GAME THREAD: GAME THREAD: AL: TAMPA BAY (63-87) at LA ANGELS (87-62)

AL: TAMPA BAY (63-87) at LA ANGELS (87-62)

<h3>Angels shoot for AL's best record</h3>

<div class="pre">Tampa Bay (63-87) at LA Angels (87-62) 10:05 pm EDT</div>

ANAHEIM, California (Ticker) - The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheimare putting the finishing touches on another American LeagueWest Division title and setting their sights on the best recordin the circuit.


The Angels will look to improve their standing when they hostthe Tampa Bay Devil Rays in the opener of a three-game series onMonday.


The Angels are currently tied with the AL Central-leadingCleveland Indians (87-62) for the second-best record in theleague, 2 1/2 games behind the Boston Red Sox (90-60) with 13games remaining in the regular season.


Anaheim has not been sharp of late, dropping three of four tothe lowly Baltimore Orioles and the Chicago White Sox to closeout the weekend.


Cy Young Award candidate Kelvim Escobar (17-7, 3.25 ERA) getsthe start for the Angels looking to bounce back from a poorouting on Wednesday. The Venezuelan righthander gave up sixruns and seven hits in 5 1/3 innings vs. the Orioles, but earnedthe win as the Angels' offense pounded out 18 runs.

The Devil Rays will counter with righthander Edwin Jackson(4-14, 5.94). The 24-year-old was in line for a win against theRed Sox on Wednesday, allowing three runs in six frames beforeDavid Ortiz ended the contest with a game-winning, two-runhomer.

 

AL: TAMPA BAY at LA ANGELS

<div class="pre">TAMPA BAY AT LA ANGELS -- LINEUPS

TAMPA BAY LA ANGELS
AVG HR RBI AVG HR RBI
Akinori Iwamura 3B .284 7 30 Chone Figgins RF .344 3 53
Greg Norton DH .223 4 20 Orlando Cabrera SS .304 8 81
Carlos Pena 1B .276 40 112 Vladimir Guerrero DH .327 25 120
B.J. Upton CF .308 24 81 Garret Anderson LF .298 16 77
Delmon Young RF .293 12 87 Maicer Izturis 3B .281 5 46
Brendan Harris 2B .286 12 59 Casey Kotchman 1B .290 9 63
Jonny Gomes LF .252 15 44 Howie Kendrick 2B .322 5 33
Dioner Navarro C .229 8 40 Jeff Mathis C .232 4 21
Josh Wilson SS .275 2 23 Nathan Haynes CF .206 0 0

Edwin Jackson RHP (4-14, 5.94) Kelvim Escobar RHP (17-7, 3.25)</div>

 

AL: TAMPA BAY at LA ANGELS

<div class="pre">AL AT LA ANGELS
WARMUPS: TAM - EDWIN JACKSON (4-14, 5.94)
LAA - KELVIM ESCOBAR (17-7, 3.25)

UMPIRES: HP - BRUCE FROEMMING
1B - MARK WEGNER
2B - BRIAN RUNGE
3B - MIKE WINTERS

WEATHER: 71 Degrees, clear
WIND: 9 mph, out to center</div>

 

AL: TAMPA BAY at LA ANGELS

<div class="pre">AL AT LA ANGELS
STARTING BATS: TAM - EDWIN JACKSON AND DIONER NAVARRO
LAA - KELVIM ESCOBAR AND JEFF MATHIS

DUE UP FOR TAMPA BAY: A IWAMURA (.284, 7 HR, 30 RBI)
G NORTON (.223, 4 HR, 20 RBI)
C PENA (.276, 40 HR, 112 RBI)</div>

 

AL: TAMPA BAY at LA ANGELS

<div class="pre">AL AT LA ANGELS - SCORING UPDATE
SINGLE BY DELMON YOUNG SCORED AKINORI IWAMURA.
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, D YOUNG ON FIRST, G NORTON ON SECOND, 2 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: TAMPA BAY 1
LA ANGELS 0 TOP, 1ST

DUE UP FOR TAMPA BAY: B HARRIS (.286, 12 HR, 59 RBI)</div>

 

AL: TAMPA BAY at LA ANGELS

<div class="pre">AL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
TAMPA BAY 1 1 3 0
LA ANGELS 0 0 0 (BOT 1)

CURRENT PITCHERS: TAM - EDWIN JACKSON
LAA - KELVIM ESCOBAR

DUE UP FOR LA ANGELS: C FIGGINS (.344, 3 HR, 53 RBI)
O CABRERA (.304, 8 HR, 81 RBI)
V GUERRERO (.327, 25 HR, 120 RBI)</div>

 

AL: TAMPA BAY at LA ANGELS

<div class="pre">TAMPA BAY (1) VS LA ANGELS (0) - MID 1ST - IN PROGRESS

TAMPA BAY ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
A Iwamura 3b 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .285
G Norton dh 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .228
C Pena 1b 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 .276
B Upton cf 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 .308
D Young rf 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .294
B Harris 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .286
J Gomes lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .252
D Navarro c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .229
J Wilson ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .275

Totals 6 1 3 1 0 2 6

BATTING: RBI - D Young (88). 2-out RBI - D Young. Runners left in scoring
position, 2 out - B Harris 1. Team LOB - 2.


LA ANGELS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
C Figgins rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .344
O Cabrera ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .304
V Guerrero dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .327
G Anderson lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .298
M Izturis 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .281
C Kotchman 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .290
H Kendrick 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .322
J Mathis c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .232
N Haynes cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .206

Totals 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.


----------------------------------------------------
TAMPA BAY - 1 -- 1
LA ANGELS - -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

TAMPA BAY ip h r er bb so hr era
E Jackson 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5.94

LA ANGELS ip h r er bb so hr era
K Escobar 1 3 1 1 0 2 0 3.28

Pitches-strikes: K Escobar 31-21. Ground balls-fly balls: K Escobar 1-0.
Batters faced: K Escobar 6.

UMPIRES: HP--Bruce Froemming. 1B--Mark Wegner. 2B--Brian Runge. 3B--Mike
Winters.

Weather: 71 degrees, clear. Wind: 9 mph, out to center.</div>

 

AL: TAMPA BAY at LA ANGELS

<div class="pre">AL AT LA ANGELS
CONFIRMED STARTERS: TAM - EDWIN JACKSON
LAA - KELVIM ESCOBAR</div>

 

AL: TAMPA BAY at LA ANGELS

<div class="pre">AL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
TAMPA BAY 1 1 3 0
LA ANGELS 0 0 2 0 (TOP 2)

CURRENT PITCHERS: TAM - EDWIN JACKSON
LAA - KELVIM ESCOBAR

DUE UP FOR TAMPA BAY: J GOMES (.252, 15 HR, 44 RBI)
D NAVARRO (.229, 8 HR, 40 RBI)
J WILSON (.275, 2 HR, 23 RBI)</div>

 

AL: TAMPA BAY at LA ANGELS

<div class="pre">TAMPA BAY (1) VS LA ANGELS (0) - END 1ST - IN PROGRESS

TAMPA BAY ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
A Iwamura 3b 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .285
G Norton dh 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .228
C Pena 1b 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 .276
B Upton cf 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 .308
D Young rf 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .294
B Harris 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .286
J Gomes lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .252
D Navarro c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .229
J Wilson ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .275

Totals 6 1 3 1 0 2 6

BATTING: RBI - D Young (88). 2-out RBI - D Young. Runners left in scoring
position, 2 out - B Harris 1. Team LOB - 2.


LA ANGELS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
C Figgins rf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .346
O Cabrera ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .304
V Guerrero dh 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .326
G Anderson lf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .300
M Izturis 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .280
C Kotchman 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .290
H Kendrick 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .322
J Mathis c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .232
N Haynes cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .206

Totals 5 0 2 0 0 1 3

BATTING: Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - M Izturis 1. Team LOB - 2.


BASERUNNING: SB - O Cabrera (20, 3rd base off E Jackson/D Navarro).


----------------------------------------------------
TAMPA BAY - 1 -- 1
LA ANGELS - 0 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

TAMPA BAY ip h r er bb so hr era
E Jackson 1 2 0 0 0 1 0 5.90

LA ANGELS ip h r er bb so hr era
K Escobar 1 3 1 1 0 2 0 3.28

Pitches-strikes: E Jackson 24-16; K Escobar 31-21. Ground balls-fly balls: E
Jackson 1-1; K Escobar 1-0. Batters faced: E Jackson 5; K Escobar 6.

UMPIRES: HP--Bruce Froemming. 1B--Mark Wegner. 2B--Brian Runge. 3B--Mike
Winters.

Weather: 71 degrees, clear. Wind: 9 mph, out to center.</div>

 

AL: TAMPA BAY at LA ANGELS

<div class="pre">AL AT LA ANGELS - SCORING UPDATE
SINGLE BY DIONER NAVARRO SCORED JONNY GOMES.
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, NONE ON, 1 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: TAMPA BAY 2
LA ANGELS 0 TOP, 2ND

DUE UP FOR TAMPA BAY: J WILSON (.275, 2 HR, 23 RBI)</div>

 

AL: TAMPA BAY at LA ANGELS

<div class="pre">AL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
TAMPA BAY 1 1 2 5 0
LA ANGELS 0 0 2 0 (BOT 2)

CURRENT PITCHERS: TAM - EDWIN JACKSON
LAA - KELVIM ESCOBAR

DUE UP FOR LA ANGELS: C KOTCHMAN (.290, 9 HR, 63 RBI)
H KENDRICK (.322, 5 HR, 33 RBI)
J MATHIS (.232, 4 HR, 21 RBI)</div>

 

AL: TAMPA BAY at LA ANGELS

<div class="pre">TAMPA BAY (2) VS LA ANGELS (0) - MID 2ND - IN PROGRESS

TAMPA BAY ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
A Iwamura 3b 2 1 1 0 0 0 0 .285
G Norton dh 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .228
C Pena 1b 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 .276
B Upton cf 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 .308
D Young rf 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .294
B Harris 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .286
J Gomes lf 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .254
D Navarro c 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .232
J Wilson ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .274

Totals 10 2 5 2 0 2 6

BATTING: 2B - J Gomes (19, K Escobar). RBI - D Young (88), D Navarro (41).
2-out RBI - D Young. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - B Harris 1. Team
LOB - 2.


LA ANGELS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
C Figgins rf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .346
O Cabrera ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .304
V Guerrero dh 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .326
G Anderson lf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .300
M Izturis 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .280
C Kotchman 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .290
H Kendrick 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .322
J Mathis c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .232
N Haynes cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .206

Totals 5 0 2 0 0 1 3

BATTING: Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - M Izturis 1. Team LOB - 2.


BASERUNNING: SB - O Cabrera (20, 3rd base off E Jackson/D Navarro).

FIELDING: Outfield assists - C Figgins (D Navarro at 2nd base).


----------------------------------------------------
TAMPA BAY - 11 -- 2
LA ANGELS - 0 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

TAMPA BAY ip h r er bb so hr era
E Jackson 1 2 0 0 0 1 0 5.90

LA ANGELS ip h r er bb so hr era
K Escobar 2 5 2 2 0 2 0 3.31

Pitches-strikes: E Jackson 24-16; K Escobar 52-35. Ground balls-fly balls: E
Jackson 1-1; K Escobar 1-2. Batters faced: E Jackson 5; K Escobar 10.

UMPIRES: HP--Bruce Froemming. 1B--Mark Wegner. 2B--Brian Runge. 3B--Mike
Winters.

Weather: 71 degrees, clear. Wind: 9 mph, out to center.</div>

 

AL: TAMPA BAY at LA ANGELS

<div class="pre">AL AT LA ANGELS - SCORING UPDATE
GROUND OUT BY CHONE FIGGINS SCORED CASEY KOTCHMAN.
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, N HAYNES ON SECOND, H KENDRICK ON THIRD, 2 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: TAMPA BAY 2
LA ANGELS 1 BOTTOM, 2ND

DUE UP FOR LA ANGELS: O CABRERA (.304, 0-FOR-1)</div>

 

AL: TAMPA BAY at LA ANGELS

<div class="pre">AL AT LA ANGELS - SCORING UPDATE
SINGLE BY ORLANDO CABRERA SCORED HOWIE KENDRICK AND NATHAN
HAYNES.
SITUATION: 3 RUNS IN, O CABRERA ON SECOND, 2 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: TAMPA BAY 2
LA ANGELS 3 BOTTOM, 2ND

DUE UP FOR LA ANGELS: V GUERRERO (.326, 0-FOR-1)</div>

 

AL: TAMPA BAY at LA ANGELS

<div class="pre">AL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
TAMPA BAY 1 1 2 5 1
LA ANGELS 0 3 3 5 0 (TOP 3)

CURRENT PITCHERS: TAM - EDWIN JACKSON
LAA - KELVIM ESCOBAR

DUE UP FOR TAMPA BAY: G NORTON (.228, 1-FOR-1)
C PENA (.276, 0-FOR-1)
B UPTON (.308, 0-FOR-1)</div>

 

AL: TAMPA BAY at LA ANGELS

<div class="pre">TAMPA BAY (2) VS LA ANGELS (3) - END 2ND - IN PROGRESS

TAMPA BAY ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
A Iwamura 3b 2 1 1 0 0 0 0 .285
G Norton dh 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .228
C Pena 1b 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 .276
B Upton cf 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 .308
D Young rf 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .294
B Harris 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .286
J Gomes lf 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .254
D Navarro c 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .232
J Wilson ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .274

Totals 10 2 5 2 0 2 6

BATTING: 2B - J Gomes (19, K Escobar). RBI - D Young (88), D Navarro (41).
2-out RBI - D Young. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - B Harris 1. Team
LOB - 2.

FIELDING: E - B Harris (13, ground ball).


LA ANGELS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
C Figgins rf 2 0 1 1 0 0 0 .345
O Cabrera ss 2 0 1 2 0 0 1 .305
V Guerrero dh 2 0 0 0 0 1 2 .325
G Anderson lf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .300
M Izturis 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .280
C Kotchman 1b 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .292
H Kendrick 2b 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 .321
J Mathis c 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 .230
N Haynes cf 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .229

Totals 12 3 5 3 0 2 6

BATTING: RBI - C Figgins (54), O Cabrera 2 (83). 2-out RBI - O Cabrera 2.
Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - M Izturis 1, V Guerrero 1. Team LOB -
3.

BASERUNNING: SB - O Cabrera (20, 3rd base off E Jackson/D Navarro).

FIELDING: Outfield assists - C Figgins (D Navarro at 2nd base).


----------------------------------------------------
TAMPA BAY - 11 -- 2
LA ANGELS - 03 -- 3
----------------------------------------------------

TAMPA BAY ip h r er bb so hr era
E Jackson 2 5 3 0 0 2 0 5.86

LA ANGELS ip h r er bb so hr era
K Escobar 2 5 2 2 0 2 0 3.31

Pitches-strikes: E Jackson 40-27; K Escobar 52-35. Ground balls-fly balls: E
Jackson 4-1; K Escobar 1-2. Batters faced: E Jackson 12; K Escobar 10.

UMPIRES: HP--Bruce Froemming. 1B--Mark Wegner. 2B--Brian Runge. 3B--Mike
Winters.

Weather: 71 degrees, clear. Wind: 9 mph, out to center.</div>

 

AL: TAMPA BAY at LA ANGELS

<div class="pre">AL AT LA ANGELS - SCORING UPDATE
GROUND OUT BY DELMON YOUNG SCORED CARLOS PENA.
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, B UPTON ON THIRD, 2 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: TAMPA BAY 3
LA ANGELS 3 TOP, 3RD

DUE UP FOR TAMPA BAY: B HARRIS (.286, 0-FOR-1)</div>

 

AL: TAMPA BAY at LA ANGELS

<div class="pre">AL AT LA ANGELS - SCORING UPDATE
B.J. UPTON STOLE HOME.
SITUATION: 2 RUNS IN, NONE ON, 2 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: TAMPA BAY 4
LA ANGELS 3 TOP, 3RD

DUE UP FOR TAMPA BAY: B HARRIS (.286, 0-FOR-1)</div>

 

AL: TAMPA BAY at LA ANGELS

<div class="pre">AL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
TAMPA BAY 1 1 2 4 6 1
LA ANGELS 0 3 3 5 0 (BOT 3)

CURRENT PITCHERS: TAM - EDWIN JACKSON
LAA - KELVIM ESCOBAR

DUE UP FOR LA ANGELS: G ANDERSON (.300, 1-FOR-1)
M IZTURIS (.280, 0-FOR-1)
C KOTCHMAN (.292, 1-FOR-1)</div>