Ernesto Frieri pitched a perfect sixth inning as the Angels defeated the Brewers 12-2 on Wednesday. Frieri punched out two in the effort. He has yet to allow a run in four innings while striking out four. The right-hander isn't a top-tier closer because of his control, but he will certainly pile up the strikeouts in bunches.

Angels manager Mike Scioscia wants to limit closer Ernesto Frieri to one-inning outings this season. "If it's needed (to bring in Frieri in the eighth), we'll have it," Scioscia said. "But it'll be better if we can keep him in that bubble." This is a topic of conversation coming off a season in which Frieri led the majors in saves of at least four outs in 2013 with seven. Nobody else had even five. "I think he'll maintain his stuff better and maybe be more effective," Scioscia said. Los Angeles will use Joe Smith and Sean Burnett as a bridge to the ninth inning.

Ernesto Frieri tossed a scoreless inning during Thursday's 4-4 tie with the Dodgers. Frieri got into trouble in the fifth inning, issuing two singles and giving up a single, but catcher Chris Iannetta helped him out by throwing out Justin Turner attempting to steal second base. The Angels' closer will be a good source of saves and strikeouts if he can keep his control in check.

Ernesto Frieri tossed a perfect fourth inning against the D'Backs on Monday. Only one of Frieri's pitches was well-struck: a line drive caught at third base. Frieri is entering his second season as the Angels' full-time closer. He saved 37 games and posted a 3.80 ERA last season. Given his prodigious ability to miss bats, Frieri's ERA should deflate so long as he can keep the walks down.

Angels avoided arbitration with RHP Ernesto Frieri by agreeing to a one-year, $3.8 million contract. It's a sizable raise for the first-time arbitration-eligible reliever. Frieri notched 37 saves in 41 chances for the Angels last season, posting a 3.80 ERA, 1.24 WHIP and 98/30 K/BB ratio over 68 2/3 innings. He'll serve as the Halos' closer again in 2014.

Angels general manager Jerry Dipoto confirmed on MLB Network Radio Friday that Ernesto Frieri will be the team's closer in 2014. The hard-throwing 28-year-old notched 37 saves in 41 chances for the Angels last season, posting a 3.80 ERA, 1.24 WHIP and 98/30 K/BB ratio over 68 2/3 innings. He struggles with his command at times and can be prone to the long ball, but when he's on his game he's nearly untouchable. He should once again be a fairly dependable fantasy closer.

Ernesto Frieri shut the Astros down in the eighth and ninth innings on Sunday to earn his 34th save of the season. Frieri struck out four batters over those two frames, which is why he required 33 pitches to escape despite allowing only one hit and no walks. Frieri was forced to enter in the eighth inning because setup man Dane De La Rosa allowed the first two batters he faced to reach base. Frieri has allowed just one run since August 7. He's converted his last nine save opportunities.

Ernesto Frieri picked up his 31st save despite giving up a run in the ninth Friday against the Rangers. The run came on back-to-back hits with two outs. Frieri then fanned Ian Kinsler to end the game. It was the first run allowed by Frieri since Aug. 6. He's converted his last six save chances.

Ernesto Frieri recorded his 28th save of the season with a scoreless ninth inning in Thursday's win over the Rays. It wasn't easy, as Frieri issued a leadoff walk and allowed a one-out double to put the tying and go-ahead runs on base. He was able to wiggle out of trouble, though, getting a foulout and flyout to end it. Dane De La Rosa was used ahead of Frieri Thursday, as Angels manager Mike Scioscia continues to give fantasy owners a headache by alternating closers.

Ernesto Frieri struck out three in a scoreless ninth inning to earn his 27th save of the year against the Mariners on Friday. Frieri owners can exhale now, as this was the veteran's first save in exactly three weeks. During that time, he's endured job-security questions both in the media and out of the lips of manager Mike Scioscia. Frieri has strung together six straight scoreless innings, but it's going to take more than that to erase memories of his nightmarish seven-appearance stretch between July 23-August 6 when the closer went 0-2 with two blown saves and posted a 23.14 ERA and a Miguel-Cabrera-against-high-school-pitching slash line of .556/.636/.963 to opposing batters.