Angels Can’t Find Much Relief in Loss

By most measures, the Angel home stand was as sound as they could have hoped, given five wins and two series victories and the answered prayers for a suspect starting rotation.

They do not leave for Chicago today utterly satisfied, however, given the series sweep that died in their bullpen Wednesday night. Even that wouldn’t be so terrible if that same corps of relievers hadn’t left a stain in two of their previous three losses.

Wednesday, the Angel bullpen wasted a quality start by Jason Dickson, as the Toronto Blue Jays scored four runs in the eighth inning of a 6-2 victory before 16,494 at Edison Field.

In nine games, Angel starters are 5-2 with a 3.05 earned-run average. Relievers are 0-2 with a 6.48 ERA.

Right-hander Mark Petkovsek (0-1), arguably the club’s best pitcher last season, relieved Dickson in the seventh, pitched out of a jam partially of his making, then gave up three runs in the eighth, two on Brad Fullmer’s tie-breaking double. Lou Pote took the baseball from Petkovsek and on his fourth pitch gave up a home run to Tony Batista.

“If you walk the tightrope too many times, you’re going to fall off eventually,” said Petkovsek, who in four appearances has allowed eight baserunners in 4 2/3 innings. “I can’t continue to pitch like that.”

Manager Mike Scioscia said he expected the bullpen to improve soon.

“Once we can get those guys lined up where we want them and throwing consistently, we’re going to be strong down there,” he said. “Overall, Mark had a little bit of trouble. But he’s going to be there. His stuff is good. Some thing with Lou Pote and Kent Mercker. You’ll see those guys settle into roles and do that job.”

Sturdy again in his second start since returning from shoulder surgery, Dickson held the Blue Jays scoreless until the sixth, when they scored two runs.

Dickson beat the Boston Red Sox on Friday night with location and subtle changes in velocity, a strategy that worked again against the Blue Jays. In two starts, he has issued one walk in 13 innings, and he has faced 47 batters since that walk.

“Same game plan, same game, pretty much,” Dickson said of his first two starts, which have resulted in a win and a 2.77 ERA.

Petkovsek relieved Dickson with a runner on and one out in the seventh, walked Jose Cruz Jr. and threw three consecutive balls to Alex Gonzalez. Petkovsek escaped when Gonzalez pounded a 3-and-2 pitch to third base, where Troy Glaus started a double play. The 2-2 tie, however, was gone in the eighth, as was any chance of a six-win homestand.

Still, Scioscia leaves on his first trip with optimism. The five wins came without much production from the middle of his order, though Garret Anderson had two hits and an RBI on Wednesday subbing for ailing Tim Salmon. Darin Erstad and Adam Kennedy each had two hits and Orlando Palmeiro came off the bench and contributed two hits.

“The more we see this club the more we like it,” Scioscia said. “We can do a lot of things to pressure other teams. I like the way our pitching is lining up. We’re solid.’