White Sox Can't Solve Jered Weaver In 1-0 Loss To Angels
ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Although manager Robin Ventura knew the Chicago White Sox were probably going to lose the game on video review, he had to wait 3 1/2 agonizing minutes to find out for sure.
From Jered Weaver's first pitches to Joe Smith's final step on first base, the smallest of margins were too big for the White Sox to overcome.
Weaver pitched five-hit ball into the seventh inning, and the White Sox wasted a strong start by Jeff Samardzija in their third straight loss, 1-0, to the Los Angeles Angels on Wednesday night.
After Weaver (5-9) shut down the White Sox early, the game ended when a call was reversed on a lengthy video review. Smith barely touched the bag while covering first and catching Erick Aybar's throw, doing it all just an instant ahead of pinch-hitter Adam LaRoche on a 3-6-1 double play.
LaRoche initially was called safe, which would have given the White Sox runners at the corners with two outs. The double play was the last in a string of solid defensive plays by the Angels, yet the slumping LaRoche came painfully close to making things very interesting.
"You're looking at it up on the board, and you can see that his foot's on the bag and it beat him," Ventura said. "That's a tough one."
J.B. Shuck and Carlos Sanchez had two hits apiece for the White Sox, who have lost five of six. Chicago was shut out for the first time since June 16, with Carlos Perez delivering the game's only run on his third homer of the season in the sixth.
Samardzija (8-9) yielded eight hits over seven innings. He was less effective than Weaver, but just as resourceful during his most encouraging start in a dismal August.
He repeatedly escaped trouble — including a bases-loaded, no-outs jam in the second — but lamented his poor pitch to Perez.
"It's going to be in your head for a while, but I'm more disappointed with falling behind him 2-0 than the result of the next pitch," Samardzija said. "When you're in attack mode in a 0-0 game, you need to be ahead in the count."
Weaver earned his first victory since May 30, striking out five without a walk in his third start back from a seven-week injury absence. The Angels' longtime ace showed command and deception that made up for his pedestrian velocity, and he eventually left to a standing ovation.
"(Weaver) knows how to pitch, and he knows what guys' strengths and weaknesses are, and how to get you out of your game with that," said leadoff hitter Adam Eaton, who went 1 for 4. "I almost compare him to a knuckleballer — a guy who's going to disguise his pitches in certain ways. And he's successful with it."
Mike Trout went 1 for 3 with a walk, improving his August batting average to .169. The reigning AL MVP ended just the third four-game hitless skid of his career with a first-inning single.
Albert Pujols got the day off for the Angels, who were swept in a three-game series in Chicago last week during a 1-6 road trip. Los Angeles has ended a 6-17 skid with three straight wins this week over the White Sox, staying right behind Houston in the AL West and moving back into playoff position in the wild card race.
CLOSING TIME
The Angels had to use Smith, their eighth-inning specialist, in the ninth because closer Huston Street had pitched in the three previous games. Smith had pitched in three straight games, but thrown just 30 pitches. "I'm tired," Smith said with a smile. "I'm done. I'm down tomorrow. I probably won't be participating."
TRAINER'S ROOM
Angels: Pujols got a rest day despite hitting three homers in his last four games. Manager Mike Scioscia wants to keep the slugger's legs fresh for September. He played in 115 of Los Angeles' first 119 games this season.
UP NEXT
White Sox: Jose Quintana (6-10, 3.62 ERA) has never beaten the Angels in four career starts.
Angels: Nick Tropeano (1-1, 3.00 ERA) will come up from Triple-A to make his third start for Los Angeles. Reliever Mike Morin was optioned after the game to make room.
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