Angels blank Dodgers; Kotchman, Anderson hurt

Baseball Betting Lines

06/16/2007 - Los Angeles, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Jeff Weaver tossed 5 1/3 scoreless innings to win his fifth consecutive decision as the Angels blanked the Dodgers, 3-0, in the latest edition of the Freeway Series.

Orlando Cabrera had two hits and Reggie Willits stroked a two-run single. Howie Kendrick had an RBI base hit, as the Angels scored all their runs in the fifth inning.

After retiring the first two batters of the fifth, Dodgers starter Jason Schmidt (1-4) got into trouble. He plunked Vladimir Guerrero before Gary Matthews Jr. singled to right and Casey Kotchman walked loading the bases for Willits, who singled to right scoring Guerrero and Matthews.

Rudy Seanez then entered in relief and yielded Kendrick's single to left, plating Kotchman.

Weaver (6-3) yielded four hits and four walks, while striking out three for the Angels, who have won three of their last four and 10 of 14.

Schmidt went 4 2/3 frames, allowing three runs on five hits. while walking four and striking out two for the Dodgers, who had a four-game winning streak snapped.

Weaver worked out of a bases-loaded jam in the second, inducing Schmidt to ground out. He also worked out of a two-on jam in the fourth, retiring Andre Ethier on a deep fly to right-center.

With two on and two out in the fifth, Weaver got Luis Gonzalez looking on a called third strike.

Darren Oliver relieved Weaver in the sixth and recorded the final two outs of the frame. Scot Shields pitched the seventh and eighth, and Francisco Rodriguez struck out the side in the ninth for his AL-leading 22nd save in 23 chances.

Game Notes

The Angels' rotation picked up its major league-leading 38th win...Willits entered the game in the second as a defensive replacement for left fielder Garret Anderson, who aggravated his right hip while making a backhanded catch...Kotchman sustained a concussion in the seventh after being hit in the helmet on an intended pickoff throw at second by Dodgers catcher Russell Martin. Kotchman walked off under his own power and went to a local hospital for further testing...Schmidt has lost his last four decisions...The Angels have won six of their last seven against the Dodgers...Attendance was 56,000.

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Marlins could start season without No. 2 starter Johnson

JUPITER, Fla. -- The Foorida Marlins are preparing for the likelihood that right-hander
Josh Johnson won't be ready when the season starts April 2.

Grapefruit League action starts Wednesday, but Johnson, penciled in as the No. 2 starter, hasn't even thrown off a mound at full speed since September. He's experienced some soreness in his right forearm.

MySportsbook.com have the Marlins listed with baseball betting lines at +800 to win the NL East this season .

''You guys know the math. If he's not on the hill then he becomes an opening day roster issue,'' manager Fredi Gonzalez said Saturday. ''We're borderline now.''

Johnson, who finished 12-7 with a 3.10 ERA in 2007, was supposed to throw on flat ground Saturday. That was canceled when he woke up with pain.

He played catch on Wednesday with no pain but felt discomfort in a throwing session on Thursday. He's expected to try again Sunday.

''Like we always said from the very beginning, we're going to take it easy on him,'' Gonzalez said. ''He didn't feel right, so we shut him down. We're going to take it back to step one and see where we're at.''

Among the candidates to take Johnson's spot in the rotation are left-hander Chris George and right-handers Yusmeiro Petit and Jose Garcia.

Right-hander Sergio Mitre, who missed most of last season with arm and shoulder problems, also is behind.

With Johnson's status doubtful, Gonzalez said right-hander Ricky Nolasco will stay in the rotation and no longer will be considered a candidate for closer.

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