Orange County Register

  The Angels’ bullpen had a streak of 29 consecutive scoreless innings broken on Tuesday when Scott Shields gave up a solo home run to Miguel Cabrera.

  They were one out shy of the club record of 29 1/3 innings set in 1978.

  Here is a breakdown:

  Darren Oliver: 6 1/3 innings, 3 hits, 3 walks, three strikeouts.

  Scott Shields: 2 innings, 2 walks, one strikeout.

  Francisco Rodriguez: 5 innings, two hits, 9 strikeouts.

  Jose Arredondo: 5 2/3 innings, three hits, one walk, 8 strikeouts.

  Justin Speier: 4 innings, two hits, two walks, five strikeouts.

  Justin Bulger: 1 inning.

  Shane Loux: 5 innings, four hits, one walk, one strikeout.

ANAHEIM
Francisco Rodriguez admits he had no idea what he was getting into back in 2002 when he pitched his way onto the Angels’ post-season roster with only 5 2/3 innings of major-league experience.
“That’s a different animal,” Rodriguez said of post-season play. “Nobody can tell you. You have to experience it for yourself.”
The Angels will go into this year’s post-season with another inexperienced hand playing a key role in their bullpen – a role certain to become magnified in the playoffs. By comparison with the 2002 K-Rod, though, Jose Arredondo is a savvy veteran. The right-hander has been in the majors since mid-May, pitching in increasingly more important situations as he proved himself more reliable than struggling veteran Justin Speier.
Arredondo has made 37 appearances, pitching 42 2/3 innings with a 1.27 ERA, .195 opponents’ batting average and solid 34-16 strikeout-to-walk ratio.
“What’s experience? How is he inexperienced?” Angels pitching coach Mike Butcher said. “If a pitcher has been in the league for 10 years but hasn’t been in the playoffs – is he inexperienced? Jose might not have been in a playoff game yet but I think he’s gotten valuable experience pitching for us right now. He has been in crucial situations for us since he first came up.
“He’s gaining experience every time he goes to the mound.”
Butcher said the presence of players like Rodriguez, Scot Shields, Darren Oliver and Speier in the bullpen give Arredondo a valuable resource and support system. But there have been few signs from Arredondo to this point that he needs it.
“He’s shown very good makeup,” Butcher said of the 24-year-old right-hander who made the transition from shortstop to pitcher during the 2004 season. “He doesn’t seem to get rattled. At the same time, he’s understanding what he can and can’t do up here. I think he’s growing into a guy who understands what his strengths and weaknesses are.
“He’s had times out there when he’s tried to do too much and he’s been able to take a step back and simplify things, get back into his game.”
That lesson could be the most valuable one Arredondo takes into the post-season, Rodriguez said.
“You have to be confident. Put nervousness and (being) scared to the side. Try to be the same, do the same as always,” he said. “That’s when mistakes happen – when you try to do too much.
“Just be yourself and, believe it or not, have fun. There’s a lot of pressure in the playoffs but try to have fun with it. … He (Arredondo) will do alright.”
NOTES
Vladimir Guerrero hit into two double plays Saturday, giving him 26 for the season. That leads the major leagues and ties the Angels’ record for a season (Lyman Bostock, 1978). … Angels minor-league Matt Brown hit a three-run home run for Team USA in its bronze-medal winning game at the Olympics. Brown finished the nine-game Olympic schedule with a .281 average (9 for 32), two home runs and a team-high 10 RBIs. Right-hander Kevin Jepsen pitched two shutout innings in relief during the bronze-medal game against Japan and finished the Olympics having allowed three hits but no runs while striking out five in 5 2/3 innings.