Scuffling A's turn to Anderson in finale vs. Angels

Share

May 26, 2011

A'S (23-27) vs.
LA ANGELS (26-25)

Coverage begins at 12:30 P.M. on Comcast SportsNet California

ANAHEIM (AP) -- Another start and another chance at a milestone win for Joel Pineiro.

He tries again to get career win No. 100 Thursday as the Los Angeles Angels look to take three of four from the struggling Oakland Athletics.

Pineiro (2-0, 2.67 ERA) will make his third attempt at reaching the century mark, and pitching at Angel Stadium against Oakland (23-27) could provide the best chance for doing so.

Since joining the Angels (26-25) at the start of last season, Pineiro is 1-0 with a 0.56 ERA in two starts versus the A's in Anaheim. That included a four-hitter in a 4-0 victory May 16, 2010.

Pineiro, who missed much of the season's first month with a tight shoulder, didn't get a decision in the Angels' 5-4, 10-inning loss in Oakland on May 16.

Returning home to face Atlanta on Saturday, Pineiro has his poorest outing of the year, giving up four runs and 11 hits in 6 1-3 innings of the Angels' 5-4 loss in 12.

"It is just one of those days. You want to be out there as long as you can," he said.

Brett Anderson (2-4, 3.18), who opposed Pineiro earlier this month, will be looking to end his own dry spell.

The left-hander is 0-3 with a 5.04 ERA in five starts since defeating Seattle on April 24. Anderson, though, should not shoulder all of the blame as the Athletics' offense has backed him with only seven runs.

On Saturday in San Francisco, Anderson was efficient in allowing a run and five hits through five innings. However, Oakland was limited to three hits in a complete game by two-time NL Cy Young Award winner Tim Lincecum in the 3-0 loss.

Anderson is 0-1 with a 5.84 ERA in two career starts at Angel Stadium.

Gutierrez: Image, not communication, is A's problem

With a 4-1 victory Wednesday, Los Angeles evened the season series with Oakland at four games apiece.

Torii Hunter and Alberto Callaspo hit back-to-back solo homers to begin a three-run sixth inning, and Ervin Santana outpitched Trevor Cahill to hand the A's ace his second loss in three games following five straight wins.

Hunter has driven in at least one run while going 9 for 22 over his last six games. He had been in a 1-for-24 slump that dropped his batting average to .218.

"I'm just trying to settle in and stay focused. Just stay short, sweet, and try to hit the ball hard somewhere," said Hunter, who is 5 for 11 with a homer off Anderson.

Coco Crisp drove in the only run Wednesday for Oakland, which will now try to avoid its eighth loss in nine games since ripping Los Angeles 14-0 on May 17.

"I don't know if it's so much that we're pressing, because we haven't really hit the ball that great all year," the A's Ryan Sweeney said. "I think once everyone starts hitting, then we'll be able to take it to that next level."

Oakland is in the bottom third of the majors with a .237 batting average.

Contact Us