Los Angeles Angels Team Report

INSIDE PITCH The three-run comeback was nice. The game-saving catch by Torii Hunter was amazing. And the four-game winning streak is welcome. But nothing pleased manager Mike Scioscia more Sunday than watching reliever Scot Shields throw two hitless innings against the Royals. Scioscia called it "hands down" the best Shields has thrown the ball this season. "I think out of all the things that happened today, Scot Shields was the thing we're most excited about," Scioscia said after Sunday's victory. "That was terrific." Shields has been anything but terrific this season. Pitching with a case of patellar tendinitis in his left knee, Shields had a 9.31 ERA in 13 appearances before Sunday. Scioscia had questioned his health status at times with the two butting heads over how much the leg problem has affected Shields' performance. Shields continues to deny that the sore knee is an issue. "I feel good," Shields said Sunday when the topic was raised again. "There's no excuses for the way I've been pitching." Against Kansas City on Sunday, he struck out four of the seven batters he faced. "The ball was coming out of his hand hot. He had great movement and he was able to locate it and he had a terrific breaking ball," Scioscia said. "You put all that together, that's the Scot we know is in there."NOTES, QUOTESThe Angels have a season-high four-game winning streak after sweeping the Royals over the weekend. The two most recent victories came despite being out-hit 5-4 on Saturday (a 1-0 victory) and 10-5 on Sunday (a 4-3 victory). They are 3-11 this season in games when they have been out-hit by their opponent.RHP Anthony Ortega was optioned to Class AAA Salt Lake but will not replace him on the roster until before Tuesday's game against the Red Sox. With two complete games and an off day over the last five days, the bullpen has been able to recharge and they might go with an 11-man pitching staff for now. That would allow them to promote a third catcher from Class AAA Salt Lake and continue using C Mike Napoli at designated hitter.OF Bobby Abreu tied a club record with four walks in Sunday's game. But Abreu has gone hitless in his past 11 at-bats with just one hit in his past 19 at-bats. He has also failed to hit a home run in his first 29 games with the Angels. Twenty-nine of his 34 hits this season have been singles.BY THE NUMBERS: 3.58 ERA of Angels' starting pitchers through Monday.QUOTE TO NOTE: "I'm still me. I still play the game. I still know how to play center field. I still feel I'm one of the best center fielders in the game. That's not cocky. That's just confidence." Angels OF Torii Hunter, after a game-saving catch against the Royals on Sunday.ROSTER REPORTRHP Kelvim Escobar (shoulder surgery) will move his rehab to the Angels' extended spring training camp in Arizona. He is expected to start pitching in camp games there this week.RHP Dustin Moseley (elbow irritation) will move his rehab to the Angels' extended spring training camp in Arizona. He is expected to start pitching in camp games there this week.C Jeff Mathis had a two-run single to tie the game in the seventh inning Sunday. He is 7-for-15 (.467) with runners in scoring position this season. The Angels are 100-54 in his past 154 starts at catcher.RHP Jered Weaver will be coming off the first complete game of his career when he starts Tuesday against the Red Sox. Since allowing four runs in the first inning at New York on May 1, Weaver has allowed just one run on five hits and a walk while striking out 10 in 14 innings. MEDICAL WATCH: RHP Scot Shields (patellar tendinitis, left knee) didn't pitch May 6-9 but did pitch and earned the win on May 10. RF Vladimir Guerrero (torn right pectoral muscle) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to April 16. He will miss at least a month. He began running the bases April 28, and he was doing defensive drills in early May. RHP John Lackey (elbow inflammation) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 27. He began a throwing program April 6. He pitched in extended spring training in late April, and he began a rehab assignment with Class AAA Salt Lake on May 5. He is scheduled to make his final rehab start for Salt Lake on May 10. RHP Ervin Santana (sprained elbow ligament) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 27. He pitched in extended spring training in late April, and he started a rehab assignment with Class A Rancho Cucamonga on May 4. He made a rehab start for Class AAA Salt Lake on May 9. RHP Dustin Moseley (nerve irritation in right elbow) went on the 15-day disabled list April 18. RHP Kelvim Escobar (right shoulder surgery in July 2008) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to April 4, and he was transferred to the 60-day DL on April 22. ROTATION: LHP Joe Saunders RHP Jered Weaver RHP Shane Loux RHP Matt Palmer BULLPEN: LHP Brian Fuentes (closer) RHP Scot Shields RHP Jose Arredondo RHP Justin Speier RHP Jason Bulger RHP Rafael Rodriguez LHP Darren Oliver CATCHERS: Jeff Mathis Mike Napoli INFIELDERS: 1B Kendry Morales 2B Howie Kendrick SS Erick Aybar 3B Chone Figgins INF Maicer Izturis OUTFIELDERS: LF Juan Rivera CF Torii Hunter RF Bobby Abreu DH Gary Matthews Jr. OF/INF Robb Quinlan OF Reggie Willits