Series preview: Twins at L.A. Angels
A look at the three-game series that begins Tuesday in Anaheim, Calif.:
June 24, 2014 at 6:24AM
Three-game series at Angel Stadium
RHP Kyle Gibson (6-5, 3.25 ERA) vs. LHP C.J. Wilson (7-6, 3.34)
Wednesday, 9:05 p.m. • FSN, 96.3-FM
RHP Yohan Pino (0-0, 2.57) vs. RHP Garrett Richards (7-2, 2.79)
Monday, 2:35 p.m. • FSN, 96.3-FM
RHP Ricky Nolasco (4-5, 5.52) vs. RHP Jared Weaver (7-6, 3.47)
TWINS UPDATE
This is the first stop on a six-game road trip that also takes them to Texas. They come into this series following their first four-game home sweep since 2009, coming against the White Sox, but had lost five in a row on the road before that — two in Detroit and three in Boston. They are 17-21 on the road. … They won five of six games vs. the Angels in 2013, including 2-1 in Anaheim. But the Angels have won nine of the past 11 season series and went 16-29 at home vs. the Twins over that stretch. The Twins have not swept a series in Anaheim since 1996. ... Ron Gardenhire, the second-longest tenured manager in the majors, will be facing the only manager on the job longer: Mike Scioscia, who was hired in 2000. … Gibson has pitched 22 consecutive innings without giving up a run. … IF Eduardo Escobar is tied for fourth in the AL with 22 doubles. ... DH Kendrys Morales, in a 2-for-27 slump, played six seasons for the Angels, batting .281 with 79 homers.
ANGELS UPDATE
The Angels swept three home games over the weekend from Texas and trail Oakland by five games in the AL West. The Angels are the current wild-card leaders, entering Monday with a two-game lead over the New York Yankees, Seattle and Baltimore. ... They own the best home record in baseball at 23-14 and have won nine of their past 10, and 14 of their past 17, at Angel Stadium. … They rank third in the AL in runs scored and sixth in runs allowed. … The Angels released OF Raul Ibanez on Saturday. … Los Angeles CF Mike Trout, who ranks in the AL top 10 in batting average (. 306), home runs (16), RBI (34) and triples (five), has hit safely in 37 of his past 39 games. ... 1B Albert Pujols has 508 career home runs, one fewer than Gary Sheffield for 24th on the all-time list, three behind Mel Ott for 23rd and four behind Ernie Banks and Eddie Matthews for 21st.
PHIL MILLER
about the writer
Only 34 years old, Jeremy Zoll has worked his way up the organizational ranks since coming to the Twins in 2018.
