Los Angeles @ Oakland preview
Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum
Last Meeting ( Aug 6, 2012 ) LA Angels 4, Oakland 0
With their bullpen imploding on a near-nightly basis, the Los Angeles Angels turned to the nearest thing to a quick fix on their roster. Ace Jered Weaver threw a complete-game shutout in the series opener to push the Angels one-half game ahead of the Oakland Athletics in both the American League West and the wild card race. The Athletics have lost three consecutive games and five of seven due mainly to an offense that has scored one run or fewer four times in that span.
Angels rookie Mike Trout, who will celebrate his 21st birthday Tuesday, continues to put up numbers that belie his age. Trout had two hits, drove in a run and stole three bases. He leads the American League with a .348 average and tops the majors with 36 stolen bases. "He wreaks havoc out there," Oakland RHP Jarrod Parker said. Angels shortstop Erick Aybar returned from the disabled list to record three hits and an RBI, but Albert Pujols' seven-game hitting streak was snapped.
TV: 10:05 p.m. ET, FSW, CSCA
PITCHING MATCHUP: Angels LH C.J. Wilson (9-7, 3.27 ERA) vs. Athletics RH Bartolo Colon (8-8, 3.55)
Wilson closed out the month of June by winning his fifth consecutive decision, but he has come up empty since, going 0-3 in his last seven starts. His effectiveness has continued to diminish and he was battered for a seasons-high eight runs on 10 hits in 5 1/3 innings last time out at Texas. He has his best outing of the year at Oakland on May 22, allowing one hit in eight scoreless innings.
Colon was outstanding in his last start, blanking the Toronto Blue Jays on seven hits in eight innings. He also did not allow a run to Baltimore in his previous outing and carries a scoreless streak of 16 1/3 innings into Tuesday's start. Colon has split a pair of decisions against the Angels this season and is 9-6 with a 3.55 ERA in 20 career starts against them.
WALK-OFFS
1. Trout has stolen 27 consecutive bases and was last caught on June 4.
2. 3B Brandon Inge has hit safely in 15 of his last 16 games for Oakland, which is 12-22 without rookie LF Yoenis Cespedes in the starting lineup.
3. Weaver's shutout was the major league-leading 15th for the Angels.