(SportsNetwork.com) - The L.A. Angels of Anaheim are coming off a tough extra- inning loss to the San Diego Padres, but can still take this series with a win Wednesday at Angel Stadium.
The Padres put up four runs in the top of the 10th inning behind a three-run double by Matt Kemp and an RBI base hit from Derek Norris. The Angels had a runner on third in the bottom half with two outs and Erick Aybar struck out swinging to end the game.
Joe Smith was responsible for allowing all four runs in Tuesday's 4-0 decision and starter Matt Shoemaker threw seven shutout innings with six strikeouts and one walk.
"Joe usually keeps the ball down, but he got it up a little bit and Kemp didn't miss it," said Angels manager Mike Scioscia.
Albert Pujols had two of Anaheim's five hits and the club lost for the sixth time in the last 10 games.
The Angels are 0-2 on their 10-game homestand and will turn to starting pitcher Garrett Richards Wednesday night. Richards has a 4-2 record and a 2.98 earned run average in seven starts and is 4-1 over his last five decisions. In Friday's 12-5 pounding of Boston at Fenway Park, Richards got the win even though he was tagged for all five runs and nine hits in six innings.
Richards, who appears to be at full strength after tearing his left patellar tendon, has never faced San Diego and is 2-0 with a 1.74 ERA in three home starts.
San Diego has prevailed in two of three games following seven losses over the previous eight. Kemp had the big hit and Dale Thayer got the last two outs of the ninth inning for the win.
"Real happy for (Kemp)," said Padres manager Bud Black. "He's been going through some trials and tribulations, but he's never wavered. He's never backed off."
Odrisamer Despaigne started for the Padres and scattered five hits across six scoreless innings, striking out five and walking none.
The Padres will start a seven-game homestand this weekend versus the Pittsburgh Pirates and New York Mets, and turn to Andrew Cashner on the mound Wednesday evening. Cashner is only 1-7 with a solid 2.89 earned run average in nine starts and is 0-5 in his past six outings.
Cashner did not post a decision in Friday's 2-1 loss at Los Angeles and only allowed one unearned run and five hits in six innings. His only victory this season came on April 19 against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field.
The right-handed Cashner is 1-3 in five road assignments and 0-0 with no ERA in three career relief appearances against the Angels. Cashner is 0-5 in six night starts and the Padres are 1-8 when he takes the hill.
The Padres and Angels are meeting for the first time since 2012, when San Diego took two of three games. The Halos, though, are 10-6 in the previous 16 matchups with the Friars.
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