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Sunday, April 24, 2005Oakland A's at Anaheim AngelsToday's Matchup: Joe Blanton (0-1, 2.04) vs. Kelvim Escobar (1st appearance this season)
Tonight's game is on ESPN, so it is the 2nd game I get to see this season (maybe the first all the way through). It is also Kelvim Escobar's debut, who was called up from rehab today, while Chris Bootcheck was sent back down. Expect him to return relatively soon. The way I see it, Escobar's job this game is to go 5-6 innings, keep the Angels in the game, and just remember what it is like to pitch to major leaguers. I don't expect him to go 8 innings or hold the A's to two runs today (I would love for that to happen, but I have no expectations for it). UPDATE: Escobar started his season nicely, striking out the side in the first inning. Figgins has now tripled because the A's RF took a terrible dive at a liner he had no chance at. UPDATE: Through 3 innings, Escobar has faced 11 batters, has 6 Ks, 2 hits allowed, 1 walk, and induced 1 double play. If Cabrera hadn't committed a throwing error on another DP opportunity or if the umpire had called Scutaro's steal correctly as an out, Escobar would have faced 9 batters, have 5 K's, allowed 2 hits, and induced 2 DPs or 1 DP and caught stealing. RICHARD (7:05 PST): Gentlemen, we have ourselves an ace! Did anyone else catch Andrea Kramer's interview with Kelvim in the bottom of the seventh? Is it just me, or has grasp of the English language improved over the offseason? He was quite eloquent. I hope Vlad is taking notes. JOSH (9:42 CDT): Great, great ball game. I almost feel bad for Blanton, he has given up only 5 runs in 4 starts and is 0-2 to show for it. Escobar pitched great, giving up 2 hits and 3 walks through 6 innings and striking out 7. Great way to end the series, and ties up the season series 3-3. These teams do not play each other again until mid-July. RICHARD (8:26 PST): Before we all get swept away in a wave of Kelvim euphoria, it should be noted that shutting down the A's is no great achievement these days - a fact demonstrated by Kenny and the inmates over at AN. |
