GAME THREAD: AL: MINNESOTA (58-57) at LA ANGELS (67-47)

AL: MINNESOTA (58-57) at LA ANGELS (67-47)

<h3>Streaking Angels send Lackey to hill vs. Twins</h3>

<div class="pre">Minnesota (58-57) at LA Angels (67-47) 9:05 pm EDT</div>

ANAHEIM, California (Ticker) - The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheimhave been swinging the bats so well lately that evenlight-hitting Maicer Izturis has been finding the seats withregularity.


The Angels will try to keep the offense in high gear when theyhost the Minnesota Twins on Saturday.


Izturis hit his first career grand slam in Friday's 10-1 win.Izturis, who had just eight career homers before July 31, hasthree in the last 10 games.


Anaheim, which went 14 games without a home run around theAll-Star break, is averaging 8.7 runs per game in its last sevenat Angel Stadium, with a .362 team batting average.

John Lackey (14-6, 3.11 ERA) will be on the the mound for theAngels. The ace righthander, who won 14 games in both 2004 and2004, is looking to set a new career high for victories.

Minnesota will counter with Carlos Silva (9-12, 4.51). TheVenezuelan righthander has allowed just two earned runs in eachof his last two starts, going 1-1 over that span.


The Twins have lost four of five games to fall six games behindSeattle (63-50) in the American League wild card race.

 

AL: MINNESOTA at LA ANGELS

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

MINNESOTA LA ANGELS
AVG HR RBI AVG HR RBI
Alexi Casilla 2B .250 0 5 Chone Figgins 3B .342 1 42
Jason Bartlett SS .260 3 27 Orlando Cabrera SS .303 7 66
Joe Mauer C .295 5 49 Vladimir Guerrero RF .327 18 90
Justin Morneau 1B .284 28 89 Garret Anderson LF .284 6 35
Torii Hunter CF .293 23 79 Gary Matthews Jr DH .277 14 65
Michael Cuddyer RF .281 11 61 Casey Kotchman 1B .307 9 53
Jason Kubel DH .249 9 44 Maicer Izturis 2B .268 4 31
Rondell White LF .154 0 3 Jeff Mathis C .210 0 6
Nick Punto 3B .208 1 20 Reggie Willits CF .309 0 31

Carlos Silva RHP (9-12, 4.51) John Lackey RHP (14-6, 3.11)</div>

 

AL: MINNESOTA at LA ANGELS

<div class="pre">AL AT LA ANGELS
WARMUPS: MIN - CARLOS SILVA (9-12, 4.51)
LAA - JOHN LACKEY (14-6, 3.11)

UMPIRES: HP - GARY DARLING
1B - LARRY PONCINO
2B - JERRY MEALS
3B - BRUCE DRECKMAN

WEATHER: 79 Degrees, clear
WIND: 9 mph, out to center</div>

 

AL: MINNESOTA at LA ANGELS

<div class="pre">AL AT LA ANGELS
STARTING BATS: MIN - CARLOS SILVA AND JOE MAUER
LAA - JOHN LACKEY AND JEFF MATHIS

DUE UP FOR MINNESOTA: A CASILLA (.250, 0 HR, 5 RBI)
J BARTLETT (.260, 3 HR, 27 RBI)
J MAUER (.295, 5 HR, 49 RBI)</div>

 

AL: MINNESOTA at LA ANGELS

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: MIN - CARLOS SILVA
LAA - JOHN LACKEY

DUE UP FOR LA ANGELS: C FIGGINS (.342, 1 HR, 42 RBI)
O CABRERA (.303, 7 HR, 66 RBI)
V GUERRERO (.327, 18 HR, 90 RBI)</div>

 

AL: MINNESOTA at LA ANGELS

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

MINNESOTA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
A Casilla 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .247
J Bartlett ss 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .262
J Mauer c 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .294
J Morneau 1b 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .284
T Hunter cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .293
M Cuddyer rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .281
J Kubel dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .249
R White lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .154
N Punto 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .208

Totals 4 0 1 0 0 1 2

BATTING: 3B - J Bartlett (2, J Lackey). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out
- J Morneau 1. Team LOB - 1.


LA ANGELS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
C Figgins 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .342
O Cabrera ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .303
V Guerrero rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .327
G Anderson lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .284
G Matthews Jr dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .277
C Kotchman 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .307
M Izturis 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .268
J Mathis c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .210
R Willits cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .309

Totals 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.


----------------------------------------------------
MINNESOTA - 0 -- 0
LA ANGELS - -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

MINNESOTA ip h r er bb so hr era
C Silva 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4.51

LA ANGELS ip h r er bb so hr era
J Lackey 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 3.09

Pitches-strikes: J Lackey 22-14. Ground balls-fly balls: J Lackey 2-0.
Batters faced: J Lackey 4.

UMPIRES: HP--Gary Darling. 1B--Larry Poncino. 2B--Jerry Meals. 3B--Bruce
Dreckman.

Weather: 79 degrees, clear. Wind: 9 mph, out to center.</div>

 

AL: MINNESOTA at LA ANGELS

<div class="pre">AL AT LA ANGELS
CONFIRMED STARTERS: MIN - CARLOS SILVA
LAA - JOHN LACKEY</div>

 

AL: MINNESOTA at LA ANGELS

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: MIN - CARLOS SILVA
LAA - JOHN LACKEY

DUE UP FOR MINNESOTA: T HUNTER (.293, 23 HR, 79 RBI)
M CUDDYER (.281, 11 HR, 61 RBI)
J KUBEL (.249, 9 HR, 44 RBI)</div>

 

AL: MINNESOTA at LA ANGELS

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

MINNESOTA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
A Casilla 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .247
J Bartlett ss 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .262
J Mauer c 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .294
J Morneau 1b 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .284
T Hunter cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .293
M Cuddyer rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .281
J Kubel dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .249
R White lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .154
N Punto 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .208

Totals 4 0 1 0 0 1 2

BATTING: 3B - J Bartlett (2, J Lackey). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out
- J Morneau 1. Team LOB - 1.


LA ANGELS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
C Figgins 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .341
O Cabrera ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .302
V Guerrero rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .326
G Anderson lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .284
G Matthews Jr dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .277
C Kotchman 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .307
M Izturis 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .268
J Mathis c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .210
R Willits cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .309

Totals 3 0 0 0 0 0 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.


----------------------------------------------------
MINNESOTA - 0 -- 0
LA ANGELS - 0 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

MINNESOTA ip h r er bb so hr era
C Silva 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 4.48

LA ANGELS ip h r er bb so hr era
J Lackey 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 3.09

Pitches-strikes: C Silva 10-7; J Lackey 22-14. Ground balls-fly balls: C
Silva 1-2; J Lackey 2-0. Batters faced: C Silva 3; J Lackey 4.

UMPIRES: HP--Gary Darling. 1B--Larry Poncino. 2B--Jerry Meals. 3B--Bruce
Dreckman.

Weather: 79 degrees, clear. Wind: 9 mph, out to center.</div>

 

AL: MINNESOTA at LA ANGELS

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: MIN - CARLOS SILVA
LAA - JOHN LACKEY

DUE UP FOR LA ANGELS: G ANDERSON (.284, 6 HR, 35 RBI)
G MATTHEWS JR (.277, 14 HR, 65 RBI)
C KOTCHMAN (.307, 9 HR, 53 RBI)</div>

 

AL: MINNESOTA at LA ANGELS

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

MINNESOTA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
A Casilla 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .247
J Bartlett ss 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .262
J Mauer c 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .294
J Morneau 1b 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .284
T Hunter cf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .295
M Cuddyer rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .280
J Kubel dh 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .248
R White lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .150
N Punto 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .208

Totals 8 0 2 0 0 2 5

BATTING: 2B - T Hunter (33, J Lackey). 3B - J Bartlett (2, J Lackey). Runners
left in scoring position, 2 out - J Morneau 1. Team LOB - 2.


LA ANGELS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
C Figgins 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .341
O Cabrera ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .302
V Guerrero rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .326
G Anderson lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .284
G Matthews Jr dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .277
C Kotchman 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .307
M Izturis 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .268
J Mathis c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .210
R Willits cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .309

Totals 3 0 0 0 0 0 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.


----------------------------------------------------
MINNESOTA - 00 -- 0
LA ANGELS - 0 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

MINNESOTA ip h r er bb so hr era
C Silva 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 4.48

LA ANGELS ip h r er bb so hr era
J Lackey 2 2 0 0 0 2 0 3.07

Pitches-strikes: C Silva 10-7; J Lackey 32-22. Ground balls-fly balls: C
Silva 1-2; J Lackey 4-0. Batters faced: C Silva 3; J Lackey 8.

UMPIRES: HP--Gary Darling. 1B--Larry Poncino. 2B--Jerry Meals. 3B--Bruce
Dreckman.

Weather: 79 degrees, clear. Wind: 9 mph, out to center.</div>

 

AL: MINNESOTA at LA ANGELS

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: MIN - CARLOS SILVA
LAA - JOHN LACKEY

DUE UP FOR MINNESOTA: N PUNTO (.208, 1 HR, 20 RBI)
A CASILLA (.247, 0-FOR-1)
J BARTLETT (.262, 1-FOR-1)</div>

 

AL: MINNESOTA at LA ANGELS

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

MINNESOTA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
A Casilla 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .247
J Bartlett ss 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .262
J Mauer c 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .294
J Morneau 1b 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .284
T Hunter cf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .295
M Cuddyer rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .280
J Kubel dh 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .248
R White lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .150
N Punto 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .208

Totals 8 0 2 0 0 2 5

BATTING: 2B - T Hunter (33, J Lackey). 3B - J Bartlett (2, J Lackey). Runners
left in scoring position, 2 out - J Morneau 1. Team LOB - 2.


LA ANGELS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
C Figgins 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .341
O Cabrera ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .302
V Guerrero rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .326
G Anderson lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .283
G Matthews Jr dh 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .276
C Kotchman 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .306
M Izturis 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .268
J Mathis c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .210
R Willits cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .309

Totals 6 0 0 0 0 1 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.


----------------------------------------------------
MINNESOTA - 00 -- 0
LA ANGELS - 00 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

MINNESOTA ip h r er bb so hr era
C Silva 2 0 0 0 0 1 0 4.45

LA ANGELS ip h r er bb so hr era
J Lackey 2 2 0 0 0 2 0 3.07

Pitches-strikes: C Silva 17-13; J Lackey 32-22. Ground balls-fly balls: C
Silva 2-3; J Lackey 4-0. Batters faced: C Silva 6; J Lackey 8.

UMPIRES: HP--Gary Darling. 1B--Larry Poncino. 2B--Jerry Meals. 3B--Bruce
Dreckman.

Weather: 79 degrees, clear. Wind: 9 mph, out to center.</div>

 

AL: MINNESOTA at LA ANGELS

<div class="pre">AL AT LA ANGELS - SCORING UPDATE
SINGLE BY JOE MAUER SCORED JASON BARTLETT.
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, J MAUER ON FIRST, 2 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: MINNESOTA 1
LA ANGELS 0 TOP, 3RD

DUE UP FOR MINNESOTA: J MORNEAU (.284, 0-FOR-1)</div>

 

AL: MINNESOTA at LA ANGELS

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: MIN - CARLOS SILVA
LAA - JOHN LACKEY

DUE UP FOR LA ANGELS: M IZTURIS (.268, 4 HR, 31 RBI)
J MATHIS (.210, 0 HR, 6 RBI)
R WILLITS (.309, 0 HR, 31 RBI)</div>

 

AL: MINNESOTA at LA ANGELS

<div class="pre">MINNESOTA (1) VS LA ANGELS (0) - MID 3RD - IN PROGRESS

MINNESOTA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
A Casilla 2b 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 .244
J Bartlett ss 2 1 2 0 0 0 0 .264
J Mauer c 2 0 1 1 0 0 1 .296
J Morneau 1b 2 0 1 0 0 1 1 .285
T Hunter cf 2 0 1 0 0 0 2 .294
M Cuddyer rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .280
J Kubel dh 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .248
R White lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .150
N Punto 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .207

Totals 14 1 5 1 0 2 7

BATTING: 2B - T Hunter (33, J Lackey). 3B - J Bartlett (2, J Lackey). RBI - J
Mauer (50). 2-out RBI - J Mauer. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - J
Morneau 1, T Hunter 1. Team LOB - 4.

BASERUNNING: SB - J Bartlett (21, 2nd base off J Lackey/J Mathis).


LA ANGELS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
C Figgins 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .341
O Cabrera ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .302
V Guerrero rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .326
G Anderson lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .283
G Matthews Jr dh 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .276
C Kotchman 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .306
M Izturis 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .268
J Mathis c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .210
R Willits cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .309

Totals 6 0 0 0 0 1 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.


----------------------------------------------------
MINNESOTA - 001 -- 1
LA ANGELS - 00 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

MINNESOTA ip h r er bb so hr era
C Silva 2 0 0 0 0 1 0 4.45

LA ANGELS ip h r er bb so hr era
J Lackey 3 5 1 1 0 2 0 3.11

Pitches-strikes: C Silva 17-13; J Lackey 50-35. Ground balls-fly balls: C
Silva 2-3; J Lackey 7-0. Batters faced: C Silva 6; J Lackey 14.

UMPIRES: HP--Gary Darling. 1B--Larry Poncino. 2B--Jerry Meals. 3B--Bruce
Dreckman.

Weather: 79 degrees, clear. Wind: 9 mph, out to center.</div>

 

AL: MINNESOTA at LA ANGELS

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: MIN - CARLOS SILVA
LAA - JOHN LACKEY

DUE UP FOR MINNESOTA: M CUDDYER (.280, 0-FOR-1)
J KUBEL (.248, 0-FOR-1)
R WHITE (.150, 0-FOR-1)</div>

 

AL: MINNESOTA at LA ANGELS

<div class="pre">MINNESOTA (1) VS LA ANGELS (0) - END 3RD - IN PROGRESS

MINNESOTA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
A Casilla 2b 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 .244
J Bartlett ss 2 1 2 0 0 0 0 .264
J Mauer c 2 0 1 1 0 0 1 .296
J Morneau 1b 2 0 1 0 0 1 1 .285
T Hunter cf 2 0 1 0 0 0 2 .294
M Cuddyer rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .280
J Kubel dh 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .248
R White lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .150
N Punto 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .207

Totals 14 1 5 1 0 2 7

BATTING: 2B - T Hunter (33, J Lackey). 3B - J Bartlett (2, J Lackey). RBI - J
Mauer (50). 2-out RBI - J Mauer. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - J
Morneau 1, T Hunter 1. Team LOB - 4.

BASERUNNING: SB - J Bartlett (21, 2nd base off J Lackey/J Mathis).


LA ANGELS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
C Figgins 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .341
O Cabrera ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .302
V Guerrero rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .326
G Anderson lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .283
G Matthews Jr dh 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .276
C Kotchman 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .306
M Izturis 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .267
J Mathis c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .206
R Willits cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .308

Totals 9 0 0 0 0 1 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.


----------------------------------------------------
MINNESOTA - 001 -- 1
LA ANGELS - 000 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

MINNESOTA ip h r er bb so hr era
C Silva 3 0 0 0 0 1 0 4.42

LA ANGELS ip h r er bb so hr era
J Lackey 3 5 1 1 0 2 0 3.11

Pitches-strikes: C Silva 38-27; J Lackey 50-35. Ground balls-fly balls: C
Silva 3-5; J Lackey 7-0. Batters faced: C Silva 9; J Lackey 14.

UMPIRES: HP--Gary Darling. 1B--Larry Poncino. 2B--Jerry Meals. 3B--Bruce
Dreckman.

Weather: 79 degrees, clear. Wind: 9 mph, out to center.</div>

 

AL: MINNESOTA at LA ANGELS

<div class="pre">AL AT LA ANGELS - MID INNING UPDATE
PLAY: M Redmond hit for J Kubel.
SITUATION: 0 RUNS IN, NONE ON, 1 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: MINNESOTA 1
LA ANGELS 0 TOP, 4TH

DUE UP FOR MINNESOTA: M Redmond (.287, 1 HR, 25 RBI)</div>

 

AL: MINNESOTA at LA ANGELS

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: MIN - CARLOS SILVA
LAA - JOHN LACKEY

DUE UP FOR LA ANGELS: C FIGGINS (.341, 0-FOR-1)
O CABRERA (.302, 0-FOR-1)
V GUERRERO (.326, 0-FOR-1)</div>