Angels 1, White Sox 0: Samardzija Battles, Offense Comes Up Short

Coming into Wednesday night, Jeff Samardzija had been roughed up over his last three starts. He took the hill against the Angels and was able to work himself out of many jams as he left after seven innings with only one run allowed. That one run was more than what the White Sox offense could muster against Jered Weaver and Company as the Angels have now taken the first three games of this four game set.

The White Sox had their chances on offense, but were unable to push across any runs. In the first, Adam Eaton lined an infield single off of Weaver's tush. After a Jose Abreu strikeout, Melky Cabrera singled to center to put men on first and third. Avisail Garcia struck out and J.B. Shuck flew out to center to end the inning.

Samardzija got out of the first inning with only a single to Mike Trout allowed, which usually means he might have a good evening. In the second, however, the Angels had a huge opportunity to knock him out early. C.J. Cron and Erick Aybar led off with singles and David DeJesus drew a walk to load the bases with nobody out. Carlos Perez hit a blooper, but Carlos Sanchez was able to get back on it and make the play. Kaleb Cowart then struck out, bringing up Johnny Giavotella to the plate. He smoked one deep into center field but Adam Eaton made a fantastic play, running it down to get the Shark out of the inning unscathed.

Cole Calhoun led off the bottom of the third with a double, but Samardzija got Mike Trout, David Murphy and C.J. Cron in order to leave him there. In the fourth, Aybar led off with a single and with one out Perez did the same, but Samardzija was able to strike out Cowart and got Giavotella to ground to second to end the threat.

In the top of the fifth, Carlos Sanchez led off with a double. Tyler Flowers got down a bunt to move him to third. Tyler Saladino chopped to the mound and Eaton grounded to second to end the inning.

In the bottom of the sixth, the Angels were finally able to break the 0-0 tie when Carlos Perez homered just over Melky Cabrera's glove in left field. Samardzija came out to pitch the seventh and finally got the Angels out in order.

The Sox got two hits in the seventh, but one was erased when Shuck got thrown out trying to steal second. Weaver went 6 1/3 scoreless innings.

Melky Cabrera led off the ninth with a single off of Joe Smith. Garcia followed that with a slow roller to short which allowed Cabrera to get into second. Trayce Thompson came on to pinch run and Shuck worked a walk to put two men on. Robin Ventura called on Adam LaRoche to pinch hit for Alexei Ramirez and LaRoche grounded into a 3-6-1 double play to end this snoozefest.

*Shuck was 2-3 with a SB, CS, and walk as he again was in right field. Avisail Garcia was the DH.

* Tyler Flowers caught Samardzija for the first time since opening day. The Shark didn't give up many runs, but he was in trouble pretty much all game.

* Zach Putnam pitched a scoreless eighth for the Sox.

* LaRoche's double play to end the game was reviewed. He was called safe on the field but after a lengthly delay he was called out at first. I didn't see anything that would have made them overturn the call as there was no conclusive evidence that Smith's foot touched the bag, but they sent the home crowd home happy.

Record: 55-63 | Box