by Adam Moore | CBSSports.com (5/11/2013) Angels closer Ernesto Frieri notched his seventh save after pitching a scoreless ninth inning Saturday against the White Sox. Frieri came on in the ninth with a 3-2 lead and was quickly able to get Adam Dunn to strike out swinging.
The right-hander surrendered a one-out single to Dayan Viciedo but was able to retire the next two batters he faced to secure the win.
Frieri has not allowed a run over his last five appearances and has racked up four saves and 11 strikeouts over that span.
Ernesto Frieri picks up sixth save
by Adam Moore | CBSSports.com (5/11/2013) Angels reliever Ernesto Frieri notched his sixth save Friday night against the White Sox. Frieri came on in the ninth inning with a two-run lead and issued a leadoff walk to Alexei Ramirez.
However, he was able to retire the next three batters he faced -- all by strikeout -- to end the game.
Frieri is 6 for 7 in save chances and has racked up 10 strikeouts over his last four appearances (5 1/3 innings).
Ernesto Frieri records another five-out save
by R.J. White | CBSSports.com (5/10/2013) Angels closer Ernesto Frieri was tasked with securing a five-out save Thursday against the Astros for the second time in May and succeeded, recording three strikeouts and holding on to a one-run lead despite inheriting two runners in the eighth inning.
Frieri's fifth save lowered his season ERA to 1.80 and gave him 21 strikeouts in 15 innings.
Ernesto Frieri looks sharp vs. Orioles
by Adam Moore | CBSSports.com (5/5/2013) Angels reliever Ernesto Frieri got some work in Saturday against the Orioles. Frieri came on in the ninth inning with the score tied 4-4 and was able to make quick work of Baltimore.
The right-hander strikeout the side in his lone inning of work, needing only 15 pitches to get through the frame.
Frieri, who is 4 for 5 in save chances, has racked up six strikeouts over his last three appearances (four innings).
Ernesto Frieri walks three in five-out save
by R.J. White | CBSSports.com (5/1/2013) Angels closer Ernesto Frieri was called upon to record five outs in a save opportunity Wednesday afternoon against the A's, and despite walking three batters, he earned the save with 1 2/3 scoreless innings.
Frieri has a quality 2.19 ERA but has now walked 11 batters in 12 1/3 innings this season to go along with 15 strikeouts.
Ernesto Frieri blows a save
by Jeff Lippman | CBSSports.com (4/30/2013) Angels closer Ernesto Frieri blew a save on Monday night in Oakland. The single off the wall he allowed to Yoenis Cespedes in the ninth tied the score and sent the game into extra innings.
Frieri came on to get an out in the bottom of the eighth inning and remained in to pitch the ninth.
He walked Coco Crisp to start the inning but then got the next two batters, including a strikeout, before the Cespedes single. He struck out Brandon Moss to end the inning.
Frieri mostly pitched well on Monday, despite his first blown save. He's got a 2.53 ERA with 14 strikeouts over 10 2/3 innings.
Ernesto Frieri closes out Mariners
by Adam Moore | CBSSports.com (4/27/2013) Angels reliever Ernesto Frieri earmed his third save Friday night against the Mariners. Frieri came on in the ninth inning and allowed two of the first three batters to reach base.
But he was able to get Kelly Shoppach to foul out and Dustin Ackley to ground out to secure the win.
Frieri, who is 3 for 3 in save chances, lowered his ERA to 1.93.
Ernesto Frieri prolongs game for Angels
by Jeff Lippman | CBSSports.com (4/24/2013) The Angels gave reliever Ernesto Frieri the ball in the ninth in a tie game on Tuesday against the Rangers -- the exact same scenario in which Frieri ended up taking the loss in Monday's game.
Frieri got the Angels into the 10th unscathed this time around and L.A. ended up winning the game. The reliever, who has been closing games with Ryan Madson not yet back, walked a batter with a strikeout over his inning in a 5-4 win.
Frieri has given up runs in just two of his eight appearances this season with 12 Ks over 8 1/3 innings. He's 2 for 2 in save situations.
Ernesto Frieri serves up go-ahead homer
by Jeff Lippman | CBSSports.com (4/23/2013) Angels reliever Ernesto Frieri pitched the top of the ninth in a tie ballgame Monday night against the Rangers. He ended up taking the loss.
Frieri (0-1) served up a home run to A.J. Pierzynski just moments after Adrian Beltre just missed hitting one out. Frieri completed the inning and Joe Nathan closed out the Angels in the bottom of the ninth.
Frieri, who has two saves with Ryan Madson on the mend, gave up his first run since April 6, also against Texas on a solo homer.
Ernesto Frieri adds to strikeout total
by Ed Gauna | CBSSports.com (4/21/2013) Angels reliever Ernesto Frieri made his first appearance in a week on Sunday against the Tigers. The right-hander entered in the ninth inning with the score tied at 3-3 and loaded the bases with two outs but did not surrender a run.
Frieri, who struck out one, did not factor into the 4-3 win.
He has a 1.42 ERA through six appearances while converting both of his save chances. He also has 11 strikeouts in 6 1/3 innings.
Ernesto Frieri finally earns second save
by Jeff Lippman | CBSSports.com (4/14/2013) Angels relief pitcher Ernesto Frieri earned his second save of the season Sunday as L.A. beat the Astros, 4-1. Frieri was asked to get the final four outs in the ballgame for the save.
Frieri, who is holding down the ninth-inning job with Ryan Madson still on the shelf, recorded his first save of the season back on April 1 at Cincinnati. He hadn't had an opportunity since until Sunday.
Frieri allowed one hit and all four outs he recorded came via the strikeout. Frieri now has 10 strikeouts over his first 5 1/3 innings pitched on the year.
Ernesto Frieri allows HR in non-save situation
by Igor Mello | CBSSports.com (4/6/2013) Angels reliever Ernesto Frieri entered Saturday's contest against the Rangers in the ninth with a five-run lead.
Frieri, who was not in a save situation, served up a solo home run to Nelson Cruz and struck out two before wrapping up an 8-4 victory. He was charged with one run on one hit in one inning. The right-hander, who is getting save chances with Ryan Madson on the DL, has a 4.50 ERA through two appearances this season.
Ernesto Frieri notches save in extra-inning opener
by Jeff Lippman | CBSSports.com (4/1/2013) Angels closer Ernesto Frieri, who is getting save chances with Ryan Madson on the shelf, finished off the Reds Monday in an opening-day interleague contest.
Frieri, L.A.'s seventh pitcher used in the game, notched his first save as he struck out two in the 13th inning. He allowed one base runner on a walk and did not give up a hit over his inning of work. Frieri threw 18 pitches and 11 went for strikes.
Frieri is expected to pose as closer for the Angels for at least the first month of the season as Madson finishes his recovery from Tommy John surgery.
Ernesto Frieri to handle saves for now
by Jeff Lippman | CBSSports.com (3/31/2013) The Angels will turn to Ernesto Frieri to close games likely for the entire first month of the season at least with Ryan Madson beginning the year on the disabled list. Madson is recovering from Tommy John surgery and manager Mike Scioscia will give save chances to Frieri in his absence.
Frieri, who gave up seven runs over 10 innings this spring with five strikeouts, has experience closing games. The 27-year-old saved 23 of them last year with the Angels.
Ernesto Frieri has another perfect inning
by Igor Mello | CBSSports.com (3/31/2013) Angels reliever Ernesto Frieri pitched another perfect inning in Saturday's contest against the Dodgers.
Frieri struck out Alex Castellanos and forced the next two batters to fly out to retire the side in the ninth. He finished spring training 2-2 with a 6.30 ERA in 10 appearances.
Ernesto Frieri peaking as regular season approaches
by R.J. White | CBSSports.com (3/27/2013) Angels reliever Ernesto Frieri recorded a 1-2-3 inning against the Rangers Wednesday. "That’s the best Ernie has looked all spring," manager Mike Scioscia told beat reporters after the game.
Frieri, who is expected to open the season as the Angels' closer, needed only five pitches to earn his first save of the spring. He had allowed runs in each of his previous two outings.
Is Ernesto Frieri really worth more than Ryan Madson?
by Nando Di Fino | Senior Fantasy Writer (3/25/2013) At the Tout Wars expert auctions this past weekend, Ryan Madson went for $5 in AL-only and $6 in Mixed, while Ernesto Frieri was sold for $9 (AL-only) and $7 (Mixed). In Roto ADPs, Madson is the 260th player drafted, while Frieri is 237th. This seems backwards, considering Madson was signed to be the Angels' closer and should be ready for games by early May.
All this Frieri love, meanwhile, blindly ignores the fact that he was removed as closer last year after batters caught up to him late in the season. While Frieri sported a 2.32 ERA overall in 2012, he had a 3.91 ERA from August forward, blowing three saves in the final 24 games. The ADP drop for Madson is understandable, but the love for Frieri seems a bit much, especially considering the bullpen also features Sean Burnett and Scott Downs, who combined for 11 saves last year.
My approach? Grab Madson cheap or late ($3; 23rd round), and let Frieri go elsewhere. While it's promising that he's developed some new weapons in his arsenal, there are too many factors working against Frieri for me to risk more than a dollar on him keeping the closer job.
Ernesto Frieri takes loss
by R.J. White | CBSSports.com (3/23/2013) Angels reliever Ernesto Frieri allowed an earned run on a hit and a walk pitching the eighth inning Saturday against the Cubs to take the loss. Despite his 7.36 ERA this spring, this was only the second outing in which Frieri has been scored upon, with all of his other earned runs coming in one appearance in mid-March.
Ernesto Frieri surrenders three hits in scoreless inning
by R.J. White | CBSSports.com (3/20/2013) Angels reliever Ernesto Frieri surrendered three hits, including two infield hits, to start the fifth inning Wednesday but worked out of trouble to hold the Indians scoreless in his inning of work.
Frieri, who is expected to open the season as the Angels closer while Ryan Madson recovers from Tommy John surgery, has an ERA of 7.11 in 6 1/3 innings this spring.
Ernesto Frieri working on changeup
by Igor Mello | CBSSports.com (3/15/2013) Angels picther Ernesto Frieri made his sixth relief appearance Friday against the Mariners in Cactus League play. Frieri pitched a scoreless inning as he lowered his ERA to 8.44 this spring.
He has held his opponents scoreless in five of his first six Cactus League outings.
After the game, Frieri told MLB.com he is working on his changeup and other offspeed picthes.
"It's not done -- it's getting there," Frieri said. "But I feel comfortable enough to use it in any situation now."
Frieri is expected to be the as Ryan Madson works his way back from Tommy John surgery.
Once Madson returns in mid-April, Frieri will likely take over the set-up role.
Frieri developing cutter
by Jeff Lippman | CBSSports.com (2/16/2013) Angels reliever Ernesto Frieri is developing a cutter like his idol Mariano Rivera, reports MLB.com. "I work one inning at a time, but I have to be able to attack both sides [of the plate]," Frieri said in Spanish. "If you can move the ball one way, then show them you can move it the other way, things get more difficult. I think that's going to help me out a lot. And I feel comfortable with the pitch because I can throw it like my fastball." That said, Frieri is not going to trust the cutter just yet until he proves to himself he can get big league hitters out with it. "Never, never, never," Frieri said. "The cutter hasn't shown me it can get people out in the big leagues; the fastball has. I'm going to keep throwing what has helped me get here and stay here. I haven't lost sight of that."
