News
Aybar delivers despite damaged finger
Los Angeles (25-24) at Toronto (29-24), 4:07 p.m. PT
By Lyle Spencer / MLB.com
05/31/09 10:05 PM ET
ANAHEIM -- Angels shortstop Erick Aybar is returning to the scene of the accident north of the border. It was May 20, 2008, when Aybar's right hand came in contact with the unforgiving artificial surface at Rogers Centre as he dived to his left for a sharp ground ball struck by the Blue Jays' Alex Rios. Playing his 39th straight game at shortstop, at a level matched by few of his peers, Aybar dislocated his right pinky finger before unleashing a throw to first base. He would spend a month on the disabled list waiting for it to heal, a breakout season delayed. The pinky no longer is straight, and it will remain crooked, but it does not impair his ability to throw or hit a baseball. Aybar grinned as he showed it to a reporter, and he laughed when told we all have our imperfections. "I'll keep playing hard," Aybar said. "That's the way you have to play. I'll dive if I need to ... but be a little more careful, especially on that field." The Angels are making their first of two trips to Canada this season. They'll return in late August for three games. The clubs split a two-game set in Anaheim on May 6-7. The great Roy Halladay, who faces Joe Saunders in the series opener, held the Angels to one run while the Jays were collecting 13 in the first game. Jered Weaver came back to even things with a 6-1 decision. Saunders induces a lot of ground balls to the left side, where Aybar and third baseman Chone Figgins have been accumulating highlight-reel plays of late. While Aybar is back to playing at an exceptionally high level defensively, he's also delivering with the bat, giving the Angels production whether he's in the No. 9 or No. 2 spot in the order. "Erick Aybar has played well on this homestand," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said as the Angels prepared to head to Canada for the first of nine games on a road trip that also takes them to Detroit and Tampa Bay. "He got some big hits offensively, and that's a confidence level any team needs from that position, what Erick brings as far as his range is concerned. "Figgy also is playing well. It's a good feeling, knowing when a ball's hit on the left side of the infield, it's going to be an out." Aybar's range and arm are plus-plus on every scout's evaluation. What he needs to do to become a top-flight shortstop is make all the routine plays and throws. He feels he is making progress. "I'm learning, getting better," Aybar said. "It takes some time to get there. I'm working hard, doing everything I can." Scioscia is impressed with Aybar's multiple gifts. "We talked about the defensive breakdowns we were having for a while," Scioscia said. "That's reversed itself. We're playing terrific defense now, and Erick's been leading that charge. He's playing great at shortstop."Aybar basically has shared shortstop with Maicer Izturis the past two seasons, but back issues took Izturis out of the equation for a while, and Aybar has taken full advantage of the opportunity to play every day.
"That's what I want -- it's what every player wants," Aybar said. Pitching matchupLAA: LHP Joe Saunders (6-3, 3.26 ERA)
Saunders tossed 6 2/3 effective innings against the White Sox on Tuesday, but he pitched in and out of trouble all night. He ended both the third and fourth innings with strikeouts with a runner on third, and he loaded the bases in the sixth. But the damage was done with two solo home runs by Jayson Nix and a bases-loaded single by Paul Konerko. In all, he allowed three runs on eight hits with four strikeouts and three walks. Saunders is 1-2 with a 3.62 ERA in four career starts against the Blue Jays. TOR: RHP Roy Halladay (8-1, 2.63 ERA)
Halladay gave the Jays seven solid innings in his last start, which came on Wednesday in Baltimore, but he recorded a no-decision as the bullpen blew a five-run lead and Toronto lost, 12-10, in 11 innings. Halladay gave up three runs on eight hits and two walks while striking out five. He pounded the strike zone in typical Halladay fashion, throwing 74 of his 102 pitches for strikes. Tidbits
Angels players were buzzing about small-ball practitioner Reggie Willits cracking a two-run homer for Triple-A Salt Lake against Reno during Saturday's doubleheader. "That's a fine," Scioscia said, grinning. ... Rudy Seanez, a time-tested reliever recently signed by the Angels, made his debut for Salt Lake on Saturday night with two innings, marred only by a solo homer by Reno's Abraham Nunez. Seanez, 40, was a valued member of the World Series champion Phillies bullpen last season and could become a setup option as the Angels try to find answers for the seventh and eighth innings. ... Outfielder Chris Pettit continues to shine for Salt Lake, hitting .361 with a .409 on-base percentage and 14 steals in 16 attempts. He has a team-high 18 doubles. ... Halladay has weaved his magic against Angels hitters over the years, shutting down Bobby Abreu (.176), Torii Hunter (.133), Figgins (.227) and Juan Rivera (0-for-14). Vladimir Guerrero is a .265 hitter against Halladay with a home run and eight RBIs in 34 at-bats. Howard Kendrick (5-for-10), Mike Napoli (3-for-8 with a homer) and Robb Quinlan (2-for-4) have had some success against the Toronto ace. Tickets
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• KLAA 830, KFWB, KWKW 1330 (Español) Up next
• Wednesday: Angels (Jered Weaver, 4-2, 2.36) at Blue Jays (Casey Janssen, 1-1, 4.15), 4:07 p.m. PT
• Thursday: Angels (John Lackey, 1-1, 6.05) at Blue Jays (Brian Tallet, 3-3, 4.26), 9:37 a.m. PT
• Friday: Angels (Matt Palmer, 5-0, 4.06) at Tigers (TBD), 4:05 p.m. PT
Lyle Spencer is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
