Colon's 38-strike sequence continues his fine early-season work
The buzz in Anaheim on Thursday was still about Bartolo Colon's remarkable run of 38 consecutive strikes the night before.
From the second pitch of the fifth inning to the seventh pitch of the eighth inning, Colon did not throw a ball. Eleven batters in a row never saw anything but strikes.
Perhaps more impressive, Colon, 38, threw eight scoreless innings against one of baseball's better lineups. He allowed four hits, he didn't walk a batter and he struck out five.
Colon, signed to a one-year, $2 million contract in January, is 3-1 to start the season. He is one of only two current A's starters who have much experience, along with Brandon McCarthy. The rest of the rotation is young, with two rookies, Tommy Milone and Graham Godfrey, and third-year pitcher Tyson Ross, who has made nine career big-league starts.
Colon could wind up being one of the free-agent steals of 2012 at this rate. The Angels certainly don't like seeing him back in the division.
"His ball moves like crazy," Angels outfielder Torii Hunter said. "We couldn't get good wood on it at all. Oh, man, I don't know what to say."
The A's got another well-pitched game Thursday, but it took six pitchers to finish a 4-2 win over the Angels. Milone allowed two runs in five innings, and the bullpen threw scoreless ball the rest of the way, with Grant Balfour earning his fourth save.
