NOMO BLANKS ANGELS FIFTH STRAIGHT LOSS FOR FALTERING CONTENDERS TIGERS 5, ANGELS 0.Byline: Joe Haakenson Staff Writer DETROIT - With September comes the onset of fall, as well as the Angels' traditional fall from playoff contention. The Angels lost their fifth game in a row, 5-0 to the Detroit Tigers The Detroit Tigers are a professional baseball team based in Detroit, Michigan. The Tigers are a member of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Tigers have played in Comerica Park. on Monday night at Comerica Park • • [ , getting shut down by former Dodgers pitcher Hideo Nomo Hideo Nomo (born Aug. 31, 1968 , Osaka, Japan) Japanese baseball pitcher whose success with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1995 created new opportunities for Asian players in Major League Baseball. , who threw eight scoreless innings. Former Angel Damion Easley Jacinto Damion Easley (born on November 11, 1969 in New York City, New York) is a Major League Baseball player who plays for the New York Mets. At age 5 his family moved from the Bronx to Mount Vernon, New York. led the Tigers offense with three hits, three 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 and a stolen base. The Angels are 0-4 this month, well on their way to another losing September unless they turn things around. The Angels have had a winning record in September only twice (1991, '99) since 1986, the last time they reached the playoffs. Including this season, the Angels are 126-196 (.391) in September since 1986. With Monday's loss, they fell 6 1/2 games behind In sports, the phrase games behind, often abbreviated as GB in tables, is a common way to reflect the gap between a leading team and another team in a sports league, conference, or division. Cleveland in the wild-card race but remained six games behind Seattle in the A.L. West. They are 68-69, the first time they've been below .500 since May 18 (20-21). ``Our approach will not be one of a sense of urgency to the point of panic,'' Angels manager Mike Scioscia ``Obviously we're not doing the things we need to do, and we're running out of games. But we're working extremely hard on the things we need to do to get where we want to be. We're still in this thing.'' Even though they were swept in the three-game weekend series in Chicago, the Angels didn't have a problem scoring runs, totalling 26 in the series. But the offense sputtered Monday against Nomo (6-11), who gave up five hits, walked two and struck out seven. ``He had great control of his off-speed pitches,'' said Angels center 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. , who had two hits. ``That's his game. He's pretty much a two-pitch pitcher. He pitched his game and that's it. . . . It doesn't matter how many times you've seen him, he's a tough pitcher to hit.'' The Angels, though, had their chances. They had runners on first and second with one out in the first, but Tim Salmon They had runners on first and second with nobody out in the sixth, but Mo Vaughn hit into a double play and Salmon struck out. Nomo retired the side in order in the second, fifth and eighth innings. Only two Angels baserunners reached third in the game. ``Nomo again made some good pitches in key situations,'' said Scioscia, who was a coach with the Dodgers when Nomo pitched for them. ``That's been his trademark. He's shown in the past he'll get out of jams.'' It was the fourth time the Angels have been shut out this season. Scott Karl made his second start for the Angels and gave up five runs (four earned) and nine hits in 5 2/3 innings. Not only did he not get any offensive support, the defense let him down, too. Troy Glaus' throwing error in the second inning led to an unearned run. And a botched botch tr.v. botched, botch·ing, botch·es 1. To ruin through clumsiness. 2. To make or perform clumsily; bungle. 3. To repair or mend clumsily. n. 1. relay in the sixth inning allowed Brad Ausmus to score from first on a double by Easley. Their recent poor play has come at a time when they can least afford it. But the players continue to say it's no time to panic. ``Everybody understands what the situation is,'' Mo Vaughn said. ``We've gotten a couple of bad breaks, and that's why we are where we are We are where we are is a Scottish idiom for pretending to accept the status quo, and to imply that previous events should be forgotten. It is based on the fact that it is impossible to turn back the clock. . I don't think anybody's holding anything back, everybody's playing hard. ``I'm sure everybody knows the urgency of what's going on What's Going On is a record by American soul singer Marvin Gaye. Released on May 21, 1971 (see 1971 in music), What's Going On reflected the beginning of a new trend in soul music. . You look around the locker room after a game and there are a lot of ugly faces. We're frustrated with the last four games. But you never point fingers, you never get mad.'' The Angels have 25 games remaining, meaning the Mariners' magic number to eliminate the Angels is 20. ``Personally, if we don't win, I don't check to see what anybody else does,'' Anderson said. ``If we get on a good streak I might take a peek. Anything can happen on any day. I've been on both sides of it. You put unnecessary pressure on yourself if you feel urgency. Just come out and play every day.'' ANGELS AT DETROIT Time: 4:05 p.m. at Comerica Park TV/Radio: No TV; 570-AM, 1090 AM Matchups: Matt Wise (3-2, 4.11 ERA) will start for Anaheim against Detroit's Brian Moehler (11-7, 4.00). The Angels have 16 of their remaining 25 games on the road, where they are 27-38. The 27 road victories are the third-fewest in the American League. --Joe Haakenson CAPTION(S): box box: ANGELS AT DETROIT (see text) |
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