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Angels John Lackey makes spring debut in 5-4 victory over Athletics

TEMPE, Ariz. -- John Lackey made his first appearance of
spring training Monday, allowing one run for the Los Angeles Angels
in a 5-4 victory over the Oakland Athletics.

Lackey won 19 games last season and led the AL with a 3.01 ERA,
but had been limited to side work this spring because of a sore
right elbow. He gave up two hits in 1 2-3 innings against Oakland
and said he threw without pain.

"My arm felt good. It's time to start dialing it in now,"
Lackey said.

He walked his first two batters and allowed an infield single to
Jack Cust, but got out of trouble when Emil Brown bounced into a
double play. Lackey threw 32 pitches in all.

"John got a workout today," manager Mike Scioscia said. "He
didn't miss too many spots. He had a nice, live fastball. He felt
strong and probably could have gone a little more, but we wanted to
make sure that he progresses (slowly)."

Oakland's Daric Barton hit his first homer of the spring, a
three-run shot in the second off Matt Wilhite.

The Angels took the lead on RBIs singles by Casey Kotchman and
Maicer Izturis in a three-run sixth against Alan Embree.

Embree was charged with five hits and three earned runs in one
inning. Los Angeles' Nick Adenhart worked four scoreless innings,
allowing one hit with three strikeouts to earn the win.

Adenhart is considered one of the Angels' top pitching
prospects.

"You see the poise," Scioscia said. "This guy's coming
quick."

Angels newcomer Torii Hunter had two hits to lift his spring
average to .611. Garret Anderson also had two of the club's 10
hits.

A's left-hander Dallas Braden, 1-8 with a 6.72 ERA in 20 games
last season, allowed two hits and one run in two innings in his
third appearance and second start of the spring. He threw only six
pitches in the first.

"I was working on a sinker and the first inning showed it,"
Braden said. "During the offseason, it was a work in progress, a
matter of getting a feel for it.

"It started feeling right during a simulated game. At this
level, the big key is efficiency."

Game notes
Scioscia hasn't closed the door on Lackey starting on
opening day, saying it's possible but not probable. "We want to
see how he comes out of it, how his bullpen is, how his next start
is," the manager said. "There are a lot of things that are going
to progress. We'd just be guessing right now. We'll let it unfold
and we'll have a better idea." Said Lackey: "It's just important
for me to be healthy and be ready to go and get as many starts as I
can. It's definitely something that I take pride in (to) take the
ball every five days, and being dependable." ... The A's
reassigned pitcher Chris Gissell, C Anthony Recker and OF Aaron
Cunningham to their minor league camp.