Advertisement

BASEBALL DAILY REPORT : ANGELS : Anderson to Make Class A Start Sunday

Share via

Brian Anderson has no idea who the Lake Elsinore Storm is playing Sunday. All he knows is he’ll be on the Lake Elsinore mound in a game for the first time since May 5, when he left the Angels’ game against Seattle in the fifth inning because of a strained left biceps.

“I don’t even care who we’re playing, as long as it’s someone,” said Anderson, who is expected to make three rehabilitation starts for the Class A Storm. “You don’t get the same adrenaline rush in the bullpen as you do facing hitters.”

Anderson said he felt no pain after throwing a two- inning simulated game, in which he made about 30 pitches, several that reached his pre-injury velocity range. Anderson could return to the Angel rotation for the series against Kansas City June 19-21.

Advertisement

*

Eduardo Perez didn’t start at third base for the sixth time in the past seven games, only this time it was Carlos Martinez, another right-handed hitter, and not Spike Owen, a switch-hitter, getting the call against Baltimore left-hander Jamie Moyer.

Manager Marcel Lachemann said his decision was based in part on Martinez’s .333 career average (5 for 15) against Moyer and Perez’s .000 average (in six at-bats), but it’s becoming more apparent that the Angels have lost confidence in the slumping Perez (.169) and might soon demote him to triple-A Vancouver.

*

Angel reliever Lee Smith, who was not re-signed by Baltimore last winter, had more saves (12) entering Tuesday’s game than the Orioles did victories (11). Smith was 12 for 12 in save opportunities; Baltimore relievers were a combined five for eight.

Advertisement

“They wanted to go with the young kid [Oriole reliever Armando Benitez],” said Smith, the 37-year-old right-hander. “Everywhere I go, they think the old dude is going to fall down.”

Advertisement