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Shields, Angels bullpen shine in 10-7 exhibition loss to White Sox

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Starter Joe Saunderswas roughed up for four runs and five hits, four of them for extra bases, in 1 2/3 innings of the Angels’ 10-7 exhibition loss to the Chicago White Sox in Tempe Diablo Stadium, but that couldn’t put a damper on the day for the Angels bullpen.

Scot Shields, in his first game-action since last May 26, allowed a single to A.J. Pierzynski on his first pitch of the fifth inning and then retired the next three batters, showing a good, 90-mph fastball. The right-hander, who underwent season-ending knee surgery last June, also had good snap on his breaking ball, though several of them bounced in the dirt.

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‘Scot was good,’ Manager Mike Scioscia said. ‘The ball came out of his hand great, and he threw some real sharp breaking balls. We’re all happy to see that stuff on the mound and for him to walk off feeling good afterward.’

Closer Brian Fuentes also looked sharp, retiring the side in order in the fourth inning and hitting 91 mph with his fastball. The left-hander struck out Jordan Danks and Gordon Beckham and got Carlos Quentin to pop out to first.

Jason Bulger and Brian Stokesalso threw scoreless innings against the White Sox, and on the practice fields below the stadium hard-throwing right-handers Kevin Jepsen and Fernando Rodney each threw 19-pitch innings under simulated game conditions. Both will begin pitching in exhibition games early next week.

The Angels scored five runs in the fourth inning off White Sox closer Bobby Jenks, with Kendry Morales hitting an RBI triple, Howie Kendrick an RBI single and Maicer Izturis a two-run single.

The Angels also sent a split-squad to Goodyear, Ariz., to play the Cleveland Indians, a game that ended in a 7-7 tie. Mike Napoli hit a three-run home run, his fourth homer of the spring, and Michael Ryan hit a two-run homer in the ninth inning for the Angels.

--Mike DiGiovanna in Tempe, Ariz.

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