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Hello, it's been awhile, folks. I'll be hosting your gamethread tonight for the second installment of 7 games total these teams play each other in July. The A's are coming off a series win in Houston, albeit they could have done much more. Alas, it was Grant Balfour's blown save and general offensive ineptitude that made a 3-3 road trip out of what could have been a 4-2 or better trip. Nevertheless, it was the A's power that was the difference in all three Houston games, as late home runs propelled the team against a much better Astros club than they saw earlier in the year.
The Angels are coming off a brutal home series against the Twins, losing two of three to the 11.5 back-in-the-central Minnesota team. It was only Jered Weaver's dominance yesterday afternoon, and a heads-up double play by Ernesto Frieri that saved them from a sweep. In their only other highlight yesterday - other than the one run they scored - they finally, mercifully, removed Joe Blanton from their rotation. Cupcakes will apparently work on giving up fewer home runs without the pressure of the rotation. Instead, it will be Garrett Richards on Saturday, who himself last started against the A's on April 30th and took the loss then.
The A's will counter lefty C.J. Wilson today with Dan Straily. On Saturday, Straily pitched decently, allowing 8 hits, no walks, and K'ing 4 over 7 innings. A repeat performance will be exactly what the A's need.
Here is the lineup for today. Adam Rosales is in for the mostly-RHB look:
The lawyerballing begins at 7:05 PM.
