Angels Can’t Find Relief for Dickson in 6-2 Loss

By most measures the Angel homestand 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 depart for Chicago today totally 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 defeats.

At the conclusion of another quality start by Angel right-hander Jason Dickson, the Toronto Blue Jays scored four runs in the eighth inning and defeated the Angels, 6-2, 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 allowed 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. The homer, Batista’s fifth, landed well into the left-field seats.

“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 did not allow a baserunner into scoring position until the sixth, when the Blue Jays scored twice.

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. Toronto, which batted .227 in its first nine games, mustered nine singles and two runs in 6 1/3 innings against Dickson.

Though he could use another four or five m.p.h. on his fastball, Dickson has relied on exceptional command. 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 victory 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 Angel trip with optimism. The five victories came without much production from the middle of his order, though Garret Anderson had two hits and an RBI Wednesday subbing for ailing Tim Salmon. Darin Erstad and Adam Kennedy each had two more hits and Orlando Palmeiro came off the bench and contributed two hits.

They have yet to experience a poor start, and the defense was sound again, making three sharp plays behind Dickson.

“The more we see this club the more we like it,” Scioscia said.

The Angels took a 1-0 lead in the first inning, though for a moment it appeared Toronto right fielder Raul Mondesi had stolen the run from them.

Kennedy lined a one-out single to left field, then remained at first base to give Vaughn a shot at an open right side. It didn’t work, however, as Vaughn struck out on three pitches, the last a curveball he watched drop into the strike zone. It was his ninth strikeout in his first 30 at-bats.

With two out, Kennedy stole second base, his fourth steal.

Then Anderson hit enough of a Frank Castillo curveball to get it over the infield and softly in front of Mondesi. As Kennedy jogged easily into home, Anderson took a threw hard behind him.

Before Kennedy touched the plate, first baseman Carlos Delgado tagged Anderson. Umpire Jeff Nelson ruled safe on a close play, and Kennedy brought in the run.