Hunter Gets Silver, Angels Get Stranded. Halolinks.

Twins 10, Angels 1: Minnesota Offense Pounds LA Bullpen - Twinkie Town
The Angels took a 1-0 lead off Kevin Slowey in the bottom of the second on Thursday night, as Maicer Izturis drove in Juan Rivera. Los Angeles would threaten again, but wouldn't scrape across another run. The Twins took the lead for good in the top of the fifth, with Jim Thome's double and Jason Kubel's run-scoring single leading off the frame. Joel Pineiro's biggest mistake was leaving a high breaking ball hanging for Brendan Harris, who pulled the first homer of the evening into right field and made it 3-1.

Angels lose their third consecutive to Minnesota - LA Daily News
The Angels hit four home runs in the four games, but none in the series finale as they continued to struggle with runners in scoring position. They were 0 for 9 on those occasions Thursday and 3 for 23 (.130) with runners in scoring position the last three games. "We couldn't get that hit with guys in scoring position that could have flip-flopped some of the things that happened at the end of the game," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. Joel Pineiro pitched well in his Angels debut, using his sinker to avoid trouble early by getting ground balls. But Harris, the Twins' No. 9 hitter, was able to connect for a two-run home run in a three-run fifth inning that erased an early Angels lead.

Athletics-Angels Preview - FOX Sports on MSN
Matt Palmer (0-0, 0.00 ERA) gets his first start of the season after allowing one hit in two innings of relief during Tuesday's 5-3 loss. The right-hander is making a spot start with Scott Kazmir on the disabled list with a strained right hamstring. Palmer went 11-2 with a 3.93 ERA in 40 games - 13 starts - last season. He was very effective in eight home starts, going 6-1 with a 3.75 ERA. Palmer is 0-0 with a 3.86 ERA in five relief outings against the A's. Los Angeles took 12 of 19 meetings with Oakland last year. Gio Gonzalez will try to extend the A's streak. He's starting a season in the majors for the first time, while looking to prove he belongs in the A's rotation after being named the fifth starter due to a strong spring training. The left-hander went 1-2 with a 2.96 ERA in six preseason games, and an injury to Trevor Cahill cemented his place. Gonzalez went 6-7 with a 5.75 ERA and was second on the team with 109 strikeouts in 20 games last season after being recalled from the minors in May. He went 1-1 with a 4.70 ERA and 21 strikeouts in 15 1-3 innings in three starts versus Anaheim last year. Gonzalez took the loss in his only start in Anaheim, allowing four runs while striking out 10 in six innings of a 5-2 defeat Oct. 2.

Oakland Athletics at Los Angeles Angels - April 9, 2010 - MLB.com
If it weren't for injuries to teammates, it's possible and maybe even probable that Gio Gonzalez of the A's and Matt Palmer of the Angels wouldn't be starting against each other Friday night. But injuries are a huge part of baseball and Gonzalez and Palmer are huge parts of their teams. And in the opener of a three-game set between these American League West rivals, the pitchers will be counted on to get momentum going early.

Angels' offense makes a weak first impression - latimes.com
In winning three of four games from the Angels, Twins starters Scott Baker, Nick Blackburn, Carl Pavano and Slowey — not exactly a list of Cy Young Award candidates — went 3-1 with a 3.47 earned-run average, allowing nine runs in 23 1/3 innings. After a 6-3 victory in Monday night's season opener, the Angels managed only six runs and 25 hits in the next three games, their 1-3 record their slowest four-game start since they went 0-4 to open the 1992 season.

Scioscia, Hunter presented '09 awards - angelsbaseball.com
Angels manager Mike Scioscia and center fielder Torii Hunter were presented awards before Thursday night's series finale against the Twins at Angel Stadium. Scioscia accepted the 2009 American League Manager of the Year Award by the Baseball Writers' Association of America. It is the second time in Scioscia's 11 years handling the reins that he has claimed the honor. Hunter earned his first Louisville Silver Slugger Award in '09, a remarkable feat given that he missed 32 games with a right groin strain that required sports hernia surgery during the offseason.

Baseball America - Minor League Transactions
Los Angeles Angels Released: RHP Travis Chick, C Flint Wipke, 2B Phil Bando, 2B Hector Estrella, 3B Wilberto Ortiz, OF Coby Smith

Japanese female knuckleballer signs on with Chico semi-pro team - CBSSports.com Baseball
Eri Yoshida, an 18-year-old pitcher who played professional baseball in Japan last year, signed with the Chico Outlaws of the Golden Baseball League. The team said she will report to spring training in early May. "I am grateful for this opportunity to pitch for the Chico Outlaws," Yoshida said. "This is a dream come true for me and I hope I can contribute to the team and help them win and also to continue to improve as a pro baseball player." Yoshida will be the first female to pitch for a pro team in the United States since Ila Borders retired more than 10 years ago, the team said. "We are really looking forward to having Eri as a member of the Chico Outlaws this season," team president Mike Marshall said.

Baseball's billionaires - Yahoo! Sports
Worth $521 million, Arte Moreno’s Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim are baseball’s seventh most valuable team. Moreno has reaped robust returns since taking over the squad in 2003. The billboard billionaire bought the team in 2003 for $184 million. The club has returned an annual 16 percent since, as a talented team and cheap ticket prices have kept Angels Stadium packed. Moreno rejoined the ranks of the World’s Billionaires this year after his media holdings recovered along with the rest of the market.

Kevin Costner's Baseball Career
Ten question quiz.

April 9 - BR Bullpen
1981 - On Opening Day, Dodgers rookie pitcher Fernando Valenzuela, in replacement of injured starter Jerry Reuss, shuts out the visiting Astros 2 - 0, on five hits, in his first major league start. Valenzuela goes on to win eight consecutive games.
1991 - MLB average salary on Opening Day reaches a record $891,188, with 223 players making at least $1 million.

Happy birthday to the unofficial commissioner of baseball, and former Angel heart-throb...
1945 - Peter Gammons, announcer
1961 - Kirk McCaskill, pitcher
We miss you...
2009 - Nick Adenhart, pitcher (b. 1986)

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