Shaky Brian Fuentes saves it for Angels, Joe Saunders
Reporting from Chicago -- The Angels are getting a feel for what they can expect every time Joe Saunders starts a game.
They also have a pretty good idea how things are going to go when Brian Fuentes tries to finish one — and that’s not nearly as comforting.
Fuentes struggled to wrap up what Saunders started so brilliantly Wednesday night at U.S. Cellular Field, wobbling through another ninth inning but ultimately preserving the Angels’ 3-2 victory over the Chicago White Sox.
The embattled closer gave up a leadoff home run to Paul Konerko and allowed the potential tying run to reach second base with two out before striking out Alexei Ramirez for his fifth save in seven chances.
It was the first time Fuentes has pitched on consecutive days during an injury-plagued season in which his team has handed him only a handful of late leads during a slow start.
“Right now we’re reading some things to see where he is,” said Manager Mike Scioscia, who nevertheless maintained that Fuentes would remain the closer for the time being. “I don’t know if he’s quite gotten into the flow of the season.”
Saunders is certainly finding a groove. The left-hander who stumbled through his first six starts gave up four hits and one run in 7 2/3 innings and has compiled an earned-run average of 0.81 over his last three starts.
“My last two starts, my main thing is get ahead of hitters and put them on the defense instead of the offense,” said Saunders, who escaped a two-out, bases-loaded jam in the sixth inning when he got Alex Rios to fly out to left field.
The Angels backed Saunders (3-5) with only three hits, but one was Torii Hunter’s two-run homer in the fourth inning that provided a 2-1 lead. They added a run in the eighth when Juan Rivera singled and eventually scored when third baseman Jayson Nix made a fielding error and a throwing error on the same play.
Hunter has hit a home run in three consecutive games for the first time since he homered in four consecutive games from Aug. 23-26, 2006. He gave partial credit for his power surge to his recent switch from No. 3 in the batting order to the cleanup spot.
“I think that’s more me, the four hole,” he said. “I’m able to swing the bat a little harder and go out there and have some fun.”
Fuentes doesn’t seem to be enjoying himself much during a season in which he has yielded four homers, 10 hits and four walks in 9 2/3 innings. Scioscia said the left-hander was struggling with fastball command, but Fuentes said he didn’t regret his 3-and-2 fastball that Konerko reached down and whacked for his American League-leading 14th homer.
“I wasn’t going to walk him and give up a free pass,” said Fuentes, who also allowed a one-out single to A.J. Pierzynski. “I was going to go out with my best pitch and that’s a fastball. He put good wood on it.”
The Angels’ top option to replace Fuentes is Fernando Rodney, who retired the only batter he faced in the eighth inning and has converted all five save opportunities. Asked if he still felt confident when he took the mound, Fuentes paused for a second before saying he did.
“I’ve been hurt a lot by walks and home runs,” Fuentes said. “That’s been my nemesis all year. Once I rectify that situation, things will start getting better.”
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