Angels' Scot Shields pulls off rare feat
ANGELS FYI
He strikes out four batters in one inning against Phillies.
PHILADELPHIA -- Reliever Scot Shields became the third pitcher in Angels history to strike out four batters in one inning when he whiffed pinch-hitter Greg Dobbs, Jimmy Rollins, Shane Victorino and Ryan Howard in the eighth inning Saturday night.
Victorino swung and missed at a vicious breaking ball in the dirt that bounced past catcher Jeff Mathis and allowed the Phillies center fielder to reach first.
Trying to protect a 4-2 lead, Shields then walked No. 3 hitter Pat Burrell on four pitches to bring up Howard, the cleanup batter who entered with 19 homers and 63 runs batted in.
But Shields got ahead of Howard and struck him out on a nasty, 1-and-2 breaking ball to end the inning, his four strikeouts tying a feat accomplished by Chuck Finley, who did it twice in 1999, and Ryne Duren, who did it in 1961. It was the 51st time in major league history a pitcher struck out four batters in an inning.
"That's never happened to me before," said Shields, who hasn't allowed a run in 12 1/3 innings over his last 12 appearances. "But I'm not going to get away with stuff like that too often, bringing up Ryan Howard in that situation."
Coming on strong
Kelvim Escobar continues to amaze in his recovery from a shoulder tear. The right-hander's fastball hit 93 mph during a 30-pitch simulated game in Arizona on Saturday, and he is expected to pitch in an Arizona Summer League game this week.
"His velocity was terrific, which is very encouraging," Manager Mike Scioscia said. "We expected him to get there, but it's a pleasant surprise that the first time out of the box, the ball came out of his hand that well. He's ready for a game."
Escobar, who was so distraught after a spring-training setback he worried his career might be over, expects to return as a reliever, but the Angels haven't ruled out a return to the rotation.
With Nick Adenhart struggling at triple-A (5-6, 4.66 earned-run average), the Angels are short on starting pitching depth.
"It would be premature to have him throw 30 pitches and put him in our bullpen," Scioscia said, "and then if we have a need because a starter goes down, not have the option to plug him in the rotation."
Early departure
Shortstop Maicer Izturis, who has hit .378 (28 for 74) with 12 runs batted in over his last 18 games, was pulled in the second inning of Saturday's game because of tightness in his right hamstring, an injury he suffered stealing second base in the first.
