la_faker_81

ANAHEIM -- The class of '02 got together for a bit of a pitching clinic Thursday night.

John Lackey and Francisco Rodriguez, who both came up with the Angels during the 2002 season and helped the club win its only World Series title, teamed up to silence the A's in a game that was mostly about pride but partly about personal achievements.

Lackey struck out a career-high 11 batters, and Rodriguez equaled a franchise record with his 46th save in a 2-0 shutout of the A's to open their last series of the regular season.

Rodriguez pitched the ninth to match Bryan Harvey's team mark set in 1991

"We go back a ways," Lackey said of Rodriguez. "It is good to see; I'm happy for him."

The Angels can reach the 90-win plateau for the third straight year and fourth time in Mike Scioscia's tenure as manager of the ballclub with a sweep of the A's, who are looking to rest up for a first-round playoff matchup against the American League Central Division winner, either the Tigers or Twins.

Vladimir Guerrero appeared as the designated hitter on Thursday after a one-game absence and singled in the bottom of the first inning. It was Guerrero's 200th hit of the season, marking the fourth time he's eclipsed the mark in his career and making him the fourth Angel to do so. He also became the first player in franchise history to reach at least 200 hits in a season twice.

"They've had some incredible offensive players here," Scioscia said. "He is in elite company."

After holding a press conference to officially announce his retirement, Tim Salmon went in to pinch-run for Guerrero in the first. He walked twice and struck out once in three plate appearances before being pulled for pinch-runner Jeff Mathis in the eighth. Salmon also nearly hit his 300th career home run in the sixth when he pulled a pitch to left from Barry Zito, but it curled just outside the foul pole.

The A's rested a number of starters on Thursday night. Frank Thomas, Nick Swisher, Jason Kendall and Eric Chavez all sat out the series opener but as Lackey pointed out, one of his 10-strikeout games was against the A's at full strength.

In fact, not only did Lackey fan 10 on July 7 in Oakland, he tossed a shutout that was a leadoff double shy of a perfect game.

Lackey also had success against the A's in his last start, when he allowed two runs over seven innings, and the big right-hander was looking to end his season on a high note. He got ahead in the count most of the night and tossed 107 pitches over eight innings.

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

ANAHEIM -- If only this string of games had meant something.

So strong was the belief they would be a factor at the end of the year, the entire clubhouse had circled the closing stretch of the schedule when the Angels would play the A's in seven of the final 10 games, including the last four.

But Oakland rendered the issue moot when it clinched the division in Seattle on Tuesday as the Angels endured a tough loss to the Rangers that effectively ended their season.

Proving a bit of a point, the Angels handed their division rival its second straight shutout as they blanked the A's, 6-0, on Friday for their second win in the series with two games remaining.

Tim Salmon started at designated hitter and went 2-for-4 with an RBI and Chone Figgins hit an inside-the-park homer while Ervin Santana tossed seven scoreless innings for his second straight win -- both over the A's.

That ensured the Angels of winning the season series against the A's for the third straight year and earned some respect in the process.

"Well, we're hitting .170 off this team, so that's part of it," said A's manager Ken Macha. "They have the best pitching staff in the league. That over there is a playoff team. That's why you play guys 35 days in a row."

Macha was referring to the strong push the A's made in the title drive as they focused on not only winning the American League West but also hoped to avoid a showdown with the Angels in the final weekend. It was the Angels that eliminated the A's the last two seasons to win the division.

Santana came into Friday's game with a 5-1 career mark against the A's, including the victory in his last start, when he held the A's to a run over eight innings to keep the Angels' thinning playoff hopes alive.

He stepped up that effort by shutting the A's down on three singles and three walks while pitching efficiently. Santana (16-8) struck out two as he eclipsed the 200-inning plateau for the first time in his career and continued to improve his stock.

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

ANAHEIM -- On a night when the most famed Angel made his final stand in right field, another made a lasting imprint as its best closer.

An imprint that was finalized the same way Francisco Rodriguez made his first footprint in the Major Leagues, with the strikeout.

Rodriguez became the first Angels closer to reach 47 saves in a season on Saturday in the Angels' 7-6 victory over the A's. And he did it the same way he captivated the country throughout the 2002 playoffs, by striking out the side.

The reliever will lead the Major Leagues in saves for the first time in his young career. With a devastating slider, Rodriguez always has been able to dominate opposing batters, but never more so than this year.

"[Rodriguez] takes a lot of pride in what he does," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. "He's had an incredible year and in many ways, it's better than he was in the 2002 playoffs."

An incredible year that has seen Rodriguez allow only two earned runs since June 26, blowing just a pair of saves in that span.

Rodriguez relieved after the Angels scored four runs in the bottom of the eighth inning to take a one-run lead. He opened the ninth by fanning Adam Melhuse on six pitches. Rodriguez used a down-and-dirty slider to take down Nick Swisher and threw a 94-mph fastball past a stunned Marco Scutaro to clinch the contest.

The 24-year-old Rodriguez, who earlier this year became the youngest reliever to reach 100 saves, is always animated when he closes the door. But after achieving this Angels' milestone, Rodriguez couldn't help but show some extra emotion, much of it for his late grandfather.

"A lot of good moments in my life came through him, and I wanted to do this for him," Rodriguez said. "After I got that strikeout, I wanted to yell to the skies and say 'Thanks.' That was for him."

Unlike the ball which earned him his 100th save of his career, Rodriguez didn't keep the one he used on Saturday. That went to bullpen catcher Steve Soliz, whom Rodriguez credited with keeping his arm in great shape each season.

Rodriguez has accomplished so much, so early in his career that even he is having trouble keeping up with it.

"I haven't realized what I've done so early in my career because everything has come too fast," he said. "After the season I have to sit back and think about what I've done."

Fans have had a chance all week to witness countless images of what Tim Salmon has given them during his 15 years with the Angela. On Saturday night, they got their last chance to see the veteran play in right field.

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".