NEW CITY, SAME LACK OF OFFENSIVE PRODUCTION GARCIA LIMITS ANGELS TO FIVE HITS CHICAGO 9, ANGELS 1.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 CHICAGO -- Another day, another new face for the Angels and still the same unwanted result. Dallas McPherson's promotion failed to change the team's fortunes, as the Angels lost for the fifth time in seven games on their nine-game road trip. There was hope early, then the Angels fell into the same old pattern, resulting in a 9-1 defeat by the Chicago White Sox The Chicago White Sox are a professional baseball team based in Chicago, Illinois. The White Sox are a member of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the White Sox have played in U.S. . As if getting crushed by their nemesis in last season's American League Championship Series
Stuck in a offensive rut for more than two weeks, the Angels looked to have some life early against White Sox starter Freddy Garcia. Two batters into the game Orlando Cabrera Orlando Luis Cabrera (born November 2, 1974 in Cartagena, Colombia) is a Major League Baseball shortstop who plays for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. He bats and throws right-handed. delivered a triple and two batters after that, 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. added his own triple to score the run. They had a single and a double in the second inning that didn't lead to a run. Vladimir Guerrero Vladimir Alvino Guerrero (born February 9, 1976 in Don Gregorio, Nizao, Dominican Republic), and known in his native Dominican Republic as Miquéas (Spanish for Micah), is a Major League Baseball right fielder who plays for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. doubled in the third. Then it all came to a halt. Garcia and reliever Cliff Politte Cliff Politte (born February 27, 1974 in St. Louis, Missouri) is a right-handed relief pitcher. Selected in the 54th round of the 1995 amateur draft by the St. Louis Cardinals, Politte came up to the parent club in 1998. retired the last 19 Angels batters in order to close out the victory and hold the Angels to five hits. There is obvious frustration in the Angels' clubhouse, where injuries have led to a liberal use of the farm system. Young players such as Tommy Murphy Tommy Murphy can refer to:
Napoli attended Charles Flanagan High School in Pembroke Pines, Florida. , Howie Kendrick and McPherson haven't been the answer, and questions now come daily about the team's ability to add a veteran hitter via trade. ``The bats that we have here, you look at our lineup today and the potential is there,'' Scioscia said. ``I don't think it's a case where (general manager) Bill (Stoneman) is going to panic. But we have certainly defined the need which, we knew coming in, that we might have some problems with depth. ``We're starting to, as he talks other GMs, formulate some options that are going to help us to move forward. It's not a case where he's going to go out there and jump at the first thing. Bill will improve the club for the long term. He won't do anything that will set us back from our long-term goals Long-term goals Financial goals expected to be accomplished in five years or longer. .'' Meanwhile, the short-term goals, such as having a successful season, get farther and farther away. The defeat dropped the Angels six games below .500 (14-20) for the first time this season. ``Everybody is frustrated, but you have to let that last at-bat go and take the next challenge and battle the guy,'' said Tim Salmon, who went 0 for 3 and had a home run taken away by White Sox left fielder Scott Podsednik. ``There have been enough balls hit good that aren't falling. Right now, your mind-set has to be, `You know what, I'm going to go up there and give this guy a tough at-bat.''' While punchless defeats over the weekend at Toronto were at least made easier to take because of promising stretches of pitching, there wasn't much of that Tuesday. Kevin Gregg was roughed up in his second start of the season, allowing seven runs and nine hits in 2 2/3 innings. ``You have to look at every outing and learn from it, but I'm not going to dwell on to continue long on or in; to remain absorbed with; to stick to; to make much of; as, to dwell upon a subject; a singer dwells on a note s>. - Shak. See also: Dwell it too much,'' Gregg said. ``They capitalized on some mistakes I made. I see that; they see that. I'm fine with that. I know I'll come back and be strong.'' If the offense wants to follow that same pattern, a simple place to start would be the use of productive outs. ``Early on we had good at-bats, but then it seemed like at some point from the third inning to the end of the game we couldn't get anything going,'' Scioscia said. ``We had some opportunities early. If you look at our situational hitting, it's just non-existent right now and that's what we need. With runners in scoring position we've been really struggling.'' After batting .300 with runners in scoring position only a few weeks ago, the Angels are now at .243. The hitting struggles have put heat on hitting coach Mickey Hatcher. ``I don't think anybody in here is taking what is going on lightly,'' Salmon said. ``It's tough. The coaches, they live through us. Mickey takes a lot of pride in what he does, and there is no bigger supporter than him for his hitters. It's tough because there are some good swings at times. Everything needs to start falling. I see him feeling it just like we are.'' doug.padilla@sgvn.com (626) 962-8811, Ext. 2731 CAPTION(S): 2 photos, box Photo: (1) Angels' pitcher Kevin Gregg sits in the dugout after being pulled from a game against the Chicago in the third. (2) Chicago White Sox's A.J. Pierzynski (12) greets Jermaine Dye (23) at home plate after Dye hit a solo home run during the third. Brian Kersey/Associated Press Box: ANGELS at CHICAGO WHITE SOX - Doug Padilla |
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