Oakland @ Los Angeles preview
Angel Stadium of Anaheim
Last Meeting ( Apr 10, 2013 ) Oakland 11, LA Angels 5
The Oakland Athletics’ Brandon Moss is showing little mercy against the Los Angeles Angels. He’ll try to maintain his incredible offensive pace against them on Thursday as the Athletics eye a three-game road sweep of the Angels and attempt to post their eighth straight victory. Moss – a career .251 hitter entering this season – is hitting .400 through nine games and has punished Los Angeles in two games this series, going 6-for-8 with two homers and nine RBIs.
The Angels’ Albert Pujols started off slow with one hit over his first four games, but has come alive recently. The nine-time All-Star went 4-for-4 with two doubles in Wednesday’s 11-5 setback and is 8-for-12 over his last four games. However, Los Angeles’ bullpen has largely negated his resurgence by surrendering 10 runs in this series. While the Angels’ relievers deserve their share of the blame for the team’s 2-6 record, Los Angeles has not helped itself by committing eight errors – tied for the most in the majors.
TV: 10:05 p.m. ET, Comcast SportsNet California (Oakland), Fox Sports West (Los Angeles)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Athletics RH A.J. Griffin (1-0, 3.00 ERA) vs. Angels LH Jason Vargas (0-0, 1.59)
Griffin started the team’s winning streak in last Thursday’s 8-2 home victory over Seattle after yielding two runs and seven hits over six frames. The right-hander, who is 4-1 with a 2.90 ERA in seven career road starts, dominated the Angels in his only career outing against them, allowing six hits over a career-high eight scoreless innings last September. Of the seven Los Angeles players that has faced Griffin, only Josh Hamilton (2-for-5) has logged more than four at-bats against him.
Vargas, making his Los Angles debut after he was acquired in an off-season trade from Seattle, pitched adequately in Friday’s 3-2 loss at Texas. He allowed one run and eight hits over 5 2/3 innings. The 30-year-old has done some of his best work in Angel Stadium, going 3-1 with a 2.27 ERA and 1.10 WHIP in seven appearances – six starts. Coco Crisp (12-for-33) has enjoyed the most success against Vargas, while Jed Lowrie (1-for-7) and Josh Reddick (4-for-18) have struggled.
WALK-OFFS
1. In 14 career games against Los Angeles, Moss is 15-for-44 with five homers and 14 RBIs.
2. The Angels went 2-for-16 with runners in scoring position Wednesday and have left 26 runners on base over the first two games of this series.
3. The Athletics have won their first five road games for only the second time in 22 years
PREDICTION: Athletics 8, Angels 5