Suddenly, Angels Sound on Mound

So which team is it again that has one of baseball’s best pitching staffs?

The Angels got six strong innings from Allen Watson on Sunday and trotted out one dominant reliever after another in a 2-0 victory over the Dodgers before 18,647 at Anaheim Stadium.

Watson, Dennis Springer, Mike Holtz and Troy Percival struck out 12 and gave up five hits. In three games against the Dodgers, the Angels gave up only five runs, three coming in a 3-2, 11-inning loss on Friday.

This did not resemble the staff that gave up an average of a run an inning in Arizona.

“I think we’re just coming together as a staff,” said Watson, who gave up three hits and struck out five. “Jason Dickson is a young guy. Me and Mark Gubicza have come over [from other teams] this year. I think we’re starting to learn the catchers.”

Watson, who was acquired from the San Francisco Giants during the offseason for first baseman J.T. Snow, had his best outing of the spring, an easy goal to reach. He was 0-3 with a 12.18 earned-run average in Arizona.

By the time he was finished Sunday, any concerns Angel Manager Terry Collins were eliminated.

“I think I worried Terry a little bit,” Watson said. “I did the same thing last year. I think my ERA was around 10.00, then I pitched well in my last game before the season.

“Maybe it has something to do with Arizona’s thin air.”

Or the adjustments pitching coach Marcel Lachemann made in Watson’s delivery. The two looked at video and decided Watson was standing too far toward first base on the rubber.

“All I know is I broke a lot of bats today,” Watson said.

The first was that of Raul Mondesi, who popped up in the first inning.

The Dodgers got only one runner past first base against Watson. Billy Ashley doubled in the third inning, but he was doubled-up when Greg Gagne lined out.

Watson, who was 8-12 with the Giants last season, did not walk a batter and retired his last seven.

“I think people look too much at spring training,” Collins said. “His numbers this spring aren’t great because he usually has one bad inning, where he gives his five or six runs.”

Much the same could be said about Springer, who followed Watson and also has had a difficult spring. He had a 9.87 ERA going into the game.

But Springer’s knuckleball looked sharp. He struck out the side in the seventh inning.

More about the Arizona atmosphere.

“You get a few more molecules in the air and his ball really moves,” Collins said.

Holtz and Percival both struck out two in their one inning of work each.

The Dodgers also got solid pitching, giving up four hits, but mistakes cost them.

Luis Alicea, who was playing second base in place of the injured Randy Velarde, homered off Pedro Astacio in the first inning. It was his third home run this spring.

The Angels’ other run came in the fourth inning with two outs. Tim Salmon singled, then went to second on a wild pitch by Chan Ho Park and scored on Garret Anderson’s single.