ANGELS AREN'T LETTING UP SCHOENEWEIS STRONG EFFORT BOOSTS TEAM'S CONFIDENCE ANGELS 3, TEXAS 0.Byline: Gabe Lacques Staff Writer ANAHEIM - Scott Schoeneweis Scott David Schoeneweis [SHOW-en-WEISS] (born October 2, 1973, in Long Branch, New Jersey) is an American left-handed relief pitcher in Major League Baseball. He plays for the New York Mets. is a perfectionist per·fec·tion·ism n. 1. A propensity for being displeased with anything that is not perfect or does not meet extremely high standards. 2. by nature, which Angels manager Mike Scioscia Tuesday night, Schoeneweis looked like he was ready to be fitted for a cape. Against a Texas Rangers Texas Rangers, mounted fighting force organized (1835) during the Texas Revolution. During the republic they became established as the guardians of the Texas frontier, particularly against Native Americans. lineup comprised of both future Hall of Famers and journeymen, Schoeneweis got ahead in counts and never let up, pitching four-hit shutout ball for 8 2/3 innings in the Angels' 3-0 victory before 16,810 at Edison Field. The Angels (33-22) moved 11 games above .500 for the first time since September 1998, which coincidentally was the last time they stayed in a pennant race until the final week of the season. If they keep getting performances like this out of Schoeneweis, they could be in that position again. Schoeneweis (4-4) came in with a 5.43 earned-run average, but recent mechanical adjustments by pitching coach Bud Black
It was more like a leap forward. Schoeneweis retired eight in a row to start the game, and threw first-pitch strikes to 18 of the first 22 batters he faced. Just two Rangers reached second base, and the final time that happened, in the seventh, Schoeneweis induced a double-play ground ball from second baseman second baseman n. Baseball The infielder who is positioned near and to the first-base side of second base. Noun 1. second baseman - (baseball) the person who plays second base second sacker Michael Young. He got two outs in the ninth and came within one strike of his second career shutout before walking Juan Gonzalez on a full count, his 125th pitch. Schoeneweis walked three and struck out four in lowering his ERA to 4.77. Troy Percival Troy Eugene Percival (born August 9, 1969 in Fontana, California) is a Major League Baseball reliever on the St. Louis Cardinals. Percival came out of retirement on June 8, 2007 when he signed a minor league deal with the Cardinals[1]. retired Todd Greene Todd Anthony Greene (born May 8, 1971 in Augusta, Georgia) is a catcher in Major League Baseball who is currently a free agent. He previously played for the Anaheim Angels (1996-2000), Toronto Blue Jays (2000), New York Yankees (2001), Texas Rangers 2002-2003) and the Colorado for his 11th save in his 436th career appearance, tying Chuck Finley It was Percival's third save in as many days, and Scioscia wanted to give Schoeneweis a shot at his first shutout since the second start of his career. But after walking Gonzalez, ``it was a decision we had to make,'' Scioscia said. Schoeneweis stared straight ahead as he came off the mound to a standing ovation. The shutout would have to wait, but at least the left-hander showed he may have turned the corner. ``It's a game of inches, and I've been inches away for three years,'' said Schoeneweis, whose career record is 22-26. ``There were definitely some emotions out there (in the ninth). I've got to pitch again Sunday, and I just hope I can stay consistent. I've been working hard between starts. Maybe things will go the right way now.'' Schoeneweis and Black ironed out the pitcher's arm slot, which resulted in a more consistent release point. That, Scioscia said, was why he was throwing so many strikes. ``He was strike one on a lot of hitters and if he wasn't strike one, he came right back,'' Scioscia said. ``You can't overstate the dangerous lineup they have. Now I think he has a good rhythm, a good feel for what he's doing.'' 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. contributed a pair of doubles, drove in the game's first run and extended his hitting streak to nine games. Tim Salmon and Bengie Molina added RBI RBI abbr. Baseball runs batted in Noun 1. rbi - a run that is the result of the batter's performance; "he had more than 100 rbi last season" run batted in hits in the seventh inning. The Angels' defense matched Schoeneweis' efficiency. Darin Erstad made a diving catch of a Gonzalez fly ball in the second inning, plucking the ball just inches off the turf, and the Angels played errorless ball for the second consecutive game. Rangers starter Dave Burba (3-3) was nearly as effective, but a defensive misplay mis·play n. Sports & Games A mistaken or unskillful play. tr.v. mis·played, mis·play·ing, mis·plays To make a misplay of. Noun 1. from Gonzalez put the Rangers in an early hole. With two out in the first, Glaus hammered a 1-1 pitch to right field. Had Gonzalez played the carom off the wall correctly, he could have held Glaus to a single. Instead, the ball bounced past him and Glaus slid into third with a triple. Anderson followed with an RBI double down the left field line on the next pitch for a 1-0 lead. Burba settled down after that, facing the minimum over the next five innings. In the seventh, Anderson started the rally with a one-out double, scoring on Salmon's double. The Rangers intentionally walked Scott Spiezio to get to Molina, who dropped a soft single into right for a 3-0 lead. CAPTION(S): photo Photo: Angels catcher Bengie Molina congratulates reliever Troy Percival after 3-0 victory Tuesday night over the Texas Rangers. John Hayes/Associated Press |
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