[0] BUMBLING ANGELS IN THE OUTFIELD POPUPS DROP IN ON, SINK ANAHEIM OAKLAND 6, ANGELS 3.Byline: Joe Haakenson Staff Writer ANAHEIM - The Oakland A's came to town with baseball's worst record and a seven-game losing streak, but they found a formula for success Monday night against the Angels. A few well-placed popups mixed with an impressive pitching performance yielded a 6-3 A's victory before 16,368 at Edison Field. A's starter Mark Mulder Mark Alan Mulder (born August 5, 1977 in South Holland, Illinois) is a left-handed starting pitcher for the St. Louis Cardinals in Major League Baseball. After playing for Michigan State University, Mulder was selected by the Oakland Athletics with the second overall pick in the , whom the Angels beat in Oakland 10 days ago, retired the first 15 batters he faced. But Shawn Wooten William Shawn Wooten (born July 24, 1972 in Glendora, California), is a catcher who is currently with the New Orleans Zephyrs of the New York Mets organization. Previously, Wooten played with the Anaheim Angels (2000-03), the Philadelphia Phillies (2004), Boston Red Sox (2005) and broke up the perfect game leading off the sixth, hitting his first major-league homer. Mulder (1-1) settled for a five-hitter in six-plus innings. He left the game after giving up two hits to start the seventh, finishing with seven strikeouts and no walks. The game included one of the more bizarre halnnings in the young season. The top of the second began tamely enough as the A's used a couple of singles off Angels starter Jarrod Washburn Jarrod Michael Washburn (born August 13, 1974 in La Crosse, Wisconsin) is a Major League Baseball pitcher for the Seattle Mariners. Drafted by the California Angels in the 2nd round of the 1995 amateur draft out of the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh, Washburn won the final game to put runners on first and second. Then it got weird. Eric Chavez Eric Cesar Chavez (pronounced CHA-vez) (born December 7, 1977 in Los Angeles, California) is a Mexican-American third baseman in Major League Baseball who has played for the Oakland Athletics since 1998. hit a popup to shallow left, where left fielder Garret Anderson Garret Joseph Anderson (born June 30, 1972 in Los Angeles, California) is a Major League Baseball left fielder who has played his entire career for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. and shortstop Benji Gil Romar Benjamin Gil Aguilar (born October 6, 1972, in Tijuana, Mexico) was a Major League Baseball utility player. Gil made his Major League Baseball debut with the Texas Rangers on April 5, 1993. converged. But at the last moment, both backed off and the ball fell in for a single, loading the bases. Frank Menechino Frank Menechino (born January 7, 1971 in Staten Island, New York) is a baseball utility player, most recently with the Toronto Blue Jays of the American League. He played college baseball at Gulf Coast Community College in Panama City, Florida before transferring to the University followed with a popup to shallow center. Center fielder Darin Erstad Darin Charles Erstad (born June 4, 1974 in Jamestown, North Dakota) is a first baseman/center fielder in Major League Baseball currently with the Chicago White Sox. Prior to 2007, he had played his entire career with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim franchise (1996-2006). and Gil raced toward the ball, but it fell in for a single when it appeared Erstad lost the ball in the twilight sky. One run scored as the runners moved up a base. Then Johnny Damon hit a popup to shallow right field near the foul line. Second baseman Adam Kennedy got there in time but missed the ball completely for an error. Again, the baserunners moved up a base and the A's were up 2-0. ``We all realize those were plays that should be made,'' Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. ``There's no sugarcoating it. It was ugly.'' Washburn, making his first start of the season, conceivably could have gotten out of that inning without any damage. Instead, it set the tone for the game as the Angels were left trying to rally from a deficit the rest of the night. ``Just crazy stuff,'' Washburn said. ``There was nothing I could do about it.'' When asked what went through his mind after the third popup landed, Washburn replied, ``Try to get a ground ball,'' he joked. Erstad said the three misplayed popups gave him a ``hit-the-ball-on-the-ground feeling.'' ``It seemed like the baseball gods were picking on us,'' Gil said, ``not letting them hit the ball on the ground.'' Finally, Miguel Tejada hit a sinking liner to shallow left-center, where Erstad made a diving catch and doubled up Menechino off second base. Jason Giambi ended the inning with a flyout to left field. Washburn, who began the season on the disabled list because of a spring- training bout with strep throat Strep Throat Definition Streptococcal sore throat, or strep throat as it is more commonly called, is an infection of the mucous membranes lining the pharynx. Sometimes the tonsils are also infected (tonsillitis). , went 6 2/3 innings and allowed six runs (four earned) and 12 hits with two walks and a strikeout. And he wasn't about to blame the defense (three errors) for the loss. CAPTION(S): photo Photo: Anaheim second baseman Adam Kennedy watches the ball go by as he misses a fly ball off the bat of Oakland's Johnny Damon on Monday at Edison Field. Mark J. Terrill/Associated Press |
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