After a difficult 2-1 extra inning loss to the Twins Thursday night the Angels gave the ball to the usually reliable Joe Saunders Friday hoping to get back on track. Saunders, who’s emergence as a bona fide starter is one of the many reasons the Angels sit atop the AL West was looking for his first win in the month of August after three no-decisions. Unfortunately for the Halos Minnesota, who came into action a .5 game back in the Central, were raring to go. The Twins hammered Saunders who lasted only 5.1 innings, surrendering six earned runs. Although not an insurmountable lead Minnesota held the Angels offense in check all night. The Halos managed only six hits and were kept off the scoreboard. Including Thursday’s tilt Minnesota had shutout L.A. over 20 consecutive innings. To add to the Angels laundry list of issues the team also committed two fielding errors on both nights.

With the loss the Angels have now dropped seven of their last nine games, including four games to potential playoff opponents. Manager Mike Scioscia described their play of late as, “our worst baseball of the season.” Hard to argue with that. After the game Scioscia called a rare clubhouse meeting.  For a team 15 games ahead of their nearest competition as September approaches this team needs to stay focused. They can’t go through September on cruise control and expect to be ready for the postseason. As the Angels are mired in their worse slump of the season, 2-7 in their last nine, they have remarkably lost only an half game from their lead in the division. Which is really part of the problem. A little complacency seems to have finally set in with the Angels but anyone who knows Mike Scioscia knows that won’t sit well with him. The Angels will give the ball to Jon Garland tonight, as they look to recover from a week and a half of self proclaimed pitiful baseball.

Tonight: Nick Blackburn (9-7, 3.71) vs. Jon Garland (11-8, 4.33) - 6:05 PT

Note: In Garland’s only start this year against Minnesota he went eight innings and allowed only one earned run in a 9-1 victory, which was the Angels first of the 2008 season.

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Tags: Angels, Minnesota, Nich Hall, Scioscia, Twins