Angels Welcome Phillies to the Big A for First Time Since 2003

Aug 2, 2014; St. Petersburg, FL, USA; Los Angeles Angels starting pitcher C.J. Wilson (33) reacts on the mound against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

The last time Philadelphia visited Angel Stadium it was still called Edison Field. It’s been that long.

The struggling Phillies are a welcomed sight for a team looking to break out of their worst slump of the season. After losing three of four to the Dodgers, the Halos dropped a weekend series with Boston, narrowly avoiding a five-game losing streak.

Everyone not named Mike Trout or Garrett Richards had a tough week. The offense went 0-for-11 in Friday and Saturday’s games against the Red Sox and numerous fielding errors directly led to ties or wins.

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Philadelphia doesn’t have much to boast about either. The NL East’s basement-dwellers just lost three of four to the lowly Mets. Ryan Howard’s game-winning single Sunday was the saving grace in an otherwise bleak four-game set.

This may be the Angels chance to gain some ground on Oakland. The A’s are visiting hot-hitting Kansas City while the Halos have eight straight games against sub-.500 teams.

Pitching Matchup – C.J. Wilson (8-8, 4.82 ERA) vs. Jerome Williams (0-0, 0.00 ERA)

C.J. Wilson’s contract looks worse and worse by the day. The left-hander lost his second straight decision last Thursday, allowing four runs on six hits through 5 2/3 innings. It followed an abysmal start where he surrendered six runs to the Rays before getting pulled in the second.

Wilson hasn’t won since June 24 and he’s only made it to the sixth inning on one occasion since. Whether it’s the ankle injury that placed him on the DL or an inability to locate his spots, whatever is bothering Wilson is taking a toll on an overused bullpen.

The last time Wilson faced Philadelphia he was still in Texas. He’s 0-1 with a 4.00 ERA in three appearances. Success against National League teams this season isn’t much better. He’s 1-2 with a 4.82 ERA and 2.44 strikeout-to-walk ration.

Jerome Williams makes his Phillies debut after stints with the Rangers and Astros. While he’s played for seven ball clubs, Williams longest tenure came with the Angels.

Williams-known as “pink glove” to Halo fans- was 19-18 in three years in Anaheim. He labored to a 9-10 mark in 2013 wasn’t resigned, despite starting a career-high 25 games. He’s still trying to figure out how to command his pitches after compiling a 2.-5 record and 6.71 ERA in 28 appearances with the Texas teams’.

His only previous outing against the Angels were in relief, giving up eight run-two on homers- in just seven innings earlier this year.

Walk offs:

1. Josh Hamilton is 6-for-11 with three homers and six RBIs against Williams.
2. The Angels have won seven of eight meetings against the Phillies since Interleague play began.
3. Marlon Byrd is the only Philly with an RBI off Wilson

TV: 7:05 p.m. PT, Fox Sports West, CSN Philadelphia

Radio: KLAA 830, 1210 WPHT