Game 44: Angels-Athletics …

Angels (18-25)

Mike Trout, LF
Maicer Izturis, 3B
Albert Pujols, 1B
Kendrys Morales, DH
Mark Trumbo, RF
Howie Kendrick, 2B
Erick Aybar, SS
Peter Bourjos, CF
John Hester, C

Pitching: LH C.J. Wilson (4-4, 3.35 ERA)

Athletics (22-21)

Coco Crisp, CF
Collin Cowgill, RF
Seth Smith, DH
Jonny Gomes, LF
Josh Donaldson, 3B
Cliff Pennington, SS
Adam Rosales, 2B
Daric Barton, 1B
Anthony Recker, C

Pitching: RH Graham Godfrey (0-3, 5.06 ERA)

Some pregame notes …

• The left side is the best side. That’s not me sucking up to my new region of the country, it’s in reference to Morales, who’s just 3-for-20 as a right-handed hitter this season (where he hit yesterday) and has a .309 batting average from the left side (where he’s hitting today). But Mike Scioscia says that has more to do with the sample size than actuality, saying: “I think Kendrys showed a couple years ago that right-handed, there’s no doubt he’s a threat and can hit the ball out of every park. This year, he hasn’t had that many at-bats from that side because of just trying to keep him fresh and active from the left side. There’s no doubt he can swing it from that side, though.”
• Pujols comes into this game with a .212/.256/.318 slash line, having gone 5-for-24 with a couple of homers since a three-hit game on May 15. “You have to keep it simple,” he said. “As much as you know it’s hard, you have to really keep it simple and go out there and put good swings. Sometimes, you’re going to feel good, and most of the time you won’t. The times you don’t feel good is when you have to survive until you get that streak going.”
• Scioscia, on Bobby Cassevah‘s role in the bullpen: “He’s depth, and we’ll see when Bobby can pitch. Probably use him in the middle somewhere until he gets his feet on the ground. But last year, he had a terrific season for us. Nothing that says that kind of arm won’t move to the back of the bullpen as depth and be able to pitch, whether it’s the seventh, eighth or ninth inning, whatever. We’ll just see how it evolves.”
• Chris Iannetta had his wrist protector off in the clubhouse — but only temporarily. He has to keep it on in case he re-aggravates it and is still about three weeks away from throwing.

Angels links from Monday …

• Angels lose, offense struggles, for third straight game
• Notebook, on Vernon Wells‘ surgery, roster moves, Kole Calhoun‘s ascension and the bullpen’s improvement
• Dick Schofield, Nick Gorneault to represent Angels at Draft
• Preview on Wilson vs. Godfrey
• Question of the Day, on Trumbo and third base

Some AL West links …

• Manny Ramirez‘s focus on the here and now
• Pudge (Ivan Rodriguez) representing Rangers in Draft
• Felix Hernandez outduels Yu Darvish in Seattle

And the Heat will need support from their front line to beat the Pacers in Game 5 today.

– Alden