KENNEDY FUELS ANGELS' DEFENSIVE REVIVAL SECOND BASEMAN'S VITAL PLAY HELPS SAVE L.A. WIN VS. ATHLETICS ANGELS 4, OAKLAND 3.Byline: DOUG PADILLA Douglas ("Doug") Padilla (born October 4, 1956 in Oakland, California) is a former middle and long distance runner from the United States, who won the overall Grand Prix 1985 and the World Cup 5000m race in 1985. Staff Writer OAKLAND - Adam Kennedy's defensive gem at second base Sunday against the Oakland Athletics “Philadelphia Athletics” redirects here. For other uses, see Philadelphia Athletics (disambiguation). The Oakland Athletics are a professional baseball team based in Oakland, California. was not afforded the spotlight a walkoff home run would receive, but it felt just as good. Kennedy made a diving stop and started a double play with the bases loaded in the fourth inning to preserve the Angels' lead and help the team to a 4-3 victory. The Angels completed their 10-game road trip an even 5-5 but finished strong by taking the past two series. The improved defense is the main reason the Angels have rebounded after winning just one of four games at Baltimore on Easter weekend. The Angels did have some defensive hiccups Hiccups Definition Hiccups are the result of an involuntary, spasmodic contraction of the diaphragm followed by the closing of the throat. Description at Oakland - namely two Jeff Mathis Jeffrey Stephen "Jeff" Mathis (born March 31, 1983 in Marianna, Florida, USA) is a major league baseball catcher playing with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, and made his Major League debut on August 12, 2005 with them. He bats and throws right handed. dropped foul popups in one inning Friday 1/3 but Kennedy's play made that a distant memory. After Milton Bradley  This article or section is written like a personal reflection or and may require .Please [ improve this article] by rewriting this article or section in an . received a bases-loaded, one-out walk to push across the A's first run off starter Kelvim Escobar Kelvim Jose Escobar Bolivar [ess-coe-BAR] (born April 11, 1976 in La Guaira, Venezuela) is a starting pitcher in Major League Baseball who currently plays for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (2004-present). He bats and throws right handed. , the switch-hitting Adam Melhuse Adam Michael Melhuse (born March 27, 1972 in Santa Clara, California) is a Major League Baseball catcher who plays for the Oakland Athletics. Previously, Melhuse played with the Los Angeles Dodgers, the Colorado Rockies and the Texas Rangers. came to the plate batting left-handed. The Angels' 3-1 lead appeared in jeopardy. Kennedy started Melhuse's at-bat toward the hole between him and first baseman Robb Quinlan Robb William Quinlan (born March 17, 1977 in St. Paul, Minnesota) is a Major League Baseball player. He currently plays third base for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. Quinlan graduated from the University of Minnesota in 1999, obtaining a degree in marketing and communications. , but decided to cheat toward the bag. Melhuse hit a roller that appeared destined des·tine tr.v. des·tined, des·tin·ing, des·tines 1. To determine beforehand; preordain: a foolish scheme destined to fail; a film destined to become a classic. 2. for center field before Kennedy dived to glove the ball. He made an underhand flip from his knees to shortstop Orlando Cabrera for the force-out at second, and Cabrera hopped over a sliding Bradley to throw to Quinlan and complete the double play. Both managers - the Angels' Mike Scioscia and the Athletics' Ken Macha - called it the play of the game. After he was asked about Kennedy's effort, Cabrera stood with his head down in front of his locker slowly putting on his wristwatch. "That's my answer," he said finally. "Speechless." The Angels entered Sunday with an American League worst 16 errors, but finally feel like their defensive funk is subsiding. "We're aggressive, man. We're going to try and make every play," Cabrera said. "We're going to make errors. We understand that's part of the game. I don't think anybody here is going to let a couple of errors keep us down. Kennedy, who had two hits to raise his batting average to .373, always has taken as much pride in his glove as his bat. A three-home-run game in the 2002 American League Championship Series
"We played good defense pretty much the whole series here and the last game in Minnesota," Kennedy said. "I think things will turn around on that side of it. It's hard to say one (play) will turn it around, but definitely things are coming around and we have that going." The offense also did its part in both Minnesota and Oakland. The Angels had another double-digit hitting performance Sunday with 12, including a home run from Vladimir Guerrero into the second deck at McAfee Coliseum. Guerrero had three RBIs. Escobar (3-1) went seven innings, allowing three runs on five hits with two walks and four strikeouts. doug.padilla@sgvn.com (626) 962-811, Ext. 2731 CAPTION(S): 2 photos Photo: (1) The Angels' Adam Kennedy, right, flips the ball to Orlando Cabrera to start a double play on a ball hit by Adam Melhuse of the Oakland Athletics in the fourth inning at McAfee Coliseum. (2) Vladimir Guerrero watches his fifth-inning home run sail into the second deck. Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images |
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