July 2008 Archives

Though the Dodgers lost their final game in the month of July, it was a good month for them.

The Dodgers posted a 16-9 record, ranking them third in the National League during July behind the New York Mets (18-8) and Colorado Rockies (17-9).

The 16 wins by the Dodgers are their most in a calendar month since May, 2007, when they went 16-11.

The Dodgers scored 117 runs and averaged 4.7 runs per game in July.

-- Broderick Turner
-- bturner@PE.com
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The Dodgers gave starter Derek Lowe a 1-0 lead in the sixth inning, but he was unable to protect it.

Lowe allowed two runs on three hits in the seventh inning.

When he gave up his third hit in the inning, Dodgers manager Joe Torre pulled Lowe out and replaced him with Hong-Chih Kuo.

Lowe wasn't as sharp as he was in his last outing, when allowed just one hit over eight innings of shutout baseball.

Thursday night, Lowe allowed seven hits. He left with the Dodgers trailing, 2-1.

-- Broderick Turner
-- bturner@PE.com

In crushing the Yankees, 12-6, the Angels set some offensive marks for the month of July.

-- Their 19-6 record is the second-best mark ever for July, trailing only July 1998 when they went 22-6.

-- They batted .296 and averaged 6.4 runs per game. The runs per game average is the second-best for a month in club history, behind the July 1995 club's 7.4 per game average.

-- The Angels are 11-2 after the break and are hitting .306 with runners in scoring position in July. They hit .330 in those situations post-break.

-- Their 67-42 record is their best ever after 108 games in franchise history.

The Dodgers were forced to make changes to their starting lineup because of an injury and because of a sick player.

Andre Ethier wasn't in the lineup Thursday night because he was sick with a stomach virus.

It meant that Andruw Jones and his .167 batting average was starting in centerfield.

Second baseman Jeff Kent was unavailable to play because of a left knee injury. Kent was injured during Wednesday night's game running the bases.

Pablo Ozuna started at second base.

-- Broderick Turner
-- bturner@PE.com

Torii Hunter, Juan Rivera and Vladimir Guerrero have all hit three-run home runs for the Angels, Hunter and Rivera both going yard in the third inning. The Angels lead 10-2 in the seventh.

The last time the Angels had three three-run home runs in one game came June 8, 1978 at Oakland when Brian Downing hit one in the fifth, Reggie Jackson had one in the eighth and Don Baylor went deep in the ninth.

Apparently fans and players aren't the only ones trying to take a piece of Yankee Stadium with them in the final season of the hallowed park.

"I heard the ground crew saying they were going to put some infield dirt in vials and sell it for $50," Robb Quinlan said. Hearing the news, Quinlan relayed that Mike Napoli, who left the team to begin a rehab assignment, told him he's "going to fill up his whole catcher's bag with this stuff."

Napoli isn't the only Angels' player to want a piece of the House That Ruth Built to go back to California with him. Torii Hunter, in fact, said he wanted to bring Ruth himself.

"I'm going to take one of the monuments when no one's looking - Babe Ruth's," the center fielder joked before turning serious. "There will be something missing from these walls and I got it. Sorry about that."

Aside from the thievery that may - or may not - take place in the Angels' final visit to Yankee Stadium, many of the players will miss playing here. However, everyone spoken with can't wait to play in the new Yankee Stadium, being built just past left field, next season.

"It's weird to this stadium, that it's my last time in this stadium," Hunter said. "I'm happy to tell my grandkids I played in this stadium and I'll get a chance to be one of the first ones to play in the new stadium."

- Ned Colletti hinted that one of the sticking points to the deal was not having to give up Andre Ethier and Matt Kemp.

- Ramirez's two $20 million options are now out the window in exchange for him agreeing to the trade. If the Dodgers offer him arbitration and he doesn't accept and leaves the team, they would receive two premium draft picks.

- Logan White spoke with Andy LaRoche and Bryan Morris, and he said LaRoche was excited to go to Pittsburgh. Asked if White was sad to see LaRoche go, he said, "Not at all."

- Joe Torre on Ramirez conforming to his grooming standards: Beimel's waiting with baited breath with a smirk on his face.

- Jeff Kent was scratched from the lineup because of a knee issue. Andre Ethier is out of the lineup due to an illness.

- Scott Proctor threw 25 pitches in a simulated game and is nearing a rehabilitation assignment.

Owner Frank McCourt:

Deals like these are complicated. It was a difficult deal.

In terms of that punch in the lineup, it's going to help a lot.

I'm not concerned about a rental.

On Ramirez possibly being a distraction: Not with Joe here. (cleared with Joe this morning)

The one thing about Manny is he's a winner.

It did come down to the wire. There was a minute or two left.

He's a very, very good fit for this club right now. It was a very sensible deal.

To me, it's the manager, the players who made this move possible. I feel very good about our team.

We have Manny for the rest of the season. Our focus is winning the world championship. What happens in the offseason is up to Ned and his people.

On what he remembers about Ramirez from his Boston days: How he can hit the ball and how far it goes.

Well, he's a personality. He's got a lot of personality. It really is dwarfed by his baseball skills. He's one of the greatest hitters I've seen in my lifetime. We also know Manny wants to win and has won.

Things happen for a reason. We're very happy the opportunity presented itself.

I'm very happy with the moves that have been made. There have a been a number of moves Ned has made that has given us some depth.

I'm impressed about the patience we've had in the young players on this team. We have a critical mass of talent here.

I really applaud Ned for pulling all of these days off in the framework of keeping the most coveted players on our roster. It takes a lot to resist.

I think Ned's done a great job at the trade deadline.

Manager Joe Torre:

When a player like Manny becomes available, I don't think there's a manager in baseball who says, 'I'm not interested.'

We've been inconsistent. Hopefully, Manny will up that level.

On an excess of outfielders: We'll have a plan by the time Manny gets here.

Angels manager Mike Scioscia first came to Yankee Stadium as a 17-year-old in 1976 and his first memory of the hallowed grounds is his best one.

"In high school, I came up here and I remember I got to meet Billy Martin and use Graig Nettles' bat and put on the uniform," Scioscia said. "It was a special day. I got to sit behind the dugout and Reggie Jackson was playing for the Orioles. What a day! It was fun."

Scioscia said he hit two home runs because of the short porch in right field (down the line it's only 314 feet) and was pretty excited about hitting two out in Yankee Stadium. His dad, however, deflated that balloon. "I was kind of puffing my chest and he said 'Those balls on your high school field would be fly outs to right."

And, finally, Scioscia said he would miss the food here the most. Shocker.

"The only thing coming out of the clubhouse will be the gas from the Italian food," he said. "All those peppers and sausages killed me."

It was no secret Red Sox slugger Manny Ramirez wanted out of Boston. Today he's getting his wish.

Ramirez is headed to the Dodgers as part of a three-team trade between the Dodgers, Boston and Pittsburgh.

As part of the deal, the Dodgers are giving up third baseman Andy LaRoche (whose brother Adam plays for the Pirates), and pitcher Bryan Morris, a first-round pick in 2006, to Pittsburgh.

Pirates outfielder Jason Bay is going to Boston.

Happy with their deal two days ago for Mark Teixeira, the Angels didn't add - or subtract - from their team at Thursday's non-waiver trading deadline.

Already with an 11 1/2-game lead in the American League West the Angels almost assuredly have an easy ticket into the playoffs. Adding Teixeira to hit third only sets their sights on a World Series.

Teixeira, who went 0 for 4 in his Angels' debut said "A World Series would make this trade successful."

Now he and Vladimir Guerrero make up perhaps the best 3-4 tandem in the AL.

"Mark can certainly work counts, draw a walk and he has a high on-base percentage," Manager Mike Scioscia said about hitting Teixeira third and Guerrero fourth. "We can adjust from it if we have to, but right now, to be able to feed Vlad, Torii (Hunter) and GA (Garret Anderson), who are starting to starting to swing well."

I had called Tony Reagins yesterday to discuss a number of things, some of them concerning Mark Teixeira, some of them concerning minor-league pitcher Tommy Mendoza, who was suspended by Major League Baseball for 50 games for testing positive for amphetamines.

Well, he's a busy man these days, what with the trade deadline and all approaching, so he called me back not too long ago.

Our discussion was short because it's been about 18 hours since I left him a message and most of my topics are somewhat stale, but we chatted anyways about today's impending 4 p.m. EDT trade deadline.

The other day during the Teixeira conference call Reagins said he would still be "pounding the pavement" to make the Angels better, but with a few short hours until the trade deadline, all is quiet on the Western front.

"There's nothing I see happening in the next three hours," he said.

Tonight begins a four-game series with the Yankees, the final leg of the Angels' three-city, 10-game road trip. So far, the Angels are 5-1 on it.

And sweeping the Red Sox for the first time at Fenway Park since 2001 doesn't add any confidence.

"We've had confidence all year long," Garret Anderson said. "We'll keep plugging along, keep going out and playing everyday."

Jon Garland will pitch for the Angels tonight. He is 3-5 with a 4.26 ERA lifetime against the Yankees.

In July the Angels are hitting .289 with 33 homers - their most in a month since July 2006 - and averaging 6.2 runs per game. With 11 wins in their past 13 games, are there any thoughts that the Angels are peaking too early?

"I think we're peaking too late," Torii Hunter said.

Francisco Rodriguez was at it again. After saying in spring training this was "probably" his last year as an Angel, then again at the All-Star break saying he is going to test the market, he popped off in Thursday's editions of USA Today.

The highlights of a good piece covering his childhood and impending free agency, include the following paragraphs:

"They could have made a better effort to keep me, but they didn't, which led to my decision to go to free agency," says Rodriguez, who rejected a three-year offer in the $32 million range last winter, when closers Mariano Rivera (three years, $45 million), Joe Nathan (four years, $47 million) and Francisco Cordero (four years, $46 million) cashed in.

Rodriguez's agent, Paul Kinzer, says the parties haven't negotiated since February and doesn't think the team intends to re-sign Rodriguez, who has the most saves in baseball since 2005.

Owner Arte Moreno won't get into specifics about the club's plans regarding Rodriguez, but says, "You're limited in how many high, multiple-year contracts you can have and still maintain a balance to be able to compete at a high level."

Both sides maintain the door still is open, but Rodriguez insists he would only return after testing the market.

"They had all the time in the world to do it," says Rodriguez, 26. "I'm a young player looking for a contract for four or five years. I felt insulted by that part of the offer, that it was only for three years."

Casey Kotchman hit third in his Atlanta debut on Wednesday night and went 0-5.

From the Associated Press story:

They left the bases loaded three times and stranded 14 runners overall, a major problem for them all season. Casey Kotchman, acquired Tuesday in the blockbuster deal that sent Mark Teixeira to the Los Angeles Angels, grounded out with three on to end the eighth. The new first baseman went 0-for-5 in his Atlanta debut.

"Obviously I wanted a different outcome tonight," Kotchman said.

Chad Billingsley tosses his first career shutout with a five-hitter despite this pre-game interview...

Leung: How's it going?

Billingsley: Good.

Leung: *Proceeds to next question*

Billingsley: I'm starting.

Leung: *Covers mouth*

Joe Saunders pitched six solid innings, allowing two runs on five hits and Garret Anderson went 4 for 5 with a home run in a six-run sixth inning as the Angels swept the Red Sox on Wednesday in a 9-2 victory.

"I think it's a confidence-builder," Saunders said. "Any time you sweep a team like this, it's a huge confidence-builder."

Anderson, however, downplayed things saying "We've had confidence all year long."

Manager Mike Scioscia said the sweep was not a statement series, although he said that two weekends ago when the Angels swept Boston at home. It's the first time in franchise history the Angels have swept series vs. the Red Sox at home and in Fenway Park.

"I said early on when all the cylinders are clicking this team can be pretty special," Torii Hunter said. "That's what's happening."

With Brad Penny going to his native Oklahoma to rehab on Saturday, he said he wouldn't be able to make a previously scheduled appearance at this week's MMA Expo event at the Long Beach Convention Center.

As the game heads into the ninth inning with the Angels ahead 8-2 - paced by a five-run sixth inning that featured three Boston errors - the Angels will have won eight straight games against the Red Sox this season.

It will be the first time in club history that the Angels swept a series at home and road vs. Sox in same season.

The first three-game sweep at Fenway for the Angels since July 31, 2001-Aug. 2, 2001.

And, the Angels will have won their last eight games vs. Red Sox, matching the longest win streak vs. Boston in club history (8/26/61 - 5/30/62).

Mark Teixeira wore #23 while with Texas, and #24 with Atlanta.

So, why is he wearing #25 with the Angels? Because that's what was available. Pitching coach Mike Butcher wears #23 and Gary Matthews Jr. has #24.

Maybe, when talking about his new number, 25, Teixeira gave some small insight into his plans next year. Informed that Butcher said "he can have it" referring to No. 23 - the number Teixeira wore in Texas, an ode to Don Mattingly - Teixeira said "I'm not going to take anyone's number."

Ah, but there's a catch. "If we win the World Series this year, maybe we'll talk after the season," Teixeira said.

So, win a title, Teixeira re-signs. Easy enough.

OK, so it wasn't with one out in the ninth, but just as an FYI, Boston's Dustin Pedroia broke up Joe Saunders' no-hitter bid with a third inning double.

Mark Teixeira, hitting third, worked the count to 3-0 against Boston pitcher Josh Beckett in his first at-bat as an Angel before lining a hard-hit 3-1 fastball to deep center field for a line out.

Here's a look at Teixeira's splits, how he does in certain situations and vs. different pitchers.

Here is tonight's lineup, the first one with newly acquired Mark Teixeira against Red Sox righty Josh Beckett:

Figgins - 3B
Izturis - SS
Teixeira - 1B
Guerrero - DH
Hunter - CF
Anderson - LF
Kendrick - 2B
Matthews - RF
Mathis - C

Saunders - P

The Associated Press is reporting that Angels minor leaguer Thomas Mendoza has been suspended 50 games for testing positive for an amphetamine

The commissioner's office said Wednesday that the suspension of Mendoza, who plays for Class A Rancho Cucamonga Quakes in the California League, is effective immediately.

Mendoza, a pitcher, is 4-12 with a 4.73 ERA in 20 games (19 starts) this season for the Quakes. He has allowed 130 hits in 110.1 innings.

Mendoza, 20, from Hialeah, Florida, was a fifth-round pick in the 2005 draft.

Courtesy of the Elias Sports Bureau:

LACKEY LOSES NO-HITTER IN NINTH INNING
* John Lackey lost his no-hit bid with one out in the ninth inning
on Tuesday night when Dustin Pedroia singled. It's been 50 years since
a visiting pitcher threw a no-hitter against the Red Sox at Fenway Park;
the Tigers' Jim Bunning did that on July 20, 1958. In the half-century
since Bunning's no-no, only two visiting pitchers have taken a no-hitter
into the ninth inning at Fenway Park: Lackey and Mike Mussina.
Mussina's bid, on September 2, 2001, was a perfect game broken up with
two outs in the ninth inning by a Carl Everett single.

Lackey came close to becoming only the second pitcher since 1975 to
throw a no-hitter against the defending World Series champions. The two
most recent pitchers to do that were Nolan Ryan in 1990 (against
Oakland) and Dick Bosman in 1974 (also against Oakland).

ANGELS WIN THEIR SEVENTH STRAIGHT GAME AGAINST BOSTON
* With their victory on Tuesday night, the Angels have now won
seven consecutive games against the Red Sox. Over the last ten seasons
(1999-2008) only one other team won at least seven straight games versus
the defending World Series champions. That was the 2003 Orioles, who
won eight in a row against the Angels.

What's the bigger story? That Mark Teixeira is making his Angels debut or that the Angels are going for their first sweep at Fenway Park since 2001.

Obviously the news is Teixeira, due to arrive at Logan Airport at 1:30 p.m. EDT and set to hit third for the Angels tonight. He will wear No. 25. His usual No. 23 is worn by pitching coach Mike Butcher.

Teixeira hasn't faced American League pitching on a consistent basis since last July when he was sent from Texas to Atlanta, but he hardly had any adjusting to the National League. In 157 games with the Braves he hit .295 with 37 homers and 134 RBI.

"I hope not," he said when asked about an adjustment period. "Fortunately this year we played the AL West. Now I don't have to face the Angels anymore so that makes my job easier. Hopefully one year off, I won't miss a step."

Teixeira, who was acquired by the Braves to help them into the postseason, will finally be playing with a team who is expected to easily slide into the playoffs.

"That puts an extra pep in your step the last few months," he said.

When Juan Pierre stole second base in the seventh inning of Tuesday night's game against the San Francisco Giants, it was his 100th stolen base as a Dodger.

He has stolen at least 100 stolen bases with three different teams.

Pierre had 100 with the Colorado Rockies and 167 with the Florida Marlins.

Only four players in major league history have accomplished that feat.

-- Broderick Turner
-- bturner@PE.com

With starter Jason Johnson pitching six shut out innings, and relievers Chan Ho Park and Jonathan Broxton not allowing a run in the final three innings, that helped the Dodgers post their ninth shutout of the season.

That leads the National league.

The Dodgers have three shutouts in their last four games.

All nine shutouts have come at Dodger Stadium.

-- Broderick Turner
-- bturner@PE.com

Casey Kotchman was drafted by the Angels and at 25 knows no other organization in his life. That's because his father, Tom, has been with the franchise for 25 years and often would take Casey with him when he went to manage their rookie league teams.

So, when asked about leaving, Kotchman actually seemed happy to head to Atlanta.

"It's not hard for me," he said. "I just feel thankful to go to a place that wants you, to go to a franchise like Atlanta."

Growing up in St. Petersburg, the Braves were the closest team he could follow because neither the Marlins in Miami or the Rays in Tampa Bay had been established yet.

"Definitely, it's an East Coast team and a southern team. Bobby Cox has been there forever and seeing how he handles players and playing for him, I've got to believe it's a blessing for me to start a new chapter there."

Asked if he was surprised, Kotchman said no. After all, his name had been rumored to be traded pretty much since he first hit the majors in 2005.

"Nothing surprises me in this industry," he said. "You get traded somewhere, you're going somewhere, a place where somebody wants you. To me, that's exciting."

Our sister paper, the Providence Journal, has an exceptional Red Sox beat writer named Sean McAdam, whose name you may recognize because he also has written for ESPN.com.

Soon after finding out about the Angels acquiring Mark Teixeira, he got a Red Sox response, tracking down Josh Beckett right before the clubhouse was closed this afternoon.

Asked if the deal makes the Angels the team to beat, Beckett said "We've got the World Series rings that say 2007. That's my take."

Was Beckett surprised by the deal?

"I was a little surprised they went for a power bat. That's not their style. They've got seven guys hitting .300 or better with runners in scoring position."

Matt Kemp lined a single that bounced off the glove of Giants' third baseman Rich Aurilia for a hit in the third inning.

It meant Kemp kept his hitting streak alive, extending it to a career-high 16 consecutive games.

-- Broderick Turner
-- bturner@PE.com

The Dodgers made a change to their starting lineup Tuesday night.

Catcher Russell Martin was on the bench resting.

"I wanted him to play all four games against Arizona,'' Dodgers manager Joe Torre said.

The Dodgers play the Arizona Diamondbacks in a four-game set starting Thursday night at Dodger Stadium.

Danny Ardoin started in Martin's place.

-- Broderick Turner
-- bturner@PE.com

Dustin Pedroia singled with one out in the ninth inning to ruin John Lackey's chances of pitching a no-hitter.

Then, two pitches later, Kevin Youkilis' two-run homer ruined Lackey's chances of throwing a shutout.

Almost forgotten in all of this Mark Teixeira hysteria is tonight's game.

Through seven innings, John Lackey is throwing a no-hitter. He has walked one batter and hit another, so the prospect of a perfect game is out.

David Ortiz just hit a long fly ball to right field that Vladimir Guerrero caught at the track. That's been the closest thing to a hit all night.

During the conference call, several reporters were asking Mark Teixeira about his chances of re-signing with the Angels at the end of the year.

He gave the typical non-answer about letting things play out. However, a lot of those questions had jabs at his agent, Scott Boras, in them.

Such as: "We know your agent doesn't ever use the term 'contract-extension' ..." Or "Your agent has made it clear about what you want ..."

Moments after answering a question, a voice piped in "Scott Boras here." Apparently he didn't like his good name getting tarnished.

In Mark Teixeira, the Angels acquired a 27-year-old switch-hitting first baseman who is a two-time Gold Glove winner. Entering 2008, Teixeira averaged 34 homers and 111 RBIs over his first five seasons. (He's at 20 dingers and 78 RBIs so far this season.)

As the Atlanta Journal-Constitution wrote this spring, "He's a franchise-caliber player entering his prime, and will likely command at least $20 million annually in a long-term contract.

"Some believe agent Scott Boras could land Teixeira a six- or seven-year deal worth $25 million or more annually, considering the other contracts that have been handed out in recent years and Teixeira's age and all-around skills."

So, if the Angels are only renting Teixeira for a potential run deep into October, who plays first next season? Kendry Morales?

In a just-completed conference call, the question was posed to GM Tony Reagins, who engineered the trade to bring in Mark Teixeira, if the Angels do not win a World Series, if it was considered a failure.

"Hopefully we'll play deep into October," is what he said.

When Teixeira finally had a moment to speak, he said "A World Series for me would make this successful. Personal goals don't matter."

Here's a comment from Angels first baseman Casey Kotchman on his trade to the Atlanta Braves:

"I'm excited to go to Atlanta and play for Bobby Cox. At the same time my teammates here know how I feel about them. I love my teammates and the camaraderie in the locker room here. The players individually come to play here every single day and throw it out on the line and it was fun to be part of."

Reporters are on a conference call with Mark Teixeira and General Manager Tony Reagins.

Pierre, LF
Kemp, CF
Ethier, RF
Kent, 2B
Loney, 1B
Blake, 3B
Berroa, SS
Ardoin, C
Johnson, P

UPDATE: Giants just released theirs...

Lewis, LF
Castillo, 2B
Winn, RF
Molina, C
Rowand, CF
Bowker, 1B
Aurilia, 3B
Vizquel, SS
Cain, P

Casey Kotchman just told our beat writer Matt Hurst that he had been traded to Atlanta in a deal for slugger Mark Teixeira.

The deal includes minor league pitcher Steven Marek going to the Braves. ...

More to come as Matt reports from Boston. ...

Time: 7:10 p.m.
TV: Prime Ticket
RHP Jason Johnson (0-0, 2.57 ERA) vs. Giants RHP Matt Cain (6-8, 3.82)

Two things will be going against John Lackey as he takes the mound against the Red Sox tonight.

One, he acknowledged in Baltimore that he is dealing with a "dead arm" and he has allowed 20 earned runs in his past four starts, spanning 23 2/3 innings.

Then, Lackey is pitching in Fenway Park, a place he cursed during his start last season that was visible on TV. Lackey is 1-4 in his career at Fenway with a 7.46 ERA in seven starts.

However, there is this stat: Lackey is 15-3 with a 2.51 ERA (147 IP - 41 ER) in his last 19 road starts

Blake DeWitt hit a two-run homer to the tie the score in the bottom of the ninth in his first game back for Class AAA Las Vegas. He also managed to play some first base in the game.

Also, Jerome Williams has been promoted to Las Vegas.

Nomar Garciaparra has a sprained medial collateral ligament in his left knee that will have him shut down from baseball activities for the next few days.

The Angels' chartered plane from Baltimore to Boston was momentarily stuck in Atlanta, causing a minor delay, however it wasn't because it was detoured there to pick up Mark Teixeira.

While it would seem that the Angels, averaging 6.1 runs per game this month, might finally not need that elusive big bat, general manager Tony Reagins emphatically said "No" Monday when asked if he could rule out making an offensive upgrade.

Teixeira, several Web sites reported, was finally put on the market by the Braves. Reagins did say "we're not close on anything" with Thursday's trading deadline creeping closer, but the Angels could again be interested in adding Teixeira.

"There are scenarios out there and they could be of help," Reagins said by phone from Southern California after Monday's 7-5 victory over Boston. "Do I think they're realistic? No. I think it's unlikely we'll add anything of that nature."

Without ruling out making a move for a player entering free agency - the kind of players owner Arte Moreno is typically against - Reagins also said that the team had entertained thoughts of adding to their pitching depth.

"That's something we've looked at," he said. "You look at those scenarios and you weight the value of what you're adding versus what you're subtracting. Right now, we don't see anything making the club better."

Though Mike Napoli said "I think I'm ready" to begin a rehab assignment after throwing from about 180 feet on Monday, Scioscia wasn't yet convinced.

"He's close," Scioscia said, "but we want to repeat the workout with him."

Napoli, on the disabled list since July 6 with a frayed right labrum, will have to throw to bases before departing on a rehab assignment which will likely be with Class A Rancho Cucamonga this weekend.

It took the Angels five innings, but they figured out Daisuke Matsuzaka.

Having only faced him in last year's playoffs, Dice-K allowed just one run on three hits through the first five innings, striking out three.

But in the sixth Casey Kotchman hit a two-run homer for a one-run lead and Torii Hunter blasted a prodigious blast, a three-run shot knocking Matsuzaka out of the game.

Matsuzaka had one bad start this season - June 21 vs. St. Louis when he allowed seven runs on six hits in one inning (no, that's not a typo). However his 11-1 record and 2.63 ERA coming into the game should be with a grain of salt. He has only faced five teams this season (until tonight) with records over .500.

- Nomar Garciaparra needed to undergo an MRI exam on his left knee, and results were not immediately available. The Dodgers have a renewed interest in Pirates shortstop Jack Wilson, but don't count out Rafael Furcal returning in September. He's currently rehabbing at Athletes' Performance Institute in Arizona.

- Brad Penny will make a rehabilitation start on Wednesday for Class A Inland Empire, and if all goes well will follow that up with one for Class AAA Las Vegas on Monday. He could return by the Giants series on the next road trip.

Here is the Angels' lineup for their first-ever regular-season meeting with Boston's Daisuke Matsuzaka (11-1, 2.63 ERA):

Figgins - 3B
Kotchman - 1B
Izturis - SS
Guerrero - RF
Hunter - CF
Anderson - LF
Kendrick - 2B
Rivera - DH
Mathis - C

Weaver - P

No Andruw, Nomar...

Pierre, LF
Kemp, CF
Martin, C
Kent, 2B
Loney, 1B
Blake, 3B
Ethier, RF
Berroa, SS
Kuroda, P

Tonight Daisuke Matsuzaka will make his regular-season debut against the Angels.

He pitched Game 2 of the ALDS against the Angels last October, allowing three runs on seven hits in 4 2/3 innings, walking three and striking out three.

Dice-K was scheduled to face the Angels in April when they first came to Fenway, but was scratched because of a team-wide flu.

RHP Hiroki Kuroda (5-7, 3.98) vs. Giants RHP Kevin Correia (1-5, 5.71)

The Dodgers have won three straight but still trail the Arizona Diamondbacks by a game in the NL West.
Matt Kemp has a 14-game hit streak on the line and Nomar Garciaparra will be examined after injuring his knee on Sunday.

Tonight the Angels begin a three-game series in Boston's Fenway Park, a place where they've had little success over the years.

They have won just nine of their past 27 games there and just 16 of 41 total contests there under Manager Mike Scioscia. That even includes winning two of three there in April.

However, with that experience and their recent three-game sweep of the Sox in Anaheim two weekends ago, perhaps things have changed.

Joe Saunders said after Sunday's loss to Baltimore "Another good series would obviously boost our confidence, but our confidence is very high right now. We're playing well. I believe we're the team to beat right now. What we have to offer is the best in baseball."

The Angels, averaging six runs per game this month, will send Jered Weaver to the mound. Weaver lasted just three innings in his previous start against Boston allowed five runs in five innings.