When owner Arte Moreno peeled off the dollars this off-season, the Angels were counting on one thing above all in 2012, their rotation.
By adding left-hander C.J. Wilson to right-handers Dan Haren, Jered Weaver and Ervin Santana, the Angels made one of the best rotations in baseball even better. But it hasn't worked out that way yet.
Santana is the latest Angels starter to disappoint. He allowed five runs on six hits, including two home runs, in six innings Friday as the Angels fell to 2-5 with a 5-0 loss to the Yankees.
The Angels starting pitchers have a combined ERA of 5.02.
That includes eight shutout innings by Weaver on Opening Night and a one-run, seven-inning performance by Wilson in his Angels' debut. In the team's five losses, Angels starting pitchers have a 7.39 ERA with 40 hits, including eight home runs, allowed in 28 innings.
"We've had two good starts, one from Weaver and one from Wilson, manager Mike Scioscia said. "Outside of that, we haven't really given ourselves a chance.
"The starting pitching is going to be there. But it hasn't been there yet. Right now, we're off to a rough start because we haven't executed on the mound the way we're capable of and that will change."
NOTES, QUOTES
MRI shows no real damage and keeps Downs off DL
--LHP Scott Downs had his injured right ankle examined and an MRI exam taken in New York on Friday after injuring it on a collision at first base Thursday. The MRI revealed no structural damage and the Angels did not put Downs on the disabled list. General manager Jerry Dipoto called it "a day-to-day thing."
--RHP David Carpenter was promoted from Triple-A Salt Lake to shore up an Angels bullpen that blew a 6-0 lead Thursday. Carpenter, 24, was a ninth-round draft pick in 2009 who broke out with a 0.57 ERA and 16 saves combined while going from the Class-A California League to Double-A last season. INF Alexi Amarista was demoted to Triple-A to make room for Carpenter who pitched a scoreless eighth inning in his major-league debut Friday.
--RHP Ervin Santana gave up a solo home run to Yankees' 3B Alex Rodrigue in the third inning Friday. It was the 630th home run of Rodriguez's career, tying him with Ken Griffey Jr. for fifth on the all-time list. Sixty-nine of those home runs have come against the Angels, the most Rodriguez has hit against any opponent.
--DH Kendrys Morales' return from an ankle fracture was one of the best pieces of news the Angels got during spring training and Morales had five hits in his first seven at-bats to start the season. But he is 1-for-18 with six strikeouts since his four-hit game against the Royals in the second game of the season.
--RHP Ervin Santana is winless in his last seven starts against the Yankees, dating to Sept. 2008. The right-hander is 0-5 with a 6.49 ERA against the Yankees since his last victory against them. Santana has started the season 0-2 for the fourth consecutive year.
BY THE NUMBERS: 5.02 -- ERA of Angels' starting pitchers through Friday's loss.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "The next team that utters the words, 'We have a perfect bullpen,' will be the first." -- Angels' general manager Jerry Dipoto.
ROSTER REPORT
MEDICAL WATCH:
--RHP Jerome Williams (strained left hamstring) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 26. He made rehab starts for Class A Inland Empire on April 5 and April 10. He is scheduled to be activated to join the Angels the first time they need a fifth starter, April 15.
--RHP Michael Kohn (mild flexor strain in right arm) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 26. He was due to undergo season-ending Tommy John surgery April 12.
--RHP Bobby Cassevah (right shoulder discomfort) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 26. He began a rehab assignment with Class A Inland Empire on April 6, and he could return in mid- to late April.
--OF Jeremy Moore (left hip surgery in March 2012) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 26. He is unlikely to return before mid-June.
