ANAHEIM, Calif. -- Ricky Nolasco had extra days between starts to work on mechanical issues and it paid off.
He led the Los Angeles Angels to a 2-1 victory over the Oakland Athletics on Thursday night to earn the series sweep.
Nolasco didn't go into details of the adjustments, but they sure worked for him, keeping the Athletics off balance.
"They were good," Nolasco said of the time to make mechanical adjustments. "They were much-needed to get back on schedule. Go get them in Seattle."
Nolasco (2-2) threw 5 2/3 innings, allowing one run and three hits. The Angels (12-12) have won four consecutive games and are back to .500 as they head to Texas. Nolasco's next start will be in Seattle.
"Just cleaning up some things on the front leg with my leg and overall mechanics," Nolasco said. "Everything felt good."
Bud Norris is settling into the closer's role for the Angels since injuries have left that job open. It's been a seamless transition. He pitched a scoreless ninth for his fourth save of the season and second in as many nights.
In the sixth inning, Nolasco walked two batters and Yonder Alonso reached on an error to load the bases. Blake Parker relieved Nolasco and struck out Ryon Healy with the bases loaded to end the inning.
The Angels, who scored eight runs in the previous game's win over the Athletics, scored two runs in the first inning. Mike Trout, who has an 11-game hitting streak, hit a two-out double, followed by a run-scoring single by Albert Pujols and an RBI double by C.J. Cron. Trout, the reigning AL MVP, has hit safely in 23 of 24 games this season.
Norris, a former starter, is blossoming as a closer for now. Huston Street and Cam Bedrosian are both injured. And Norris looks very much like he has the makeup to pitch well in that role, something that's not easy to do.
"He's walking around like a closer," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. "He's filling the role and doing a great job."
Oakland starter Kendall Graveman (2-1), who came off the disabled list after missing one start with a minor shoulder strain allowed two runs in six innings and scattered six hits. He struck out four and walked none.
He also turned an unassisted double play , the first by an Oakland pitcher since Blue Moon Odom did it on July 11, 1971. He tagged Ben Revere in a rundown and flipped through the air to get Cliff Pennington at third.
"That's probably the best play I've ever seen a pitcher make, hurdling over a defender to get the second out unassisted," A's manager Bob Melvin said. "I didn't even know how to put that one down on the card. He pitched great. One pitch, really. A two-strike pitch to Trout. Strike or not. Two doubles. That's all they get off him. I thought he pitched really well."
FROM PUCKS TO BASEBALLS
The Edmonton Oilers are in town for their Western Conference semifinals series against the Ducks. The Oilers won Game 1 and on their off day before tomorrow's Game 2, star Connor McDavid and Patrick Maroon -- a former Duck and friend of the Angels -- attended batting practice. Maroon caught up with Mike Trout, and Albert Pujols signed baseballs for the contingent.
You can see the Honda Center, the Ducks' home arena, just behind left-center field at Angel Stadium.
TRAINER'S ROOM:
Athletics: RHP John Axford (strained right shoulder) threw from 90 feet and could join the team on the upcoming road trip. ... LHP Sean Manaea (left shoulder tightness) is expected to play catch in Texas on Friday. He left Wednesday's start after just 34 pitches in two innings.
Angels: RHP Mike Morin (neck tightness) is expected to start throwing in a few days. ... RHP Andrew Bailey (right shoulder inflammation) has resumed throwing. ... RHP Huston Street (right lat strain) is throwing off a mound.
UP NEXT:
Oakland RHP Jharel Cotton (2-2, 4.76 ERA) will make his ninth career start against Houston on Friday night. He leads the AL in games started by a rookie (4) and innings pitched (22 2/3).
LHP Tyler Skaggs (1-1, 4.44 ERA) got his first win of the season against Toronto in his last start, allowing two runs in seven innings. Skaggs, who is pitching his first full season since Tommy John surgery, had an extra day of rest before this start against Texas.
Oakland Athletics
He led the Los Angeles Angels to a 2-1 victory over the Oakland Athletics on Thursday night to earn the series sweep.
Nolasco didn't go into details of the adjustments, but they sure worked for him, keeping the Athletics off balance.
"They were good," Nolasco said of the time to make mechanical adjustments. "They were much-needed to get back on schedule. Go get them in Seattle."
Nolasco (2-2) threw 5 2/3 innings, allowing one run and three hits. The Angels (12-12) have won four consecutive games and are back to .500 as they head to Texas. Nolasco's next start will be in Seattle.
"Just cleaning up some things on the front leg with my leg and overall mechanics," Nolasco said. "Everything felt good."
Bud Norris is settling into the closer's role for the Angels since injuries have left that job open. It's been a seamless transition. He pitched a scoreless ninth for his fourth save of the season and second in as many nights.
In the sixth inning, Nolasco walked two batters and Yonder Alonso reached on an error to load the bases. Blake Parker relieved Nolasco and struck out Ryon Healy with the bases loaded to end the inning.
The Angels, who scored eight runs in the previous game's win over the Athletics, scored two runs in the first inning. Mike Trout, who has an 11-game hitting streak, hit a two-out double, followed by a run-scoring single by Albert Pujols and an RBI double by C.J. Cron. Trout, the reigning AL MVP, has hit safely in 23 of 24 games this season.
Norris, a former starter, is blossoming as a closer for now. Huston Street and Cam Bedrosian are both injured. And Norris looks very much like he has the makeup to pitch well in that role, something that's not easy to do.
"He's walking around like a closer," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. "He's filling the role and doing a great job."
Oakland starter Kendall Graveman (2-1), who came off the disabled list after missing one start with a minor shoulder strain allowed two runs in six innings and scattered six hits. He struck out four and walked none.
He also turned an unassisted double play , the first by an Oakland pitcher since Blue Moon Odom did it on July 11, 1971. He tagged Ben Revere in a rundown and flipped through the air to get Cliff Pennington at third.
"That's probably the best play I've ever seen a pitcher make, hurdling over a defender to get the second out unassisted," A's manager Bob Melvin said. "I didn't even know how to put that one down on the card. He pitched great. One pitch, really. A two-strike pitch to Trout. Strike or not. Two doubles. That's all they get off him. I thought he pitched really well."
FROM PUCKS TO BASEBALLS
The Edmonton Oilers are in town for their Western Conference semifinals series against the Ducks. The Oilers won Game 1 and on their off day before tomorrow's Game 2, star Connor McDavid and Patrick Maroon -- a former Duck and friend of the Angels -- attended batting practice. Maroon caught up with Mike Trout, and Albert Pujols signed baseballs for the contingent.
You can see the Honda Center, the Ducks' home arena, just behind left-center field at Angel Stadium.
TRAINER'S ROOM:
Athletics: RHP John Axford (strained right shoulder) threw from 90 feet and could join the team on the upcoming road trip. ... LHP Sean Manaea (left shoulder tightness) is expected to play catch in Texas on Friday. He left Wednesday's start after just 34 pitches in two innings.
Angels: RHP Mike Morin (neck tightness) is expected to start throwing in a few days. ... RHP Andrew Bailey (right shoulder inflammation) has resumed throwing. ... RHP Huston Street (right lat strain) is throwing off a mound.
UP NEXT:
Oakland RHP Jharel Cotton (2-2, 4.76 ERA) will make his ninth career start against Houston on Friday night. He leads the AL in games started by a rookie (4) and innings pitched (22 2/3).
LHP Tyler Skaggs (1-1, 4.44 ERA) got his first win of the season against Toronto in his last start, allowing two runs in seven innings. Skaggs, who is pitching his first full season since Tommy John surgery, had an extra day of rest before this start against Texas.
10:07PM,EDT,April 27,2017
Angel Stadium of Anaheim, Anaheim,California
Angel Stadium of Anaheim, Anaheim,California
| View: Play-By-Play | Pitch-By-Pitch | Inning: All | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 |
| Oakland - Top of 1st | SCORE | |
|---|---|---|
| Ricky Nolasco pitching for Los Angeles | OAK | LAA |
| Decker grounded out to second. | 0 | 0 |
| Joyce grounded out to first. | 0 | 0 |
| Lowrie flied out to center. | 0 | 0 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Los Angeles - Bottom of 1st | SCORE | |
| Kendall Graveman pitching for Oakland | OAK | LAA |
| Escobar grounded out to pitcher. | 0 | 0 |
| Calhoun flied out to center. | 0 | 0 |
| Trout doubled to left. | 0 | 0 |
| Pujols singled to deep right, Trout scored. | 0 | 1 |
| Cron doubled to deep right, Pujols scored. | 0 | 2 |
| Simmons popped out to second. | 0 | 2 |
| 2 Runs, 3 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Oakland - Top of 2nd | SCORE | |
| Ricky Nolasco pitching for Los Angeles | OAK | LAA |
| K. Davis flied out to center. | 0 | 2 |
| Alonso grounded out to second. | 0 | 2 |
| Healy singled to center. | 0 | 2 |
| Plouffe struck out swinging. | 0 | 2 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Los Angeles - Bottom of 2nd | SCORE | |
| Kendall Graveman pitching for Oakland | OAK | LAA |
| Revere flied out to left. | 0 | 2 |
| Pennington struck out bunting foul. | 0 | 2 |
| Graterol grounded out to pitcher. | 0 | 2 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Oakland - Top of 3rd | SCORE | |
| Ricky Nolasco pitching for Los Angeles | OAK | LAA |
| Phegley grounded out to third. | 0 | 2 |
| Rosales struck out swinging. | 0 | 2 |
| Decker grounded out to first. | 0 | 2 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Los Angeles - Bottom of 3rd | SCORE | |
| Kendall Graveman pitching for Oakland | OAK | LAA |
| Escobar lined out to left. | 0 | 2 |
| Calhoun grounded out to first. | 0 | 2 |
| Trout popped out to second. | 0 | 2 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Oakland - Top of 4th | SCORE | |
| Ricky Nolasco pitching for Los Angeles | OAK | LAA |
| Joyce grounded out to pitcher. | 0 | 2 |
| Lowrie doubled to deep right. | 0 | 2 |
| K. Davis struck out swinging. | 0 | 2 |
| Alonso singled to right center, Lowrie scored. | 1 | 2 |
| Healy lined out to left. | 1 | 2 |
| 1 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Los Angeles - Bottom of 4th | SCORE | |
| Kendall Graveman pitching for Oakland | OAK | LAA |
| Pujols lined out to right. | 1 | 2 |
| Cron singled to deep right. | 1 | 2 |
| Simmons grounded into double play, shortstop to second to first, Cron out at second. | 1 | 2 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Oakland - Top of 5th | SCORE | |
| Ricky Nolasco pitching for Los Angeles | OAK | LAA |
| Plouffe grounded out to shortstop. | 1 | 2 |
| Phegley popped out to shortstop. | 1 | 2 |
| Rosales struck out swinging. | 1 | 2 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Los Angeles - Bottom of 5th | SCORE | |
| Kendall Graveman pitching for Oakland | OAK | LAA |
| Revere singled to center. | 1 | 2 |
| Pennington singled to center, Revere to third. | 1 | 2 |
| Graterol grounded into double play, to pitcher, Revere out at home, Pennington out at third, Pennington out at second, Graterol to first. | 1 | 2 |
| Escobar struck out swinging. | 1 | 2 |
| 0 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Oakland - Top of 6th | SCORE | |
| Ricky Nolasco pitching for Los Angeles | OAK | LAA |
| Decker popped out to shortstop. | 1 | 2 |
| Joyce grounded out to second. | 1 | 2 |
| Lowrie walked. | 1 | 2 |
| K. Davis walked, Lowrie to second. | 1 | 2 |
| Alonso safe at first on error by second baseman Pennington, Lowrie to third, K. Davis to second. | 1 | 2 |
| Parker relieved Nolasco. | 1 | 2 |
| Healy struck out swinging. | 1 | 2 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 1 Errors | ||
| Los Angeles - Bottom of 6th | SCORE | |
| Kendall Graveman pitching for Oakland | OAK | LAA |
| Calhoun grounded out to first. | 1 | 2 |
| Trout struck out looking. | 1 | 2 |
| Pujols struck out looking. | 1 | 2 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Oakland - Top of 7th | SCORE | |
| David Hernandez pitching for Los Angeles | OAK | LAA |
| Hernandez relieved Parker. | 1 | 2 |
| Plouffe struck out swinging. | 1 | 2 |
| Phegley popped out to second. | 1 | 2 |
| Rosales grounded out to third. | 1 | 2 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Los Angeles - Bottom of 7th | SCORE | |
| Ryan Madson pitching for Oakland | OAK | LAA |
| Madson relieved Graveman. | 1 | 2 |
| Cron grounded out to shortstop. | 1 | 2 |
| Simmons lined out to right. | 1 | 2 |
| Revere grounded out to shortstop. | 1 | 2 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Oakland - Top of 8th | SCORE | |
| Jose Alvarez pitching for Los Angeles | OAK | LAA |
| Álvarez relieved Hernandez. | 1 | 2 |
| LaMarre hit for Decker. | 1 | 2 |
| LaMarre struck out swinging. | 1 | 2 |
| Joyce grounded out to third. | 1 | 2 |
| Lowrie grounded out to third. | 1 | 2 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Los Angeles - Bottom of 8th | SCORE | |
| Daniel Coulombe pitching for Oakland | OAK | LAA |
| LaMarre in center field. | 1 | 2 |
| Coulombe relieved Madson. | 1 | 2 |
| Pennington grounded out to second. | 1 | 2 |
| Graterol flied out to right. | 1 | 2 |
| Escobar doubled to left. | 1 | 2 |
| Calhoun flied out to center. | 1 | 2 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Oakland - Top of 9th | SCORE | |
| Bud Norris pitching for Los Angeles | OAK | LAA |
| Norris relieved Álvarez. | 1 | 2 |
| K. Davis struck out swinging. | 1 | 2 |
| Alonso walked. | 1 | 2 |
| Healy lined out to right. | 1 | 2 |
| Vogt hit for Plouffe. | 1 | 2 |
| Vogt grounded out to pitcher. | 1 | 2 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
Oakland Athletics
| Hitters | AB | R | H | RBI | BB | SO | #P | AVG | OBP | SLG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Decker CF | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13 | .242 | .359 | .333 |
a-LaMarre PH-CF
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | .000 | .000 | .000 |
| Joyce RF | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 20 | .169 | .227 | .305 |
| Lowrie 2B | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 13 | .286 | .356 | .416 |
| K. Davis LF | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 17 | .264 | .368 | .583 |
| Alonso 1B | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 21 | .288 | .364 | .559 |
| Healy 3B | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 7 | .244 | .279 | .427 |
| Plouffe DH | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 14 | .211 | .288 | .380 |
b-Vogt PH
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | .218 | .241 | .345 |
| Phegley C | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11 | .192 | .192 | .385 |
| Rosales SS | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 12 | .277 | .300 | .447 |
| Totals | 31 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 8 | 134 | |||
| a-struck out swinging for J Decker in the 8th b-grounded to pitcher for T Plouffe in the 9th | ||||||||||
| BATTING 2B: Lowrie (7, Nolasco) RBI: Alonso (14) 2-out RBI: Alonso Athletics RISP: 1-4 (Alonso 1-2, Healy 0-1, K. Davis 0-1) Team LOB: 6 | ||||||||||
| FIELDING DP: 2 (Rosales-Lowrie-Alonso, Graveman). | ||||||||||
Game Information
| Stadium | Angel Stadium of Anaheim, Anaheim, CA |
| Attendance | 37,603 (82.7% full) - % is based on regular season capacity |
| Game Time | 2:30 |
| Weather | 75 degrees, partly cloudy |
| Wind | 8 mph |
| Umpires | Home Plate - Marvin Hudson, First Base - Toby Basner, Second Base - Mike Muchlinski, Third Base - Jerry Layne |
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