GAME THREAD: GAME THREAD: AL: LA ANGELS (92-67) at OAKLAND (75-84)

AL: LA ANGELS (92-67) at OAKLAND (75-84)

<h3>Lackey, Angels look toward playoffs, face Athletics</h3>



La Angels (92-67) at Oakland (75-84), 10:05 pm EDT

OAKLAND, California (Ticker) - John Lackey and Los AngelesAngels of Anaheim look to improve their play heading to theplayoffs.


Lackey and the Angels hope to snap a three-game losing streak<div class="pre">when they open a three-game season-ending set against the</div>Oakland Athletics.


Anaheim clinched its third division title in four years onSunday, but then proceeded to drop three in a row to the lowlyTexas Rangers to put its hopes of gaining home field advantagethrough the American League playoffs in jeopardy. The Angels<div class="pre">trail Boston and cleveland by 2 1/2 games with three left on</div>the schedule.


Lackey (18-9, 3.11 ERA), who already has achieved a career-bestin wins, looks to become the fourth hurler in the majors to getto 19 victories.


The righthander, who is second in the AL in ERA, aims for histhird straight victory after limiting the Seattle Mariners totwo runs and seven hits over seven frames in a 7-4 win onSunday. He can also increase his already impressive record vs.the A's (11-3, 2.99, 22 career outings).


Oakland counters with 2007 AL All-Star starter Danny Haren(15-8, 3.12), who ended a season-long four-game losing streak byearning a victory over the Indians last Saturday.


Haren is 1-1 in three starts vs. Anaheim in 2007.


The Athletics are 9-7 vs. the Angels this season, including 4-2here.

 

AL: LA ANGELS (92-67) at OAKLAND (75-84)

<h3>Angels, Escobar building momentum for playoffs</h3>



<div class="pre">La Angels (93-67) at Oakland (75-85) 4:05 pm EDT</div>

OAKLAND, California (Ticker) - The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheimwill try to build some momentum for the playoffs when theycontinue their series with the Oakland Athletics on Saturday.

The Angels will face the Boston Red Sox (95-65) in the Divisionround of the playoffs.


Los Angeles is 4-6 against the Red Sox this season and will needSaturday's starter, Kelvim Escobar (17-7, 3.46 ERA) to be intop form when it heads into the playoffs.


Escobar will return to the mound against the Athletics aftermanager Mike Scioscia shut him down for a week in order to gethim some extra rest.


Escobar had his worst outing of the season during his laststart, surrendering six runs and eight hits over just fourinnings on September 17 against Tampa Bay.


Rookie Dallas Braden (1-8, 6.88) will look for his first win sincehis initial major league start when he takes the mound for theAthletics.


Braden has lost eight straight decisions since notching his onlywin on April 24. He was tagged for six runs and eighthits over 3 1/3 innings in his last start against Cleveland.

 

AL: LA ANGELS (94-67) at OAKLAND (75-86)

<h3>Angels prep for playoffs, end regular season vs. A's</h3>

<div class="pre">LA Angels (94-67) at Oakland (75-86) 4:05 pm EDT</div>

OAKLAND, California (Ticker) - The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheimwill close out their regular season on Sunday as they look tocomplete a three-game sweep of the Oakland Athletics.

With no mystery left in the playoff picture, the Angels willlikely rest most of their starters again in preparation fortheir upcoming divisional series matchup vs. the Boston Red Soxon Wednesday.


Only three regulars took the field in Saturday's 3-2 triumph.Kelvim Escobar tossed six strong innings en route to his 18thwin of the season.


For the regular-season finale, Anaheim will turn to Jered Weaver(13-7, 4.01 ERA), who is 3-1 despite a 5.32 ERA in September.He is coming off his fifth win in his last six starts - a 9-5victory over the Seattle Mariners on September 20 - in which heallowed four runs and nine hits over five innings.

The righthander has been solid in four starts against the A's,going 2-1 with a 3.04 ERA.


On the opposite end of the spectrum is Chad Gaudin (11-13,4.56), who is looking to snap a stretch in which he has droppedfour of his last five turns. In Tuesday's 7-3 loss to theBoston Red Sox, he permitted three runs and three hits butwalked seven over just four frames.


Over 12 appearances - five starts - the righthander is 2-2 witha 6.21 ERA.

 

AL: LA ANGELS at OAKLAND

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

LA ANGELS OAKLAND
AVG HR RBI AVG HR RBI
Chone Figgins RF .332 3 58 Mark Ellis 2B .276 19 76
Erick Aybar SS .242 1 19 Daric Barton 1B .353 3 7
Maicer Izturis 2B .291 6 51 Nick Swisher CF .261 22 77
Casey Kotchman 1B .295 11 68 Jack Cust RF .255 26 82
Kendry Morales DH .293 3 14 Mike Piazza DH .275 8 44
Mike Napoli C .241 9 33 Marco Scutaro SS .260 7 41
Brandon Wood 3B .172 1 3 Jack Hannahan 3B .279 3 24
Terry Evans LF .125 1 2 Kurt Suzuki C .249 7 38
Nathan Haynes CF .286 0 1 Kevin Thompson LF .156 0 3

Jered Weaver RHP (13-7, 4.01) Chad Gaudin RHP (11-13, 4.56)</div>

 

AL: LA ANGELS at OAKLAND

<div class="pre">AL AT OAKLAND
WARMUPS: LAA - JERED WEAVER (13-7, 4.01)
OAK - CHAD GAUDIN (11-13, 4.56)

UMPIRES: HP - FIELDIN CULBRETH
1B - MARTY FOSTER
2B - PAUL SCHRIEBER
3B - TIM MCCLELLAND

WEATHER: 72 Degrees, sunny
WIND: 8 mph, out to right</div>

 

AL: LA ANGELS at OAKLAND

<div class="pre">AL AT OAKLAND
STARTING BATS: LAA - JERED WEAVER AND MIKE NAPOLI
OAK - CHAD GAUDIN AND KURT SUZUKI

DUE UP FOR LA ANGELS: C FIGGINS (.332, 3 HR, 58 RBI)
E AYBAR (.242, 1 HR, 19 RBI)
M IZTURIS (.291, 6 HR, 51 RBI)</div>

 

AL: LA ANGELS at OAKLAND

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: LAA - JERED WEAVER
OAK - CHAD GAUDIN

DUE UP FOR OAKLAND: M ELLIS (.276, 19 HR, 76 RBI)
D BARTON (.353, 3 HR, 7 RBI)
N SWISHER (.261, 22 HR, 77 RBI)</div>

 

AL: LA ANGELS at OAKLAND

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

LA ANGELS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
C Figgins rf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .331
E Aybar ss 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .241
M Izturis 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .290
C Kotchman 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .295
K Morales dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .293
M Napoli c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .241
B Wood 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .172
T Evans lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .125
N Haynes cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .286

Totals 3 0 0 0 0 2 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.


OAKLAND ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
M Ellis 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .276
D Barton 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .353
N Swisher cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .261
J Cust rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .255
M Piazza dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .275
M Scutaro ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .260
J Hannahan 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .279
K Suzuki c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .249
K Thompson lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .156

Totals 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.


----------------------------------------------------
LA ANGELS - 0 -- 0
OAKLAND - -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

LA ANGELS ip h r er bb so hr era
J Weaver 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4.01

OAKLAND ip h r er bb so hr era
C Gaudin 1 0 0 0 0 2 0 4.54

Pitches-strikes: C Gaudin 9-8. Ground balls-fly balls: C Gaudin 1-0. Batters
faced: C Gaudin 3.

UMPIRES: HP--Fieldin Culbreth. 1B--Marty Foster. 2B--Paul Schrieber. 3B--Tim
Mcclelland.

Weather: 68 degrees, sunny. Wind: 8 mph, out to right.</div>

 

AL: LA ANGELS at OAKLAND

<div class="pre">AL AT OAKLAND
CONFIRMED STARTERS: LAA - JERED WEAVER
OAK - CHAD GAUDIN</div>

 

AL: LA ANGELS at OAKLAND

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: LAA - JERED WEAVER
OAK - CHAD GAUDIN

DUE UP FOR LA ANGELS: C KOTCHMAN (.295, 11 HR, 68 RBI)
K MORALES (.293, 3 HR, 14 RBI)
M NAPOLI (.241, 9 HR, 33 RBI)</div>

 

AL: LA ANGELS at OAKLAND

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

LA ANGELS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
C Figgins rf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .331
E Aybar ss 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .241
M Izturis 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .290
C Kotchman 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .295
K Morales dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .293
M Napoli c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .241
B Wood 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .172
T Evans lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .125
N Haynes cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .286

Totals 3 0 0 0 0 2 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.


OAKLAND ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
M Ellis 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .276
D Barton 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .348
N Swisher cf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .263
J Cust rf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .257
M Piazza dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .275
M Scutaro ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .260
J Hannahan 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .279
K Suzuki c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .249
K Thompson lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .156

Totals 5 0 2 0 0 0 2

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


----------------------------------------------------
LA ANGELS - 0 -- 0
OAKLAND - 0 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

LA ANGELS ip h r er bb so hr era
J Weaver 1 2 0 0 0 0 0 3.98

OAKLAND ip h r er bb so hr era
C Gaudin 1 0 0 0 0 2 0 4.54

Pitches-strikes: J Weaver 18-12; C Gaudin 9-8. Ground balls-fly balls: J
Weaver 0-3; C Gaudin 1-0. Batters faced: J Weaver 5; C Gaudin 3.

UMPIRES: HP--Fieldin Culbreth. 1B--Marty Foster. 2B--Paul Schrieber. 3B--Tim
Mcclelland.

Weather: 68 degrees, sunny. Wind: 8 mph, out to right.</div>

 

AL: LA ANGELS at OAKLAND

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: LAA - JERED WEAVER
OAK - CHAD GAUDIN

DUE UP FOR OAKLAND: M SCUTARO (.260, 7 HR, 41 RBI)
J HANNAHAN (.279, 3 HR, 24 RBI)
K SUZUKI (.249, 7 HR, 38 RBI)</div>

 

AL: LA ANGELS at OAKLAND

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

LA ANGELS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
C Figgins rf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .331
E Aybar ss 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .241
M Izturis 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .290
C Kotchman 1b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .297
K Morales dh 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .293
M Napoli c 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .241
B Wood 3b 1 0 0 0 0 1 3 .167
T Evans lf 1 0 0 0 0 1 3 .111
N Haynes cf 1 0 0 0 0 1 3 .279

Totals 7 0 1 0 2 5 9

BATTING: 2B - C Kotchman (37, C Gaudin). Runners left in scoring position, 2
out - N Haynes 2. Team LOB - 3.


OAKLAND ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
M Ellis 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .276
D Barton 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .348
N Swisher cf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .263
J Cust rf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .257
M Piazza dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .275
M Scutaro ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .260
J Hannahan 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .279
K Suzuki c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .249
K Thompson lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .156

Totals 5 0 2 0 0 0 2

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


----------------------------------------------------
LA ANGELS - 00 -- 0
OAKLAND - 0 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

LA ANGELS ip h r er bb so hr era
J Weaver 1 2 0 0 0 0 0 3.98

OAKLAND ip h r er bb so hr era
C Gaudin 2 1 0 0 2 5 0 4.52

Pitches-strikes: J Weaver 18-12; C Gaudin 37-25. Ground balls-fly balls: J
Weaver 0-3; C Gaudin 1-0. Batters faced: J Weaver 5; C Gaudin 9.

UMPIRES: HP--Fieldin Culbreth. 1B--Marty Foster. 2B--Paul Schrieber. 3B--Tim
Mcclelland.

Weather: 68 degrees, sunny. Wind: 8 mph, out to right.</div>

 

AL: LA ANGELS at OAKLAND

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: LAA - JERED WEAVER
OAK - CHAD GAUDIN

DUE UP FOR LA ANGELS: C FIGGINS (.331, 0-FOR-1)
E AYBAR (.241, 0-FOR-1)
M IZTURIS (.290, 0-FOR-1)</div>

 

AL: LA ANGELS at OAKLAND

<div class="pre">LA ANGELS (0) VS OAKLAND (0) - END 2ND - IN PROGRESS

LA ANGELS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
C Figgins rf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .331
E Aybar ss 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .241
M Izturis 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .290
C Kotchman 1b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .297
K Morales dh 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .293
M Napoli c 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .241
B Wood 3b 1 0 0 0 0 1 3 .167
T Evans lf 1 0 0 0 0 1 3 .111
N Haynes cf 1 0 0 0 0 1 3 .279

Totals 7 0 1 0 2 5 9

BATTING: 2B - C Kotchman (37, C Gaudin). Runners left in scoring position, 2
out - N Haynes 2. Team LOB - 3.

FIELDING: E - E Aybar (7, ground ball).


OAKLAND ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
M Ellis 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .276
D Barton 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .348
N Swisher cf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .263
J Cust rf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .257
M Piazza dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .275
M Scutaro ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .259
J Hannahan 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .277
K Suzuki c 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .248
K Thompson lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .152

Totals 9 0 2 0 0 0 5

BATTING: Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - M Piazza 1, K Thompson 1.
Team LOB - 3.

BASERUNNING: SB - M Scutaro (2, 2nd base off J Weaver/M Napoli).


----------------------------------------------------
LA ANGELS - 00 -- 0
OAKLAND - 00 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

LA ANGELS ip h r er bb so hr era
J Weaver 2 2 0 0 0 0 0 3.96

OAKLAND ip h r er bb so hr era
C Gaudin 2 1 0 0 2 5 0 4.52

Pitches-strikes: J Weaver 34-24; C Gaudin 37-25. Ground balls-fly balls: J
Weaver 0-6; C Gaudin 1-0. Batters faced: J Weaver 9; C Gaudin 9.

UMPIRES: HP--Fieldin Culbreth. 1B--Marty Foster. 2B--Paul Schrieber. 3B--Tim
Mcclelland.

Weather: 68 degrees, sunny. Wind: 8 mph, out to right.</div>

 

AL: LA ANGELS at OAKLAND

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: LAA - JERED WEAVER
OAK - CHAD GAUDIN

DUE UP FOR OAKLAND: M ELLIS (.276, 0-FOR-1)
D BARTON (.348, 0-FOR-1)
N SWISHER (.263, 1-FOR-1)</div>

 

AL: LA ANGELS at OAKLAND

<div class="pre">LA ANGELS (0) VS OAKLAND (0) - MID 3RD - IN PROGRESS

LA ANGELS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
C Figgins rf 2 0 0 0 0 1 0 .330
E Aybar ss 2 0 0 0 0 1 0 .240
M Izturis 2b 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 .290
C Kotchman 1b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .297
K Morales dh 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .293
M Napoli c 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .241
B Wood 3b 1 0 0 0 0 1 3 .167
T Evans lf 1 0 0 0 0 1 3 .111
N Haynes cf 1 0 0 0 0 1 3 .279

Totals 10 0 1 0 2 5 9

BATTING: 2B - C Kotchman (37, C Gaudin). Runners left in scoring position, 2
out - N Haynes 2. Team LOB - 3.

FIELDING: E - E Aybar (7, ground ball).


OAKLAND ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
M Ellis 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .276
D Barton 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .348
N Swisher cf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .263
J Cust rf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .257
M Piazza dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .275
M Scutaro ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .259
J Hannahan 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .277
K Suzuki c 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .248
K Thompson lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .152

Totals 9 0 2 0 0 0 5

BATTING: Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - M Piazza 1, K Thompson 1.
Team LOB - 3.

BASERUNNING: SB - M Scutaro (2, 2nd base off J Weaver/M Napoli).


----------------------------------------------------
LA ANGELS - 000 -- 0
OAKLAND - 00 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

LA ANGELS ip h r er bb so hr era
J Weaver 2 2 0 0 0 0 0 3.96

OAKLAND ip h r er bb so hr era
C Gaudin 3 1 0 0 2 5 0 4.49

Pitches-strikes: J Weaver 34-24; C Gaudin 45-30. Ground balls-fly balls: J
Weaver 0-6; C Gaudin 4-0. Batters faced: J Weaver 9; C Gaudin 12.

UMPIRES: HP--Fieldin Culbreth. 1B--Marty Foster. 2B--Paul Schrieber. 3B--Tim
Mcclelland.

Weather: 68 degrees, sunny. Wind: 8 mph, out to right.</div>

 

AL: LA ANGELS at OAKLAND

<div class="pre">AL AT OAKLAND - MID INNING UPDATE
PLAY: T Murphy in right field.
SITUATION: 0 RUNS IN, NONE ON, 0 OUTS
CURRENT SCORE: LA ANGELS 0
OAKLAND 0 BOTTOM, 3RD

DUE UP FOR OAKLAND: M Ellis (.276, 0-FOR-1)</div>

 

AL: LA ANGELS at OAKLAND

<div class="pre">AL AT OAKLAND - SCORING UPDATE
SOLO HOME RUN BY DARIC BARTON (4) TO LEFT WITH 1 OUT IN THE
3RD OFF JERED WEAVER.
CURRENT SCORE: LA ANGELS 0, OAKLAND 1

DUE UP FOR OAKLAND: N SWISHER (.263, 1-FOR-1)</div>

 

AL: LA ANGELS at OAKLAND

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: LAA - JERED WEAVER
OAK - CHAD GAUDIN

DUE UP FOR LA ANGELS: C KOTCHMAN (.297, 1-FOR-1)
K MORALES (.293, 0-FOR-0, BB)
M NAPOLI (.241, 0-FOR-0, BB)</div>