GAME THREAD: AL: KANSAS CITY (30-46) at LA ANGELS (49-27)

AL: KANSAS CITY (30-46) at LA ANGELS (49-27)

<h3>Lackey takes mound for surging Angels</h3>



<div class="pre">Kansas City (30-46) at La Angels (49-27) 10:05 pm EDT</div>

<div class="pre">ANAHEIM, California (Ticker) - John Lackey takes the mound on</div>an extra days' rest for the best team in baseball on Monday.

Lackey and the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim open a three-gameseries with the Royals.

Anaheim has coasted to the best record in the majors thanks totheir incredible 29-10 home mark - the best in baseball as well.<div class="pre">The Angels improved to a major league-best 16-5 in June after Erick</div>Ayabar singled home the winning run in the 11th inning for a 4-3win over Pittsburgh on Sunday.

However, Lackey (10-4, 2.96 ERA), who was scratched from hisstart on Sunday due to shoulder tendinitis, has struggled athome recently, going 1-2 with a 5.33 ERA in his last four startshere. He also also coming of his worst start of the season inwhich he allowed six runs and eight hits in 4 2/3 inningsagainst Houston on Monday.

The Angels, who have won 17 of 21 at home since May 9, havedominated Kansas City ,winning 22 of the last 29 meeting heredating to 2001.

Meanwhile, Kansas City will send John Thomson (NR) to the mound.Thomson is making his first start of the season in place ofScott Elarton, who is on the 15-day disabled list with a rightfoot sprain. Thomson was released by Toronto on Wednesday andsigned a one-year contract with Kansas City on Friday.

 

AL: KANSAS CITY at LA ANGELS

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

KANSAS CITY LA ANGELS
AVG HR RBI AVG HR RBI
David Dejesus CF .278 4 25 Reggie Willits CF .343 0 23
Esteban German 2B .253 2 22 Chone Figgins 3B .302 1 21
Mark Teahen RF .290 5 40 Orlando Cabrera SS .336 4 44
Billy Butler DH .250 0 4 Vladimir Guerrero RF .325 14 69
Alex Gordon 3B .234 5 18 Casey Kotchman 1B .333 8 35
Ryan Shealy 1B .220 3 20 Howie Kendrick 2B .298 3 13
Jason Larue C .176 2 7 Kendry Morales DH .292 1 5
Tony Pena Jr SS .274 1 21 Mike Napoli C .250 7 27
Joey Gathright LF .282 0 7 Erick Aybar LF .248 0 15

John Thomson RHP (NO RECORD) John Lackey RHP (10-4, 2.96)</div>

 

AL: KANSAS CITY at LA ANGELS

<div class="pre">AL AT LA ANGELS
WARMUPS: KAN - JOHN THOMSON (NO RECORD)
LAA - JOHN LACKEY (10-4, 2.96)

UMPIRES: HP - BOB DAVIDSON
1B - SAM HOLBROOK
2B - HUNTER WENDELSTEDT
3B - RANDY MARSH

WEATHER: 73 Degrees, clear
WIND: 10 mph, out to center</div>

 

AL: KANSAS CITY at LA ANGELS

<div class="pre">AL AT LA ANGELS
STARTING BATS: KAN - JOHN THOMSON AND JASON LARUE
LAA - JOHN LACKEY AND MIKE NAPOLI

DUE UP FOR KANSAS CITY: D DEJESUS (.278, 4 HR, 25 RBI)
E GERMAN (.253, 2 HR, 22 RBI)
M TEAHEN (.290, 5 HR, 40 RBI)</div>

 

AL: KANSAS CITY at LA ANGELS

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: KAN - JOHN THOMSON
LAA - JOHN LACKEY

DUE UP FOR LA ANGELS: R WILLITS (.343, 0 HR, 23 RBI)
C FIGGINS (.302, 1 HR, 21 RBI)
O CABRERA (.336, 4 HR, 44 RBI)</div>

 

AL: KANSAS CITY at LA ANGELS

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

KANSAS CITY ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
D DeJesus cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .277
E German 2b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .251
M Teahen rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .289
B Butler dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .250
A Gordon 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .234
R Shealy 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .220
J LaRue c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .176
T Pena Jr ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .274
J Gathright lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .282

Totals 3 0 0 0 0 1 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.


LA ANGELS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
R Willits cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .343
C Figgins 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .302
O Cabrera ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .336
V Guerrero rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .325
C Kotchman 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .333
H Kendrick 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .298
K Morales dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .292
M Napoli c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .250
E Aybar lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .248

Totals 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.


----------------------------------------------------
KANSAS CITY - 0 -- 0
LA ANGELS - -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

KANSAS CITY ip h r er bb so hr era
J Thomson 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 ###

LA ANGELS ip h r er bb so hr era
J Lackey 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 2.93

Pitches-strikes: J Lackey 11-7. Ground balls-fly balls: J Lackey 1-1. Batters
faced: J Lackey 3.

UMPIRES: HP--Bob Davidson. 1B--Sam Holbrook. 2B--Hunter Wendelstedt.
3B--Randy Marsh.

Weather: 73 degrees, clear. Wind: 10 mph, out to center.</div>

 

AL: KANSAS CITY at LA ANGELS

<div class="pre">AL AT LA ANGELS
CONFIRMED STARTERS: KAN - JOHN THOMSON
LAA - JOHN LACKEY</div>

 

AL: KANSAS CITY at LA ANGELS

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: KAN - JOHN THOMSON
LAA - JOHN LACKEY

DUE UP FOR KANSAS CITY: B BUTLER (.250, 0 HR, 4 RBI)
A GORDON (.234, 5 HR, 18 RBI)
R SHEALY (.220, 3 HR, 20 RBI)</div>

 

AL: KANSAS CITY at LA ANGELS

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

KANSAS CITY ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
D DeJesus cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .277
E German 2b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .251
M Teahen rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .289
B Butler dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .250
A Gordon 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .234
R Shealy 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .220
J LaRue c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .176
T Pena Jr ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .274
J Gathright lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .282

Totals 3 0 0 0 0 1 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.


LA ANGELS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
R Willits cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .342
C Figgins 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .300
O Cabrera ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .334
V Guerrero rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .325
C Kotchman 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .333
H Kendrick 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .298
K Morales dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .292
M Napoli c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .250
E Aybar lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .248

Totals 3 0 0 0 0 0 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.


----------------------------------------------------
KANSAS CITY - 0 -- 0
LA ANGELS - 0 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

KANSAS CITY ip h r er bb so hr era
J Thomson 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.00

LA ANGELS ip h r er bb so hr era
J Lackey 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 2.93

Pitches-strikes: J Thomson 12-7; J Lackey 11-7. Ground balls-fly balls: J
Thomson 3-0; J Lackey 1-1. Batters faced: J Thomson 3; J Lackey 3.

UMPIRES: HP--Bob Davidson. 1B--Sam Holbrook. 2B--Hunter Wendelstedt.
3B--Randy Marsh.

Weather: 73 degrees, clear. Wind: 10 mph, out to center.</div>

 

AL: KANSAS CITY at LA ANGELS

<div class="pre">AL AT LA ANGELS - SCORING UPDATE
SINGLE BY JASON LARUE SCORED ALEX GORDON.
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, J LARUE ON FIRST, R SHEALY ON SECOND, 1 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: KANSAS CITY 1
LA ANGELS 0 TOP, 2ND

DUE UP FOR KANSAS CITY: T PENA JR (.274, 1 HR, 21 RBI)</div>

 

AL: KANSAS CITY at LA ANGELS

<div class="pre">AL AT LA ANGELS - SCORING UPDATE
SINGLE BY DAVID DEJESUS SCORED RYAN SHEALY. ERROR BY MIKE
NAPOLI ALLOWED JASON LARUE AND JOEY GATHRIGHT TO SCORE.
SITUATION: 4 RUNS IN, D DEJESUS ON THIRD, 2 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: KANSAS CITY 4
LA ANGELS 0 TOP, 2ND

DUE UP FOR KANSAS CITY: E GERMAN (.251, 0-FOR-1)</div>

 

AL: KANSAS CITY at LA ANGELS

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: KAN - JOHN THOMSON
LAA - JOHN LACKEY

DUE UP FOR LA ANGELS: V GUERRERO (.325, 14 HR, 69 RBI)
C KOTCHMAN (.333, 8 HR, 35 RBI)
H KENDRICK (.298, 3 HR, 13 RBI)</div>

 

AL: KANSAS CITY at LA ANGELS

<div class="pre">KANSAS CITY (4) VS LA ANGELS (0) - MID 2ND - IN PROGRESS

KANSAS CITY ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
D DeJesus cf 2 0 1 1 0 0 0 .280
E German 2b 2 0 0 0 0 1 1 .250
M Teahen rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .289
B Butler dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .244
A Gordon 3b 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .237
R Shealy 1b 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .225
J LaRue c 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 .186
T Pena Jr ss 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 .273
J Gathright lf 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 .282

Totals 10 4 4 2 0 2 3

BATTING: RBI - J LaRue (8), D DeJesus (26). 2-out RBI - D DeJesus. Runners left
in scoring position, 2 out - E German 1. Team LOB - 1.


LA ANGELS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
R Willits cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .342
C Figgins 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .300
O Cabrera ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .334
V Guerrero rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .325
C Kotchman 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .333
H Kendrick 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .298
K Morales dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .292
M Napoli c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .250
E Aybar lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .248

Totals 3 0 0 0 0 0 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.

FIELDING: E - M Napoli (5, catch).


----------------------------------------------------
KANSAS CITY - 04 -- 4
LA ANGELS - 0 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

KANSAS CITY ip h r er bb so hr era
J Thomson 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.00

LA ANGELS ip h r er bb so hr era
J Lackey 2 4 4 2 0 2 0 3.08

HBP - J Gathright (by J Lackey). Pitches-strikes: J Thomson 12-7; J Lackey
30-20. Ground balls-fly balls: J Thomson 3-0; J Lackey 2-2. Batters faced: J
Thomson 3; J Lackey 11.

UMPIRES: HP--Bob Davidson. 1B--Sam Holbrook. 2B--Hunter Wendelstedt.
3B--Randy Marsh.

Weather: 73 degrees, clear. Wind: 10 mph, out to center.</div>

 

AL: KANSAS CITY at LA ANGELS

<div class="pre">AL AT LA ANGELS - SCORING UPDATE
SACRIFICE FLY BY HOWIE KENDRICK SCORED VLADIMIR GUERRERO.

SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, NONE ON, 2 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: KANSAS CITY 4
LA ANGELS 1 BOTTOM, 2ND

DUE UP FOR LA ANGELS: K MORALES (.292, 1 HR, 5 RBI)</div>

 

AL: KANSAS CITY at LA ANGELS

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: KAN - JOHN THOMSON
LAA - JOHN LACKEY

DUE UP FOR KANSAS CITY: M TEAHEN (.289, 0-FOR-1)
B BUTLER (.244, 0-FOR-1)
A GORDON (.237, 1-FOR-1)</div>

 

AL: KANSAS CITY at LA ANGELS

<div class="pre">KANSAS CITY (4) VS LA ANGELS (1) - END 2ND - IN PROGRESS

KANSAS CITY ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
D DeJesus cf 2 0 1 1 0 0 0 .280
E German 2b 2 0 0 0 0 1 1 .250
M Teahen rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .289
B Butler dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .244
A Gordon 3b 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .237
R Shealy 1b 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .225
J LaRue c 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 .186
T Pena Jr ss 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 .273
J Gathright lf 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 .282

Totals 10 4 4 2 0 2 3

BATTING: RBI - J LaRue (8), D DeJesus (26). 2-out RBI - D DeJesus. Runners left
in scoring position, 2 out - E German 1. Team LOB - 1.


LA ANGELS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
R Willits cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .342
C Figgins 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .300
O Cabrera ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .334
V Guerrero rf 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .327
C Kotchman 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .332
H Kendrick 2b 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 .298
K Morales dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .280
M Napoli c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .250
E Aybar lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .248

Totals 6 1 1 1 0 0 0

BATTING: 2B - V Guerrero (22, J Thomson). SF - H Kendrick. RBI - H Kendrick
(14). Team LOB - 0.

FIELDING: E - M Napoli (5, catch).


----------------------------------------------------
KANSAS CITY - 04 -- 4
LA ANGELS - 01 -- 1
----------------------------------------------------

KANSAS CITY ip h r er bb so hr era
J Thomson 2 1 1 1 0 0 0 4.50

LA ANGELS ip h r er bb so hr era
J Lackey 2 4 4 2 0 2 0 3.08

HBP - J Gathright (by J Lackey). Pitches-strikes: J Thomson 21-14; J Lackey
30-20. Ground balls-fly balls: J Thomson 4-2; J Lackey 2-2. Batters faced: J
Thomson 7; J Lackey 11.

UMPIRES: HP--Bob Davidson. 1B--Sam Holbrook. 2B--Hunter Wendelstedt.
3B--Randy Marsh.

Weather: 73 degrees, clear. Wind: 10 mph, out to center.</div>

 

AL: KANSAS CITY at LA ANGELS

<div class="pre">AL AT LA ANGELS - SCORING UPDATE
GROUND OUT BY RYAN SHEALY SCORED BILLY BUTLER.
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, A GORDON ON SECOND, 2 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: KANSAS CITY 5
LA ANGELS 1 TOP, 3RD

DUE UP FOR KANSAS CITY: J LARUE (.186, 1-FOR-1, RBI)</div>

 

AL: KANSAS CITY at LA ANGELS

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: KAN - JOHN THOMSON
LAA - JOHN LACKEY

DUE UP FOR LA ANGELS: M NAPOLI (.250, 7 HR, 27 RBI)
E AYBAR (.248, 0 HR, 15 RBI)
R WILLITS (.342, 0-FOR-1)</div>

 

AL: KANSAS CITY at LA ANGELS

<div class="pre">KANSAS CITY (5) VS LA ANGELS (1) - MID 3RD - IN PROGRESS

KANSAS CITY ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
D DeJesus cf 2 0 1 1 0 0 0 .280
E German 2b 2 0 0 0 0 1 1 .250
M Teahen rf 2 0 0 0 0 1 0 .288
B Butler dh 2 1 1 0 0 0 0 .262
A Gordon 3b 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .237
R Shealy 1b 2 1 1 1 0 0 2 .224
J LaRue c 2 1 1 1 0 1 1 .184
T Pena Jr ss 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 .273
J Gathright lf 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 .282

Totals 14 5 5 3 0 4 6

BATTING: RBI - J LaRue (8), D DeJesus (26), R Shealy (21). 2-out RBI - D
DeJesus. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - E German 1, J LaRue 1. Team
LOB - 2.


LA ANGELS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
R Willits cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .342
C Figgins 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .300
O Cabrera ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .334
V Guerrero rf 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .327
C Kotchman 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .332
H Kendrick 2b 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 .298
K Morales dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .280
M Napoli c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .250
E Aybar lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .248

Totals 6 1 1 1 0 0 0

BATTING: 2B - V Guerrero (22, J Thomson). SF - H Kendrick. RBI - H Kendrick
(14). Team LOB - 0.

FIELDING: E - M Napoli (5, catch).


----------------------------------------------------
KANSAS CITY - 041 -- 5
LA ANGELS - 01 -- 1
----------------------------------------------------

KANSAS CITY ip h r er bb so hr era
J Thomson 2 1 1 1 0 0 0 4.50

LA ANGELS ip h r er bb so hr era
J Lackey 3 5 5 3 0 4 0 3.14

BALK - J Lackey. HBP - J Gathright (by J Lackey); A Gordon (by J Lackey).
Pitches-strikes: J Thomson 21-14; J Lackey 46-30. Ground balls-fly balls: J
Thomson 4-2; J Lackey 3-2. Batters faced: J Thomson 7; J Lackey 16.

UMPIRES: HP--Bob Davidson. 1B--Sam Holbrook. 2B--Hunter Wendelstedt.
3B--Randy Marsh.

Weather: 73 degrees, clear. Wind: 10 mph, out to center.</div>

 

AL: KANSAS CITY at LA ANGELS

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: KAN - JOHN THOMSON
LAA - JOHN LACKEY

DUE UP FOR KANSAS CITY: T PENA JR (.273, 0-FOR-1)
J GATHRIGHT (.282, 0-FOR-0, HBP)
D DEJESUS (.280, 1-FOR-2, RBI)</div>