Hideki Matsui Keys Sweep, But Pen Still Shaky. Halolinks.

Angels complete 1st sweep at Dodger Stadium - Associated Press
Hideki Matsui had three hits and drove in two runs, Jered Weaver pitched into the seventh inning and the Angels swept an interleague Freeway Series at Dodger Stadium for the first time with a 6-5 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers on Sunday."Is it incomprehensible for us to get swept at home? No," said outfielder Andre Ethier, who went 0 for 4. "I mean, if you go out and play like that, you're going to get swept. They picked up runners when they had an opportunity, and we didn't. It's as simple as that. That team is very good at getting the momentum to swing their way and using it to their advantage."Matsui got the day off on his 36th birthday Saturday, but returned with another sizzling game for the Angels. He had an RBI single in the first inning, a double in the third and another run-scoring single in the fifth, improving to 20 for 48 with 12 RBIs in June.

A lot of highlights... Napoli jacks a solo homer to left field - Mike Napoli puts the Angels up by three runs with a solo home run to left field in the top of the eighth inning. Martin's throw picks off Abreu at first - Russell Martin makes a discreet throw to first base to pick off a lax Bobby Abreu to end the top of the ninth inning (why does Russell Martin's jersey have "J. Martin" on the back?) Weavers on opposite sides of Freeway Series - Jeff and Jered Weaver get the chance to face each other as the Angels take on the Dodgers.  Hunter blasts a solo homer to center field - Torii Hunter makes it a two run lead for the Angels with a solo home run to center field in the top of the third inning.  Napoli jacks a solo homer to left field - Mike Napoli puts the Angels up by three runs with a solo home run to left field in the top of the eighth inning.  Matsui smacks his second RBI single of game - Hideki Matsui gives the Angels a 5-1 lead with his second RBI single of the game in the top of the fifth inning.

MORE LINKS AFTER THE BREAK...

Brewers-Angels Preview -  FOX Sports on MSN
Saunders is 4-1 with a 2.63 ERA over his last seven starts but 1-5 with a 6.34 ERA this season at home. In his first start against Milwaukee, he'll face a team that's batted .239 during an 11-21 stretch and .194 over its last eight contests.Another California native, Randy Wolf (4-6, 5.31), is 0-1 with a 6.35 ERA in two career matchups against the Angels - both at Dodger Stadium - and 0-2 with a 10.32 ERA in two starts this month.The left-hander gave up a season-high eight runs and nine hits in his latest start, a 9-4 loss to the Cubs on Wednesday.he left-hander gave up a season-high eight runs and nine hits in his latest start, a 9-4 loss to the Cubs.

Do you know why the Angels playing the Brewers is a good thing?  Because I get to watch the Angels on regular TV!  Yeah, I know, you could care less (but I'm still excited none-the-less).

Demise of Angels was vastly exaggerated - latimes.com
They're the hottest team in baseball, with 13 victories in their last 16 games. They won 11 games on their marathon trip, as many road games as the Oakland Athletics have won all year. They just swept the Dodgers, and here's the thing: There is no position at which the Angels clearly have the superior player. You could argue about second base, or shortstop, or left field, or center field, but you can't argue with the scoreboard. The Angels win. That is what they do. The Angels are 36-30. They were 36-30 last year too, and they won the division by 10 games."Critics always look at us in April and say, 'These guys are done,' " Hunter said. "Then they say, 'Now they're back in it.' "I wouldn't respect those guys. I would say those dudes don't know what they're talking about."

Angels' group effort paying off offensively - The Orange County Register
That the Angels have been able to survive without Morales in the short run is not surprising. What is surprising is the way the Angels' offense has thrived since losing its best hitter. In the 51 games before Morales' injury, the team hit .248 with 50 home runs and an average of 4.35 runs per game. In the 15 games without Morales, the Angels have hit .297 with 19 home runs, nine double-digit hit games and an average of 6.1 runs per game.

New York Mets obtained Gary Matthews Jr. after Mike Lowell injury compromised Red Sox-Angles swap - New York Daily News
According to a major league source, the Red Sox and Angels agreed on a simple Matthews-for-Lowell trade last December, then the Angels backed off because of Lowell's thumb injury.

But then...Lowell-for-Matthews rumor untrue - BostonHerald.com
Contrary to a report in today’s New York Daily News, the Red Sox and Angels never agreed to a Mike Lowell-for-Gary Matthews Jr. swap last December.

I don't how this happens.  Do sportswriters just make crap up?  Who's right, the Daily News or the Herald?

Dodgers noncommittal about role of Vladimir Shpunt - latimes.com
Those employed by Frank McCourt have been noticeably uncomfortable when asked in recent days about Vladimir Shpunt, the 71-year-old Russian healer who was paid by the Dodgers owner and his estranged wife to send positive energy to the team from his Boston-area home. "Don't ask me about something like that," one player said.

Jim Joyce top MLB ump, players nix replay in ESPN The Magazine Baseball Confidential poll - ESPN
Jim Joyce, the umpire whose missed call deprived Detroit Tigers pitcher Armando Galarraga of a perfect game on June 2, is baseball's best umpire nonetheless, according to an exclusive ESPN The Magazine Baseball Confidential poll of 100 major league players.

Troy Glaus: The new Chipper Jones or a one-year wonder? - Mark Bradley
Troy Glaus was supposed to be the one-year bridge to Freddie Freeman, but he has been much more. He leads the National League in RBIs. He has 13 homers. He’s hitting .290 for the season, which is astonishing given that he was at .194 on May 1. Over the past six weeks, he has been the dominant player on baseball’s hottest team.

Not trying to rub it in, just pointing out who's having a good year so far.

Cabrera makes first AA appearance -  The Orange County Register
Former major leaguer Daniel Cabrera made his first appearance since signing a minor-league deal with the Angels, pitching a scoreless inning for Double-A Arkansas with one hit and one walk.

June 14 - BR Bullpen
1876 - George Hall of the Philadelphia Athletics became the first major league player to hit for cycle. He will also become the first player to be banned along with others for throwing 3 1/2 game lead with 12 games to go in 1877.
1974 - At Anaheim Stadium, Nolan Ryan struck out 19 Boston Red Sox batters in 13 innings, including Cecil Cooper in six consecutive times, to help the California Angels a 4 - 3 victory in 15 innings. Barry Raziano was the winner in two innings of relief and Luis Tiant took the loss in 14 1/3 innings, after Denny Doyle doubled home Mickey Rivers with the winning run.
R.I.P.
1973 - Twink Twining, pitcher (b. 1894) Twink?  Really?

The Los Angeles Angels of Los Angeles: