Anderson Settles Down In Start, A's Top Giants 6-0
PHOENIX, Ariz. (CBS / AP) -- Brett Anderson showed the Athletics what he can do as a starter.
In his first spring start, Anderson struck out five and allowed a hit and a walk in three scoreless innings and Oakland beat the San Francisco Giants 6-0 Saturday.
Also, the changeup Anderson has been working on got a good review.
"He was real good, very crisp, efficient," Oakland manager Bob Geren said. "It will help to get that on a par with his other pitches. I'd say he had a decent one before."
Anderson calls the pitch "a love-hate change. If you get an out, you love it. If you don't, you hate it."
Anderson, who had a shaky relief outing earlier in the spring, was 7-6 in 2010 but was limited to 19 starts due to elbow difficulties. He appears to be healthy now.
Madison Bumgarner also made his first start, after two relief outings. He gave up an unearned run on two hits while walking one and striking out one in three innings.
"My delivery was a lot more consistent. I kept the ball down as well as I have all spring, Bumgarner said.
The Athletics fared better against the San Francisco bullpen, scoring three in the fifth and two in the seventh.
Oakland appears to be developing a strong force at the top of the lineup with leadoff man Coco Crisp, No. 2 hitter Daric Barton and No. 3 Mark Ellis, all of whom had a hit on Saturday. Ellis drove in Crisp, who had walked, in the first inning, and Crisp had a two-run single in the fifth.
Geren said the top four (including outfielder-DH Josh Willingham) "appear to have good approaches, are getting good swings. They have the right pace."
Notes: Oakland RHP Joey Devine had his third relief appearance after coming back from Tommy John elbow-ligament surgery. He pitched a scoreless fourth inning and has allowed just one hit in his three innings. ... Brad Ziegler got the Athletics out of a jam in the eighth by getting a bases-loaded strikeout and ended the game on a double play. ... Giants RHP Tim Lincecum makes his third start of the spring on Sunday against Seattle.
