Game Talk – 5/5/09: Going For the Mini-Sweep – Angels @ Athletics

Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (11-13) @ Oakland Athletics (9-14)

Starters: LAA – Shane Loux (1-2, 5.24 ERA)  OAK – Dallas Braden (3-2, 2.10 ERA)

Game Info: 7:05 PM PT TV-Fox Sports West, Radio-KLAA 830 AM, KFWB, KWKW 1330 AM

Tonight the Angels go for the sweep of the hated Athletics.  Sure, it is only a two-game sweep, but it is still a sweep, in their yard no less.

The sweeping broom

However, the Angels will have their work cut out for them against Oakland’s young stud Dallas Braden who has allowed just two earned runs in his last three starts.  In fact, he has only allowed more than two runs in just one of his five starts this season with that lone occasion being the first game of the season in a loss to, you guessed it, the Halos.

Meanwhile the Angels will counter with Shane Loux, who has been up and down this season but was lights out against Baltimore in his last outing.  Of course, Loux won’t need to be that good if Mike Napoli and Torii Hunter continue to mash.


What to Watch For:

  • Brandon Wood’s last hurrah?  This is the last southpaw starter the Angels will face for at least a week, so Woody won’t be needed for awhile (at least in Scioscia’s eyes).  With Napoli rotating through at DH, the Angels should add a third catcher and that will likely spell an end to Wood’s current turn with the big league club.
  • Can Mike Scioscia finally convince Mike Napoli to stop trying to steal bases?  Or is Sosh just living vicariously through Naps?
  • Will the Angels bullpen pitch shutout baseball two games in a row?  Dare I dream the impossible dream?

As always, leave a comment and hang out with us to chat throughout the game.

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