Athletics at Angels
Oakland and Los Angeles have traded blowout victories the last two nights and the Athletics will try to claim the four-game set when they visit the Angels on Thursday. Oakland won the opener 6-3 and Los Angeles rebounded for a 14-1 win in the second game before the Athletics posted a resounding 9-2 victory on Wednesday.
Designated hitter Billy Butler homered and had four RBI as Oakland racked up 18 hits in the convincing victory. Seven players had two or more hits with Ike Davis and Josh Reddick each having three while leadoff man Sam Fuld scored three times. The Angels mustered just four hits on Wednesday one night after delivering 15 hits and slipped back to three games below .500. The Athletics are a half-game behind the first-place Houston Astros in the American League West and have outscored their opponents 62-6 in their eight victories.
TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, CSN California (Oakland), FSN West (Los Angeles)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Athletics RH Jesse Chavez (0-0, 0.00 ERA) vs. Angels RH Nick Tropeano (NR)
Chavez is making a spot start in place of Jesse Hahn, who is dealing with a blister issue. He has made four scoreless relief appearances, allowing five hits and striking out nine in 6 2/3 innings. Chavez is 1-3 with a 3.99 ERA in 13 career appearances (two starts) against the Angels.
Tropeano was recalled Wednesday when Matt Shoemaker was placed on the bereavement list and moved into the starting role when C.J. Wilson was pushed back to Saturday due to elbow stiffness. He made four major-league starts for Houston last season and went 1-3 with a 4.57 ERA but Angels manager Mike Scioscia liked what he saw of the 24-year-old during spring training. “Nick is a guy that has a sneaky fastball, good command in and out, and he’s got really good secondary pitches – his changeup and breaking ball,” Scioscia told reporters. “He competed really well in the spring so we’re excited to give him the ball.”
WALK-OFFS
1. Angels DH Matt Joyce is hitless in 16 at-bats over the last five contests.
2. Oakland 2B Ben Zobrist (knee) will miss his fourth consecutive game.
3. Los Angeles 1B Albert Pujols is 7-for-14 with one homer and no strikeouts against Chavez.