Scott Kazmir avoids disaster but Angels still fall

Reporting from Oakland

What had the makings of another Oakland Coliseum disaster for Scott Kazmir, who walked two, hit two batters and gave up a run in a 28-pitch first inning Friday night, actually turned out pretty well for the Angels left-hander.

Kazmir, who was rocked for a career-high 13 runs and 11 hits in five innings of a July 10 start at Oakland, walked six in 5 2/3 innings but was sharp enough to give up only two runs and two hits before turning the game over to the bullpen.

Then things got really ugly. Jason Bulger, making his first appearance since June 10, was tagged for four runs and four hits in the seventh, and Brian Stokes, in his first game since May 9, gave up two more runs, as the Athletics pulled away for an 8-0 victory.

Kevin Kouzmanoff hit a two-run homer to left-center field off Bulger, who returned from a shoulder strain, and Cliff Pennington lined a two-run homer to right off Stokes, who returned from shoulder fatigue, to highlight the six-run seventh. Kazmir (8-13) took the loss.

Oakland left-hander Gio Gonzalez (13-8) allowed four hits and struck out six in six innings, and the Angels, who had only one hit, Juan Rivera’s ninth-inning single, from the fifth inning on, were shut out for the third time in six games and sixth time in 18 games.

The Angels will have their ace, Jered Weaver, on the mound Saturday, normally a reason for optimism for them. But the Angels have been shut out in each of Weaver’s last three starts: by Baltimore, Minnesota and Boston.

Designated sitter

Hideki Matsui, who is batting .404 (19 for 47) with four home runs since Aug. 14 and has 14 runs batted in over his last 12 games, did not start against Gonzalez Friday night.

Matsui, who is hitting .208 against lefties, has been benched often against lefties in the second half, but two of his last four homers, including Wednesday night’s game-winner off Seattle’s Jason Vargas, were off left-handers.

“Gonzalez has different stuff than Vargas,� Manager Mike Scioscia said. “He has a power breaking ball that is tough on some lefties.�

Right fielder Torii Hunter, one for 10 against Gonzalez, started at designated hitter, and Bobby Abreu, hitless with five strikeouts in nine at-bats against Gonzalez, started in left field. Matsui has one hit, a home run, in three at-bats against Gonzalez.

When a Japanese reporter pointed this out, Scioscia said, “Bobby has the ability to work counts. He brings something that is important to our lineup. And he was off Wednesday, so we want to get him back in there.�

Abreu grounded out, struck out looking and walked in three plate appearances against Gonzalez.

Leaving a mark

The sidelines, yard lines and hash marks from Thursday night’s Raiders-Seahawks game were still visible in the Oakland Coliseum on Friday night.

But the playing surface of the football field, which runs diagonal to the baseball field, appeared to be in decent shape. It was a large portion of center field, which gets trampled by the bleachers that are rolled out for Raiders games, that was brown and splotchy.

The grounds crew spent much of Friday rolling the outfield.

“The infield is fine, but the outfield gets beat up pretty good,� Angels bench coach Ron Roenicke said. “There usually aren’t holes, but it gets really fast because there isn’t as much grass, and when you roll it, it gets hard. The ball will get by you quick in the gaps.�

Short hops

Joel Pineiro, out since July 28 because of a rib-cage strain, will throw another bullpen session this weekend and a four-inning, 60-pitch simulated game Tuesday. If there are no set-backs, he could be activated late next week. … Kendry Morales, whose season ended when he broke a bone above his left ankle on May 29, made a brief visit to Angel Stadium last week. Scioscia said the first baseman is still on crutches, and his leg is in an air cast, “but his rehabilitation is going well, and he should be 100% by spring training.�

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