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vs.


OAKLAND -- There's still tomorrow.

The Angels are hanging on, barely, and are still a mathematical factor in an American League West race that is essentially over but has yet to be decided officially.

So despite taking a 5-4 loss from the A's on Friday night and seeing their number to elimination whittled to two games in a division they've won the last two years, the Angels can still come to the park on Saturday as something other than mere caretakers for the remaining games on the schedule.

The Angels' number to elimination in the AL Wild Card was also reduced to two games, and the club is eight games back of the A's with just nine games left in the regular season.

"Our backs have been against the wall for a while, and we have to get on a roll and have to continue on a roll," manager Mike Scioscia said. "We have to come out tomorrow. Our guys won't quit."

It was a game in which both sides had their chances to win, but squandered opportunities. Despite hitting three homers, the A's committed two mental errors in the ninth inning with the second resulting in the tying run scoring for the Angels.

An inning earlier, Scioscia allowed Jered Weaver to start the eighth even though the rookie had already logged 102 pitches. Milton Bradley followed with a two-out, tie-breaking solo homer that briefly gave the A's a lead.

Full Article: Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim : News : Los Angeles Angels News

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la_faker_81



GO ANGELS

Well he's kind of had it in me ever since i accidentally ran over his dog. Actually, replace "accidentally" with "repeatedly" and replace "dog" with "son".

la_faker_81

OAKLAND -- John Lackey had one thought in mind when he took the mound Saturday afternoon: not on his watch.

The A's were poised with their thumbs on the champagne corks and the taste of their first division crown in three seasons beginning to form in their mouths, but Lackey had other plans.

Known for a fiery spirit and the ability to twirl a gem, Lackey briefly flirted with a no-hitter as the Angels put a little pride on the line and posted a 6-2 victory over the A's.

As two-time defending titlists in the American League West, the Angels know a little bit about celebrations, and they're equally familiar with making a mess of the visitors' clubhouse at McAfee Coliseum. They've clinched the division title the last two seasons on the A's home field.

"That is kind of a pride thing; it was a motivational thing going where I didn't want to watch [the celebration] on my day," Lackey said. "We're mathematically alive and if we're going to go down, we're going to go down fighting."

The win helped the Angels avoid elimination from this year's playoffs for at least one more day, as the A's magic number remained at two. The Angels also remain mathematically alive in the AL Wild Card race behind the front-running Twins.

Providing Lackey with sufficient backup was an Angels offense that collected 10 hits on the sunny and cloudless afternoon, featuring a strong wind blowing in from left field that knocked down a number of fly balls and kept everything in the park.

Full Article: Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim : News : Los Angeles Angels News

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la_faker_81



GO ANGELS

Well he's kind of had it in me ever since i accidentally ran over his dog. Actually, replace "accidentally" with "repeatedly" and replace "dog" with "son".

la_faker_81

OAKLAND -- The Angels can only begin to dream, but the what-ifs are slowly becoming more plausible.

Such as, what if they continue playing loose and winning baseball, while the A's feel the increasing pressure of the pennant race?

Or, what if the A's join the ranks of the clubs that have suffered monumental collapses like the '64 Phillies or the '87 Blue Jays or even the '95 Angels?

Intriguing questions all, but the Angels aren't biting.

"We can't worry about that. We have to worry about Texas and we have to think about Texas," Angels center fielder Chone Figgins said of their upcoming series. "As a team, we know we're going to go down fighting, but we have to worry about ourselves and not what [the A's] are doing."

The Angels have certainly done a good job letting their opinions known about the race for the American League West by winning the past two games against the A's, with Sunday's coming in the form of a no-doubt, 7-1 rout.

Maicer Izturis drove in two runs with a triple, and Vladimir Guerrero hit a two-run homer, while Ervin Santana was brilliant.

Full Article: Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim : News : Los Angeles Angels News

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la_faker_81



GO ANGELS

Well he's kind of had it in me ever since i accidentally ran over his dog. Actually, replace "accidentally" with "repeatedly" and replace "dog" with "son".