Pineiro leads Halos to victory

Mamba · Apr 20, 2010

ANAHEIM – The Angels are paying Joel Pineiro to make plays with his arm. Occasionally, they'll ask him to field a ball with his glove.

But Monday night, it was Pineiro's right foot that saved a run and, ultimately, helped the Angels extend their winning streak with a 2-0 win over the Detroit Tigers.

Leading in the top of the seventh with a runner on second, Detroit second baseman Scott Sizemore hit the ball sharply up the middle. Pineiro shot his right foot back like a salsa dancer posing, keeping the ball from reaching the outfield and keeping the runner from scoring. Pineiro got the next batter to fly out to end the threat.

Twice before in the game, Pineiro tried to do the same thing, but the ball scooted past his right shoe.

"I got lucky," Pineiro said. "It didn't go anywhere else. It just went right to (shortstop Erick) Aybar."

Pineiro worked 7.1 scoreless innings, improving to 2-1. Fernando Rodney pitched a scoreless ninth inning to get his fourth save of the year. It was also the first time he's faced his former team in his career.

Angels manager Mike Scioscia said Pineiro navigated his way through some tough batters, helping the Angels pick up their fourth win in a row.

Catcher Jeff Mathis extended his hitting streak to a career-best 10 games with a RBI double in the third inning to get the Angels on the board first. Mathis would later score in the inning on a fielder's choice. Mathis suffered a contusion just below his right thumb and will undergo cautionary X-rays Tuesday.

The Angels will play game two of a 10-game homestand Tuesday against the Tigers, with Scott Kazmir facing Rick Porcello. Kazmir get hit hard in his season debut, giving up six earned runs in just four innings in a loss to the New York Yankees.

"You're not going to be in sync every start of your career and he was out of sync the other day," Scioscia said.
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http://www.ocregister.com/sports/pineiro-244849-angels-right.html

Mamba · Apr 20, 2010

He has been solid through 3 starts. He shut down the Yankees last week and made awesome adjustments during this game when his fastball was being hit pretty hard. Keep it up, Joel!

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Pineiro leads Halos to victory

Mamba The King is Back Staff Member Global Moderator

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Pineiro leads Halos to victory

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