Orange County Register

JOHN LACKEY (10-2, 3.09)

  The Angels’ ace is 13-3 against the A’s in his career, the most victories he has against an opponent, and has lost only one of his past nine decisions against Oakland. Some of those victories have come in dominating fashion - and that was before the A’s offense went into the deep freeze it has been in the second half of the season. He beat them June 6 at McAfee Coliseum, allowing only four hits and one run in seven innings. He beat them in his final regular season start a year ago, on Sept. 28, allowing only two hits and no runs in seven innings. He beat them on April 7 last season in Oakland, allowing only one run in seven innings. Lackey beating the A’s has become fairly routine, and his career ERA against Oakland is a tidy 2.77. After struggling through July with an ERA of 6.06, Lackey also appears to be rounding back to form. He allowed only five hits and one run in eight innings against Minnesota in his last start, taking a no-decision in a 2-1 loss, and has allowed three earned runs or fewer in his past three starts.

Lackey vs. the A’s:

Ellis: 11 for 45, .244; 0 HR, 3 RBI

Crosby: 6 for 28, .214; 0 HR, 1 RBI

Thomas: 3 for 20, .150; 0 HR, 1 RBI

M. Sweeney: 3 for 10, .300; 1 HR, 3 RBI

Suzuki: 2 for 10, .200; 0 HR, 0 RBI

Cust: 3 for 8, .375; 1 HR, 1 RBI

Barton: 1 for 6, .167; 0 HR, 0 RBI

Hannahan: 1 for 5, .200; 0 HR, 0 RBI

Brown: 0 for 3, .000; 0 HR, 0 RBI

R. Sweeney: 0 for 3, .000; 0 HR, 0 RBI

Gonzalez: 0 for 2, .000; 0 HR, 0 RBI

GREG SMITH (6-12, 3.75)

  Smith is only 1-2 in three career starts against the Angels despite pitching well in every game. He has allowed only 14 hits and seven earned runs in 23 1/3 innings and comes in with an ERA of 2.70 and an opponents batting average of only .173. He had the Angels pretty much befuddled in recording that one victory on June 30 at Angel Stadium, deftly changing speeds and limiting them to four hits and one run in a complete game victory. He was saddled with a loss the first time he faced the Angels this season, back on April 29, when he worked eight innings and allowed only three hits and two earned runs. That was enough to get him beat 2-0, however, when outdueled by left-hander Joe Saunders. The rest of the American League has been tougher on Smith - since that victory at Angel Stadium at the end of June, he has won only once in seven decisions. He is 1-2 in August despite posting an ERA of 2.08, but given the state of the A’s offense it should come as no surprise that they have scored all of seven runs in his four starts.

Smith vs. the Angels:

Matthews: 3 for 11, .273; 0 HR, 1 RBI

Guerrero: 0 for 9, .000; 0 HR, 0 RBI

Hunter: 0 for 9, .000; 0 HR, 0 RBI

Figgins: 2 for 8, .250; 0 HR, 0 RBI

Kendrick: 1 for 8, .125; 0 HR, 0 RBI

Rivera: 1 for 6, .167; 0 HR, 0 RBI

Quinlan: 1 for 4, .250; 0 HR, 1 RBI

Mathis: 0 for 4, .000; 0 HR, 0 RBI

Aybar: 1 for 4, .250; 0 HR, 0 RBI

Anderson: 0 for 3, .000; 0 HR, 0 RBI

Napoli: 1 for 3, .333; 1 HR, 1 RBI

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