Aug 5, 2008 9:51 pm US/Pacific
Angels Held To Two Hits, Lose To Orioles
ANAHEIM, CA (AP) ―
Chris Waters held the team with baseball's best record to one hit over eight innings in his major league debut, and the Baltimore Orioles beat the Los Angeles Angels 3-0 on Tuesday night.
The AL West-leading Angels totaled 23 runs in Jon Garland's previous two starts, including an 11-6 win at Camden Yards. But all they could muster against Waters (1-0) was a leadoff single in the second inning by Vladimir Guerrero.
The left-hander, who turns 28 on Aug. 17, was promoted from Triple-A Norfolk and inserted into the rotation due to the ineffectiveness of Radhames Liz -- demoted to the minors on July 27.
Waters threw 104 pitches, striking out three, walking three and hitting a batter. He retired 14 of his last 15 batters.
All-Star closer George Sherrill earned his 31st save in 37 chances, allowing a leadoff single in the ninth by Erick Aybar.
The original plan for Baltimore was to call up righty Hayden Penn, whose career has taken several detours because of injuries the past 1 1/2 seasons after he went 0-4 with a bloated 15.10 ERA in six starts with the Orioles in 2006.
Manager Dave Trembley wanted Penn -- who went on the disabled list in May with a shoulder ailment -- to throw two innings and 35 pitches in his final tuneup with Triple-A Norfolk. But he lasted only two-thirds of an inning against Richmond, allowing three runs and three hits on 31 pitches.
"I think the consensus of opinion was that he wasn't given an adequate opportunity to prepare himself to come here," Trembley said. "The guy's been snake-bitten somewhat because of a variety of things that have happened to him, and I think everybody's very much aware of his history."
The Orioles' player development people recommended Waters.
The Angels were shut out for the fifth time this season, and first time at home. The only time they got a runner past first base was in the third inning, when Aybar grounded out to shortstop with runners at second and third. Torii Hunter's hitting streak ended at 15 games, as did Garret Anderson's 12-game streak.
Garland (10-7) allowed three runs and nine hits over seven innings, including Luke Scott's 19th homer in the seventh. The right-hander came in 6-0 with a 3.30 ERA in his nine previous starts against AL East clubs this season, and was 4-6 with a 5.08 ERA in 13 starts against other teams. Garland did not record a strikeout or a walk.
The Orioles opened the game with four consecutive hits, including an RBI double by Nick Markakis and a run-scoring single by Melvin Mora.
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