The Angels pitcher scattered seven hits in an 8-0 shutout.
ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — For a guy who didn't feel too hot during warmups, Kelvim Escobar was downright sizzling in the afternoon sun.
Escobar pitched a seven-hitter, Gary Matthews Jr. hit a three-run homer to highlight a five-run third inning and the Los Angeles Angels beat the Cleveland Indians 8-0 Thursday.
Escobar (4-1) struck out a season-high nine and walked none to win his third straight start. It was his fourth career shutout and first since he did it for the Toronto Blue Jays on June 8, 2003, at Cincinnati.
"I didn't feel that good in the bullpen. When you step on the field, you feel better," he said. "I stayed within myself the whole time, making good pitches. If I can move my fastball around like that, I'm going to get a lot of people out because my secondary pitches are good, and I can keep the hitters off balance."
Double steal
Catcher Jose Molina stole home in the fourth to make it 6-0, part of a delayed double steal. Reggie Willits took second and Molina came home in a close play at the plate.
The Angels won their AL-leading 14th home game and took two of three from the Indians. Their eight runs were more than they totaled in three previous games.
"We're slumping a little bit," Escobar said. "We have some trouble scoring runs. That's nice to see the team score eight runs. Hopefully, we can do that more consistently. With the kind of pitching we have, we're going to compete."
Jeremy Sowers (0-3) gave up six runs and nine hits in five innings. He struck out two and walked one.
"We had a good opportunity to win a couple of these games here," Cleveland manager Eric Wedge said. "The way I look at it, Escobar really stepped up for them, and a couple of their offensive guys stepped up for them last night. Offensively, we're nowhere near what we're capable of doing as a ballclub right now. So we just need to keep grinding it out."
Copyright 2007 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Friday, May 11, 2007
The Angels pitcher scattered seven hits in an 8-0 shutout.
ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — For a guy who didn't feel too hot during warmups, Kelvim Escobar was downright sizzling in the afternoon sun.
Escobar pitched a seven-hitter, Gary Matthews Jr. hit a three-run homer to highlight a five-run third inning and the Los Angeles Angels beat the Cleveland Indians 8-0 Thursday.
Escobar (4-1) struck out a season-high nine and walked none to win his third straight start. It was his fourth career shutout and first since he did it for the Toronto Blue Jays on June 8, 2003, at Cincinnati.
"I didn't feel that good in the bullpen. When you step on the field, you feel better," he said. "I stayed within myself the whole time, making good pitches. If I can move my fastball around like that, I'm going to get a lot of people out because my secondary pitches are good, and I can keep the hitters off balance."
Double steal
Catcher Jose Molina stole home in the fourth to make it 6-0, part of a delayed double steal. Reggie Willits took second and Molina came home in a close play at the plate.
The Angels won their AL-leading 14th home game and took two of three from the Indians. Their eight runs were more than they totaled in three previous games.
"We're slumping a little bit," Escobar said. "We have some trouble scoring runs. That's nice to see the team score eight runs. Hopefully, we can do that more consistently. With the kind of pitching we have, we're going to compete."
Jeremy Sowers (0-3) gave up six runs and nine hits in five innings. He struck out two and walked one.
"We had a good opportunity to win a couple of these games here," Cleveland manager Eric Wedge said. "The way I look at it, Escobar really stepped up for them, and a couple of their offensive guys stepped up for them last night. Offensively, we're nowhere near what we're capable of doing as a ballclub right now. So we just need to keep grinding it out."
Copyright 2007 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Friday, May 11, 2007
For a guy who didn't feel too hot during warmups, Kelvim Escobar was downright sizzling in the afternoon sun.
Escobar...
