Angels jump out to a 3-0 lead on the Tigers in the first inning!

But it is raining in Anaheim! This is very very rare.

The Angels are seeking their 6th win in a row.

 

Ha Ha! Tigers' left-fielder Johnny Damon was just ejected for arguing balls and strikes in the Angels game.

 

Nice one





Mariners leading 4-1 in the 7th

 

Another great night for Boston sports.

 

The amazingly sucky Brian Fuentes gave up the lead for the Angels in the 9th.

They trail the Tigers 4-3 in the bottom half. CRAP!!

 

And the Angels' bid for six in a row falls short.

Our starters are great. But our pen is a shambles.

Detroit Tigers vs. Los Angeles Angels - Box Score - April 21, 2010 - ESPN

 

News and Notes From April 21, 2010

For all his faults Carlos Zambrano has posted an ERA under 4.00 in each of his eight full seasons and is one of just nine active pitchers with at least 100 career wins and a .600 winning percentage, yet after going 1-2 with a 7.45 ERA through four starts this year the Cubs decided Wednesday to move him to the bullpen. He's reportedly fine with the move and will serve as Carlos Marmol's setup man, but ... well, it's an odd decision.

Chicago can certainly use the relief help, but the rotation is hardly a big strength unless you think Carlos Silva or Tom Gorzelanny will maintain ERAs below 2.00. Ted Lilly coming back this weekend helps, but Zambrano has been an above-average starter every year since 2002 and moving him to a role with one-third as many innings just doesn't make a whole lot of sense. Oh, and the Cubs still owe him $18 million per season through 2012.

While the Cubs patch one hole by opening up a bigger one, here are some other notes from around baseball ...

* Francisco Liriano pitched scoreless ball Wednesday for the second straight start, keeping Cleveland off the board for eight innings after shutting out Boston for seven innings in his last outing. In those 15 innings he's totaled 14 strikeouts versus just 10 hits and four walks while inducing 23 ground-ball outs, which along with his increased fastball velocity is an incredibly good sign. His ugly 2009 seems like a distant memory.

* Roy Halladay hurled a complete-game shutout Wednesday against Atlanta, allowing just four hits and one walk while improving to 4-0 with a 0.82 ERA on the season. In an odd coincidence the man Halladay was essentially traded for, Cliff Lee, also began his Phillies career with an identical 4-0 record and 0.82 ERA last season. Lee hasn't pitched yet for Seattle due to an abdominal strain, but the Mariners have scheduled his debut for next Friday.

* After missing seven straight games with a shoulder injury Edwin Encarnacion finally landed on the disabled list Wednesday. Jose Bautista will continue to start at third base in his absence and shifting Encarnacion to the DL also clears roster space for Aaron Hill, who's due to come off the shelf Friday. Hill has been out since Game 2 with a hamstring injury and fill-ins John McDonald and Mike McCoy have done little in his place.

* I criticized the Nationals for signing Jason Marquis to a two-year, $15 million deal this offseason, but his first month has gone far worse than I ever could have imagined. He went 0-3 with a 20.52 ERA through three starts, coughing up 20 runs in 8.1 innings, and was put on the disabled list Wednesday after an MRI exam revealed "floating bodies" in his elbow. No word yet on a return timetable, but he's not worth waiting for anyway.

AL Quick Hits: Phil Hughes took a no-hitter into eighth inning Wednesday before Eric Chavez reached on a single off his chest ... Felix Hernandez out-dueled Kevin Millwood as both pitchers went the distance Wednesday ... It took Brian Fuentes just one batter to blow a save after coming off the shelf Wednesday ... In shades of last season Zack Greinke got stuck with a no-decision despite an excellent outing Wednesday, but the Royals did win on Alex Gordon's extra-inning homer ... Mike Lowell homered Wednesday starting in place of David Ortiz against a left-hander ... Mark Ellis was placed on the disabled list Wednesday after aggravating a hamstring injury, leaving Adam Rosales to start at second base ... Grady Sizemore went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts Wednesday, dropping his batting average to .191 ... Brett Cecil is back in Toronto's rotation thanks to Brian Tallet's forearm injury ... Eric Patterson got a start Wednesday when Travis Buck was scratched from the lineup with a strained oblique ... Nelson Cruz left Wednesday's game in extra innings with more hamstring soreness.

NL Quick Hits: Hitting just .226 and homerless in 53 at-bats, Prince Fielder revealed that he's playing through a sore hand ... Placido Polanco left Wednesday's game after being plunked on the elbow, but X-rays were negative ... Huston Street (shoulder) made 60 throws from 120 feet Wednesday, but remains several weeks from returning ... Justin Upton struck out in all four at-bats Wednesday and is now hitting .186 ... Joe Blanton's (oblique) next rehab start will be Friday at Double-A ... Chris Young (shoulder) threw a 35-pitch bullpen session Wednesday and will advance to a simulated game Friday ... Xavier Nady was scratched from Wednesday's lineup with complications from Tommy John surgery ... Yovani Gallardo struck out 10 in five shutout innings Wednesday for his first victory ... Troy Glaus is batting just .184 after going hitless Wednesday, but Shane Victorino did rob him of a homer ... Astros reliever Alberto Arias will miss the remainder of the season following shoulder shoulder ... Kevin Millar officially retired Wednesday, taking a job at MLB Network ...

 

I cannot believe that it is still threatening rain here in the OC!

Angels vs. Tigers tonight at 7:05. Angels need to get back on the winning track before the Yanks come in this weekend.

I am going to brave the elements and go.

 

I am heading out to the Angel game now.

The skies are dark and lowering.

Not the best conditions for baseball.

A win will make it all ok.

 

Go Sox. Hopefully we can win tonight without going into the bottom of the 9th.