Angels’ battery operates at a lower level in loss to A’s
Reporting from Oakland — The Angels’ battery fell a little flat in a 6-1 loss to the Oakland Athletics on Thursday.
Pitcher Ervin Santana (6-4) had his five-game winning streak snapped, the right-hander giving up five runs — four earned — and seven hits in five innings for his first loss since May 9.
And catcher Bobby Wilson was tagged with his first loss as a starter. Pitchers combined for a 7-0 record and 2.97 earned-run average in Wilson’s previous seven starts behind the plate.
Santana, who entered with an 11-2 career record and 1.50 ERA against the A’s, gave up two runs in the fourth, which featured a leadoff walk and Ryan Sweeney’s run-scoring double, and three in the fifth on RBI singles by Daric Barton, Kurt Suzuki and Kevin Kouzmanoff.
“I just didn’t have my best stuff today,” said Santana, who had a 1.80 ERA during his winning streak. “I had too many 3-and-2 counts. My command was not really good. Every day is not a happy day.”
A’s right-hander Trevor Cahill threw a career-high eight innings, allowing one run and six hits, striking out four and walking one, to improve to 5-2.
The Angels scored their only run in the fifth when Juan Rivera doubled with one out and scored on Wilson’s two-out RBI single.
Scioscia an All-Star
Manager Mike Scioscia, who turned down numerous requests in recent years to be an All-Star coach, has accepted an invitation from New York Yankees Manager Joe Girardi to serve on the American League staff for the July 13 All-Star game in Angel Stadium.
Girardi selected Oakland’s Bob Geren as his other coach, and Angels head athletic trainer Ned Bergert will serve on the AL staff. Philadelphia Phillies Manager Charlie Manuel selected San Diego manager and former Angels pitching coach Bud Black and San Francisco Manager Bruce Bochy as his National League coaches.
“It’s a terrific honor, and it’s going to be exciting to be a part of it,” Scioscia said. “Being in Southern California and in our park, I will be proud to represent the organization.”
Playing the field
Scioscia said designated hitter Hideki Matsui, who is batting .338 (23 for 68) in his last 18 games, will start at least one and possibly two games in left field in Dodger Stadium this weekend.
Matsui started one of three games in the team’s first interleague series in an NL park, in St. Louis from May 21 to 23.
“We’ll see how he feels after one game,” Scioscia said. “He’s healthy, and we wouldn’t hesitate using him more than once if he comes out of that first game OK.”
Face-plant
A’s center fielder Matt Carson had a simple explanation for why he slammed face-first, at full speed, into the wall while attempting to catch Juan Rivera’s eighth-inning home run Wednesday night, a play that probably go straight to baseball’s blooper reel.
“I thought I had another step,” said Carson, who had a sore jaw but was otherwise OK, “and I guess I didn’t.”
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