This season, he hit .328 and was named to the Pacific Coast League All-Star team with Salt Lake.
• RHP Jerome Williams(notes) is scheduled to start Wednesday against the Mariners. He has made five appearances for the Angels since being promoted from Class AAA Salt Lake in August. Two of those have been starts, and he is 2-0 with a 3.21 ERA, including a victory over the Mariners last week in Seattle.
By The Numbers: 46—Times the Angels have been held to two runs or fewer this season through Tuesday, their 142nd game.
Quote To Note: “I knew it was going to be a close game. One of us has to lose. We made a lot of mistakes. They didn’t. That was the difference.”—Angels RHP Ervin Santana, on losing 2-1 to the Mariners and RHP Felix Hernandez on Tuesday.
ROSTER REPORT
Medical Watch:
• RHP Francisco Rodriguez (right shoulder inflammation) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to May 10, and he was transferred to the 60-day DL on Aug. 10. He will treat the problem with rest and rehab.
• 1B Kendrys Morales(notes) (fractured left ankle) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 22. He was never able to progress to running the bases in workouts, let alone playing in games during spring training or on a rehab assignment. He had a second surgery on his ankle May 26 to address continued discomfort and lack of mobility. Morales, who was transferred to the 60-day DL on July 20, will not play until the 2012 season.
Rotation:
RHP Dan Haren
RHP Ervin Santana
RHP Jerome Williams
Bullpen:
RHP Jordan Walden (closer)
LHP Scott Downs
RHP Garrett Richards
Catchers:
Infielders:
SS Erick Aybar
Outfielders: