A's blank struggling Angels behind Gonzalez

Baseball Betting Lines

09/04/2010 - Oakland, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Cliff Pennington and Kevin Kouzmanoff each homered during a six-run seventh, as the Oakland Athletics dominated the Angels, 8-0, in the opener of a three-game series.

Gio Gonzalez (13-8) tossed six scoreless innings for the Athletics, who snapped a four-game skid. The left-hander gave up four hits, struck out six, and walked three to pick up his third straight win.

Scott Kazmir (8-13) went 5 2/3 frames in the start for Los Angeles, allowing two runs on two hits to fall to 1-8 over his last 10 starts. He walked a season-high six batters and fanned three for the Angels, who have lost eight of their last 11.

The A's scored a run in the first inning without recording a hit. Daric Barton walked prior to Kouzmanoff and Mark Ellis each being hit by pitches. That loaded the bases with two outs for Jack Cust, who walked to force in a run.

The Angels left at least one man on base over the first four innings.

Oakland added a run in the sixth to take a 2-0 lead. With men on the corners and two outs, Coco Crisp hit an RBI single.

Kouzmanoff got the big seventh inning started with a two-run homer to left. Ellis followed with a double and crossed the plate on Rajai Davis' one-out base hit that also knocked Jason Bulger out of the game. Pinch-hitter Gabe Gross hit an RBI single off Brian Stokes, stole second and scored when Pennington homered to right to make it 8-0.

Los Angeles failed to put a man on base over the last three frames until Juan Rivera's two-out single in the ninth.

Game Notes

Oakland and Los Angeles have split 14 games this season...The A's started a nine-game homestand on Friday...Kazmir fell to 9-5 lifetime versus Oakland... Gonzalez improved to 3-1 in five career starts against the Angels, who left seven men on base.

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El Duque expected to throw Tuesday

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. -- New York Mets pitcher Orlando Hernandez, sidelined at spring training because of arthritis in his neck, is expected to resume throwing on Tuesday.

Hernandez received a cortisone shot Thursday after leaving camp and returning to New York to have his neck examined. The 41-year-old right-hander is penciled in as the team's No. 2 starter behind Tom Glavine.

El Duque's health is a major issue for the Mets, who won the NL East in 2007 and came within one victory of the World Series. Their aging and unsettled rotation is a big question mark this year.

MySportsbook.com has the Mets as -110 favorites to repeat as NL East champions odds. 

Hernandez went 11-11 with a 4.66 ERA last season, including 9-7 with a 4.09 ERA in 20 starts after the Mets acquired him from Arizona in late May. But he missed the playoffs because of a torn calf muscle.

New York already is without Pedro Martinez, out until at least midseason following rotator cuff surgery. Among those competing for starting jobs are prospects Mike Pelfrey, Philip Humber and Jason Vargas, plus veterans Chan Ho Park, Jorge Sosa and Aaron Sele.

Notes: Mets manager Willie Randolph is excited about two new utility players he could have on his bench: Damion Easley and David Newhan. ''Their value is really all over the place,'' Randolph said. Easley can play anywhere in the infield and could be used as an emergency outfielder, though Randolph said he would prefer to keep the veteran in the infield. Newhan, meanwhile, can play second base, third or any outfield position for the Mets. ''I love versatility,'' Randolph said. ''I love guys that can give me options when I need them to step in.''

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