Oakland @ Los Angeles preview
Angel Stadium of Anaheim
Last Meeting ( Jul 20, 2013 ) Oakland 0, LA Angels 2
The Oakland Athletics hope their bats awaken from a two-week slumber as they visit the Los Angeles Angels on Sunday with hopes of avoiding a three-game sweep. Oakland has been fortunate to maintain its two-game lead over the second-place Texas Rangers in the American League West as it has scored a total of one run in losing the first two contests of the series against Los Angeles. The Athletics have produced three runs or fewer in each of their eight games following a 10-4 road triumph over the Kansas City Royals on July 7.
Alberto Callaspo homered and C.J. Wilson teamed with Ernesto Frieri for a 2-0 shutout victory Saturday. It was the fourth consecutive home win for the Angels, who climbed within nine games of the Athletics in the AL West. Los Angeles slugger Albert Pujols has gone 4-for-8 with a solo home run over the first two games of the series and Josh Hamilton has driven in a run in each contest.
TV: 3:35 p.m. ET, CSN California (Oakland), FSN West (Los Angeles)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Athletics RH Bartolo Colon (12-3, 2.70 ERA) vs. Angels RH Jerome Williams (5-5, 4.60)
Colon has gone 9-1 over his last 12 starts, allowing three runs twice and two or fewer in each of the other 10 outings. The 40-year-old Dominican settled for a no-decision against the Boston Red Sox on July 14 despite yielding only two runs over 6 1/3 innings. Colon is 10-6 in 21 career outings versus the Angels, but has yet to face his former team this season.
Williams dropped to 0-3 in his last six starts after surrendering six runs in just 3 1/3 innings against the Mariners in Seattle on July 12. It was the longest performance in the last three outings for the 31-year-old, who has worked a total of eight frames in that span. Williams is 3-3 in 11 career games versus the Athletics, including three relief appearances in April.
WALK-OFFS
1. Athletics LF Yoenis Cespedes has missed two straight games with a sore left wrist.
2. The Angels recalled INF Tommy Field from Triple-A Salt Lake and designated INF Brendan Harris for assignment prior to Saturday's contest.
3. Oakland continues its six-game road trip Monday at Houston before returning home to host a four-game series against Los Angeles that begins Thursday.
PREDICTION: Athletics 5, Angels 2