Erick Aybar’s risk proves costly for Angels
— The Angels committed two more errors Saturday, giving them five in the first two games against the Tigers, but the one that led to Detroit’s score-tying unearned run in the fifth inning seemed more a mental mistake than a physical error.
Johnny Damon doubled to lead off the inning, and Magglio Ordonez followed with a sharp grounder to shortstop Erick Aybar.
The speedy Damon took off for third, the ball rolling behind him as it headed for Aybar, but instead of throwing to first for a sure out, Aybar, an aggressive and at times acrobatic defender with a very strong arm, threw to third.
Aybar’s throw hit the sliding Damon and trickled into foul territory, allowing the Tigers to put runners on first and third. Miguel Cabrera’s ensuing run-scoring single tied the score, 2-2.
It seemed like a risky move for Aybar, but Manager Mike Scioscia thought his shortstop made the right decision.
“The play was in front of him and he reacted,” Scioscia said. “He has an accurate arm and was making a 60-foot throw. It just glanced off the runner.
“There was nothing wrong with the play. I didn’t think the degree of difficulty was so skewed you’re trying a Hail Mary play. It would have been a big out in a close game.”
In the zone
Scott Kazmir didn’t make many strides in terms of pitch efficiency — the Angels left-hander needed 117 pitches to complete six innings Saturday.
But 73 of those pitches were strikes, and Kazmir, who entered with a 2-1 record and 7.20 earned-run average, looked better while giving up two runs — one earned — and five hits, striking out seven and walking four for a no-decision in a 3-2 Angels loss.
Kazmir threw 25 pitches during a one-run first inning, but he minimized damage after the Tigers loaded the bases with one out and gave up only three hits over the next five innings.
“In my eyes, that wasn’t bad to get out of the first with one run,” said Kazmir, who got most of his strikeouts on fastballs. “I tried to build on that and attack the zone a little better.”
The Angels took advantage of a pair of errors by Cabrera, Detroit’s first baseman, to score in the fourth, and Kendry Morales’ single, Mike Napoli’s double and Brandon Wood’s run-scoring single gave them a run in the fifth.
Delivery tweak
As painful as it was for Joe Saunders to watch video of his last two games, when he was roughed up for eight runs and 15 hits in 7 2/3 innings of losses to Detroit and Cleveland, the Angels left-hander may have found a possible cause for his 1-4 start.
“My arm is not an issue and my velocity is good — the problem is my sinker has been cutting a bit or staying straight,” Saunders said. “It’s a matter of over-rotating in my delivery, coming across my body instead of staying in a true line with the catcher.”
Saunders, who has a 5.74 ERA, noticed the flaw while watching video with pitching coach Mike Butcher and made an adjustment for his bullpen workout Saturday.
“I threw good today,” said Saunders, whose next start will be Monday night in Fenway Park. “My sinker was doing what it normally does, sinking and fading.... It helps to know there’s a reason you’re getting these results, but it still eats at you.”
Short-handed
An Angels bench thinned by carrying 12 pitchers instead of the usual 11 has been even skimpier this weekend. Infielder Maicer Izturis, who was expected to get significant playing time, has a sore shoulder and did not start Saturday for the fifth straight game.
“He’ll be available in case of emergency,” Scioscia said. “He should be ready to play by Monday.”
Clicking on Green Links will take you to a third-party e-commerce site. These sites are not operated by the Los Angeles Times. The Times Editorial staff is not involved in any way with Green Links or with these third-party sites.
Go beyond the scoreboard
Get the latest on L.A.'s teams in the daily Sports Report newsletter.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
