GAME THREAD: GAME THREAD: AL: MINNESOTA (28-29) at LA ANGELS (38-22)

AL: MINNESOTA (28-29) at LA ANGELS (38-22)

<h3>Lackey goes for major league-leading 10th win</h3>

Minnesota (28-29) at LA Angels (38-22) 3:35 pm EDT

ANAHEIM, California (Ticker) -- The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheimare the hottest team in baseball and their starting pitchersare the main reason.

The Angels will sent ace John Lackey to the mound on Wednesdaywhen they go for a sweep of the visiting Minnesota Twins.

Anaheim has outscored the Twins, 21-4, in the first two games ofthe series with an offense that is clicking on all cylindersand a pitching staff that has shown very little weakness.

Kelvim Escobar tossed a complete game in Tuesday's 5-1 win whileJered Weaver surrendered one run in seven innings in Monday's16-3 drubbing.

Lackey (9-3, 2.37 ERA) has allowed more than three earned runsin just one of his 12 starts this season and has not suffered adefeat since May 3. His 2.37 ERA places him second in theAmerican League and a win over Minnesota would make him thefirst pitcher in the majors to reach double digits in wins.

The Twins will counter with rookie Kevin Slowey (0-0, 1.50).The 23-year-old righthander impressed in his major league debuton Friday, limiting Oakland to one run and six hits. He did notfactor in the decision.

One of Minnesota's top prospects, Slowey will be facing a lineupthat has piled on an average of seven runs per game during afive-game win streak.

 

AL: MINNESOTA at LA ANGELS

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

MINNESOTA LA ANGELS
AVG HR RBI AVG HR RBI
Luis Castillo 2B .331 0 8 Reggie Willits CF .324 0 12
Jeff Cirillo 1B .214 1 10 Chone Figgins 3B .221 1 10
Michael Cuddyer RF .289 7 38 Orlando Cabrera SS .332 3 30
Justin Morneau DH .277 16 44 Vladimir Guerrero DH .355 12 51
Torii Hunter CF .308 13 47 Casey Kotchman 1B .309 7 28
Mike Redmond C .302 1 17 Garret Anderson LF .243 2 11
Jason Kubel LF .248 3 18 Mike Napoli C .256 7 19
Nick Punto 3B .226 0 10 Howie Kendrick 2B .247 2 6
Jason Bartlett SS .237 0 10 Nathan Haynes RF .333 0 0

Kevin Slowey RHP (0-0, 1.50) John Lackey RHP (9-3, 2.37)</div>

 

AL: MINNESOTA at LA ANGELS

<div class="pre">AL AT LA ANGELS
WARMUPS: MIN - KEVIN SLOWEY (0-0, 1.50)
LAA - JOHN LACKEY (9-3, 2.37)

UMPIRES: HP - MIKE EVERITT
1B - PAUL NAUERT
2B - BRIAN GORMAN
3B - GERRY DAVIS

WEATHER: 67 Degrees, partly cloudy
WIND: 13 mph, out to center</div>

 

AL: MINNESOTA at LA ANGELS

<div class="pre">AL AT LA ANGELS
STARTING BATS: MIN - KEVIN SLOWEY AND MIKE REDMOND
LAA - JOHN LACKEY AND MIKE NAPOLI

DUE UP FOR MINNESOTA: L CASTILLO (.331, 0 HR, 8 RBI)
J CIRILLO (.214, 1 HR, 10 RBI)
M CUDDYER (.289, 7 HR, 38 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 0 0
LA ANGELS 0 0 0 (BOT 1)

CURRENT PITCHERS: MIN - KEVIN SLOWEY
LAA - JOHN LACKEY

DUE UP FOR LA ANGELS: R WILLITS (.324, 0 HR, 12 RBI)
C FIGGINS (.221, 1 HR, 10 RBI)
O CABRERA (.332, 3 HR, 30 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
L Castillo 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .330
J Cirillo 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .211
M Cuddyer rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .287
J Morneau dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .277
T Hunter cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .308
M Redmond c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .302
J Kubel lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .248
N Punto 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .226
J Bartlett ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .237

Totals 3 0 0 0 0 0 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 .324
C Figgins 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .221
O Cabrera ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .332
V Guerrero dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .355
C Kotchman 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .309
G Anderson lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .243
M Napoli c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .256
H Kendrick 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .247
N Haynes rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .333

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
K Slowey 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1.50

LA ANGELS ip h r er bb so hr era
J Lackey 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 2.34

Pitches-strikes: J Lackey 14-8. Ground balls-fly balls: J Lackey 2-1. Batters
faced: J Lackey 3.

UMPIRES: HP--Mike Everitt. 1B--Paul Nauert. 2B--Brian Gorman. 3B--Gerry
Davis.

Weather: 67 degrees, partly cloudy. Wind: 13 mph, out to center.</div>

 

AL: MINNESOTA at LA ANGELS

<div class="pre">AL AT LA ANGELS
CONFIRMED STARTERS: MIN - KEVIN SLOWEY
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 0 1
LA ANGELS 0 0 1 0 (TOP 2)

CURRENT PITCHERS: MIN - KEVIN SLOWEY
LAA - JOHN LACKEY

DUE UP FOR MINNESOTA: J MORNEAU (.277, 16 HR, 44 RBI)
T HUNTER (.308, 13 HR, 47 RBI)
M REDMOND (.302, 1 HR, 17 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
L Castillo 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .330
J Cirillo 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .211
M Cuddyer rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .287
J Morneau dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .277
T Hunter cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .308
M Redmond c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .302
J Kubel lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .248
N Punto 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .226
J Bartlett ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .237

Totals 3 0 0 0 0 0 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.

FIELDING: E - L Castillo (1, catch).


LA ANGELS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
R Willits cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .322
C Figgins 3b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .228
O Cabrera ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .330
V Guerrero dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .353
C Kotchman 1b 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 .307
G Anderson lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .243
M Napoli c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .256
H Kendrick 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .247
N Haynes rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .333

Totals 5 0 1 0 0 1 3

BATTING: Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - C Kotchman 1. Team LOB - 2.



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

MINNESOTA ip h r er bb so hr era
K Slowey 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 1.29

LA ANGELS ip h r er bb so hr era
J Lackey 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 2.34

Pitches-strikes: K Slowey 13-12; J Lackey 14-8. Ground balls-fly balls: K
Slowey 1-2; J Lackey 2-1. Batters faced: K Slowey 5; J Lackey 3.

UMPIRES: HP--Mike Everitt. 1B--Paul Nauert. 2B--Brian Gorman. 3B--Gerry
Davis.

Weather: 67 degrees, partly cloudy. Wind: 13 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 0 1
LA ANGELS 0 0 1 0 (BOT 2)

CURRENT PITCHERS: MIN - KEVIN SLOWEY
LAA - JOHN LACKEY

DUE UP FOR LA ANGELS: G ANDERSON (.243, 2 HR, 11 RBI)
M NAPOLI (.256, 7 HR, 19 RBI)
H KENDRICK (.247, 2 HR, 6 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
L Castillo 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .330
J Cirillo 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .211
M Cuddyer rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .287
J Morneau dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .276
T Hunter cf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .306
M Redmond c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .300
J Kubel lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .248
N Punto 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .226
J Bartlett ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .237

Totals 6 0 0 0 0 1 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.

FIELDING: E - L Castillo (1, catch).


LA ANGELS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
R Willits cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .322
C Figgins 3b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .228
O Cabrera ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .330
V Guerrero dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .353
C Kotchman 1b 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 .307
G Anderson lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .243
M Napoli c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .256
H Kendrick 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .247
N Haynes rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .333

Totals 5 0 1 0 0 1 3

BATTING: Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - C Kotchman 1. Team LOB - 2.



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

MINNESOTA ip h r er bb so hr era
K Slowey 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 1.29

LA ANGELS ip h r er bb so hr era
J Lackey 2 0 0 0 0 1 0 2.31

Pitches-strikes: K Slowey 13-12; J Lackey 28-18. Ground balls-fly balls: K
Slowey 1-2; J Lackey 4-1. Batters faced: K Slowey 5; J Lackey 6.

UMPIRES: HP--Mike Everitt. 1B--Paul Nauert. 2B--Brian Gorman. 3B--Gerry
Davis.

Weather: 67 degrees, partly cloudy. Wind: 13 mph, out to center.</div>

 

AL: MINNESOTA at LA ANGELS

<div class="pre">AL AT LA ANGELS - SCORING UPDATE
SINGLE BY MIKE NAPOLI SCORED GARRET ANDERSON.
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, M NAPOLI ON FIRST, 0 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: MINNESOTA 0
LA ANGELS 1 BOTTOM, 2ND

DUE UP FOR LA ANGELS: H KENDRICK (.247, 2 HR, 6 RBI)</div>

 

AL: MINNESOTA at LA ANGELS

<div class="pre">AL AT LA ANGELS - SCORING UPDATE
DOUBLE BY REGGIE WILLITS SCORED HOWIE KENDRICK.
SITUATION: 2 RUNS IN, R WILLITS ON SECOND, 2 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: MINNESOTA 0
LA ANGELS 2 BOTTOM, 2ND

DUE UP FOR LA ANGELS: C FIGGINS (.228, 1-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 0 0 1
LA ANGELS 0 2 2 4 0 (TOP 3)

CURRENT PITCHERS: MIN - KEVIN SLOWEY
LAA - JOHN LACKEY

DUE UP FOR MINNESOTA: J KUBEL (.248, 3 HR, 18 RBI)
N PUNTO (.226, 0 HR, 10 RBI)
J BARTLETT (.237, 0 HR, 10 RBI)</div>

 

AL: MINNESOTA at LA ANGELS

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

MINNESOTA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
L Castillo 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .330
J Cirillo 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .211
M Cuddyer rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .287
J Morneau dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .276
T Hunter cf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .306
M Redmond c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .300
J Kubel lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .248
N Punto 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .226
J Bartlett ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .237

Totals 6 0 0 0 0 1 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.

FIELDING: E - L Castillo (1, catch).


LA ANGELS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
R Willits cf 2 0 1 1 0 0 0 .327
C Figgins 3b 2 0 1 0 0 0 1 .226
O Cabrera ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .330
V Guerrero dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .353
C Kotchman 1b 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 .307
G Anderson lf 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .250
M Napoli c 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .262
H Kendrick 2b 1 1 0 0 0 0 1 .245
N Haynes rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .250

Totals 11 2 4 2 0 1 6

BATTING: 2B - G Anderson (10, K Slowey); R Willits (7, K Slowey). RBI - M
Napoli (20), R Willits (13). 2-out RBI - R Willits. Runners left in scoring
position, 2 out - C Figgins 1, C Kotchman 1. Team LOB - 3.


----------------------------------------------------
MINNESOTA - 00 -- 0
LA ANGELS - 02 -- 2
----------------------------------------------------

MINNESOTA ip h r er bb so hr era
K Slowey 2 4 2 2 0 1 0 3.37

LA ANGELS ip h r er bb so hr era
J Lackey 2 0 0 0 0 1 0 2.31

Pitches-strikes: K Slowey 38-28; J Lackey 28-18. Ground balls-fly balls: K
Slowey 2-4; J Lackey 4-1. Batters faced: K Slowey 11; J Lackey 6.

UMPIRES: HP--Mike Everitt. 1B--Paul Nauert. 2B--Brian Gorman. 3B--Gerry
Davis.

Weather: 67 degrees, partly cloudy. Wind: 13 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 0 0 1
LA ANGELS 0 2 2 4 0 (BOT 3)

CURRENT PITCHERS: MIN - KEVIN SLOWEY
LAA - JOHN LACKEY

DUE UP FOR LA ANGELS: O CABRERA (.330, 0-FOR-1)
V GUERRERO (.353, 0-FOR-1)
C KOTCHMAN (.307, 0-FOR-1)</div>

 

AL: MINNESOTA at LA ANGELS

<div class="pre">MINNESOTA (0) VS LA ANGELS (2) - MID 3RD - IN PROGRESS

MINNESOTA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
L Castillo 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .330
J Cirillo 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .211
M Cuddyer rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .287
J Morneau dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .276
T Hunter cf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .306
M Redmond c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .300
J Kubel lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .247
N Punto 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .225
J Bartlett ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .236

Totals 9 0 0 0 0 1 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.

FIELDING: E - L Castillo (1, catch).


LA ANGELS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
R Willits cf 2 0 1 1 0 0 0 .327
C Figgins 3b 2 0 1 0 0 0 1 .226
O Cabrera ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .330
V Guerrero dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .353
C Kotchman 1b 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 .307
G Anderson lf 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .250
M Napoli c 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .262
H Kendrick 2b 1 1 0 0 0 0 1 .245
N Haynes rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .250

Totals 11 2 4 2 0 1 6

BATTING: 2B - G Anderson (10, K Slowey); R Willits (7, K Slowey). RBI - M
Napoli (20), R Willits (13). 2-out RBI - R Willits. Runners left in scoring
position, 2 out - C Figgins 1, C Kotchman 1. Team LOB - 3.


----------------------------------------------------
MINNESOTA - 000 -- 0
LA ANGELS - 02 -- 2
----------------------------------------------------

MINNESOTA ip h r er bb so hr era
K Slowey 2 4 2 2 0 1 0 3.37

LA ANGELS ip h r er bb so hr era
J Lackey 3 0 0 0 0 1 0 2.29

Pitches-strikes: K Slowey 38-28; J Lackey 39-26. Ground balls-fly balls: K
Slowey 2-4; J Lackey 6-2. Batters faced: K Slowey 11; J Lackey 9.

UMPIRES: HP--Mike Everitt. 1B--Paul Nauert. 2B--Brian Gorman. 3B--Gerry
Davis.

Weather: 67 degrees, partly cloudy. Wind: 13 mph, out to center.</div>

 

AL: MINNESOTA at LA ANGELS

<div class="pre">AL AT LA ANGELS - SCORING UPDATE
DOUBLE BY CASEY KOTCHMAN SCORED ORLANDO CABRERA.
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, C KOTCHMAN ON SECOND, 1 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: MINNESOTA 0
LA ANGELS 3 BOTTOM, 3RD

DUE UP FOR LA ANGELS: G ANDERSON (.250, 1-FOR-1)</div>

 

AL: MINNESOTA at LA ANGELS

<div class="pre">AL AT LA ANGELS - SCORING UPDATE
SINGLE BY MIKE NAPOLI SCORED CASEY KOTCHMAN.
SITUATION: 2 RUNS IN, M NAPOLI ON FIRST, 2 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: MINNESOTA 0
LA ANGELS 4 BOTTOM, 3RD

DUE UP FOR LA ANGELS: H KENDRICK (.245, 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 0 0 0 2
LA ANGELS 0 2 2 4 7 0 (TOP 4)

CURRENT PITCHERS: MIN - KEVIN SLOWEY
LAA - JOHN LACKEY

DUE UP FOR MINNESOTA: L CASTILLO (.330, 0-FOR-1)
J CIRILLO (.211, 0-FOR-1)
M CUDDYER (.287, 0-FOR-1)</div>