ANAHEIM – Ernesto Frieri got a rare chance to walk the talk Monday, and he walked it with aplomb.

One day after predicting the Angels would beat the rival Oakland Athletics – and saying the A’s have had some ‘luck this year’ – Frieri struck out the side in the ninth inning to clinch an Angels win at home.

And he did it on 14 pitches against Oakland’s Nos. 3-5 hitters: Josh Donaldson, Brandon Moss and Yoenis Cespedes.

Afterward, a vibrant Frieri said his comments about the opponent amounted to a “misunderstanding,” and offered an apology.

“I’m sorry if I offended somebody,” he said. “I respect the Oakland A’s. They’ve been playing really good baseball.

“At the same time, I have confidence in my team. I knew that we were going to be playing better baseball. The last time that we played them, obviously, we didn’t play the baseball that we know we can play. We got swept over there. I was just trying to express myself and say that I know we’re going to beat them, because I know that we’re going to play good baseball.”

The Angels, winners of four straight, are playing good baseball of late. And Frieri has closed out all four of those victories.

Said manager Mike Scioscia: “Four straight days, but his stuff looked as good today as it did any of the days. That was encouraging.”

Scioscia said Angels pitching coach Mike Butcher evaluated Frieri in pregame workouts the last two days and found him fit to pitch.

Frieri always maintains he’s better and sharper when he gets less rest. Could he pitch for a fifth straight day Tuesday?

“I don’t know,” he said in response to that question Monday. “I have a family. I’m just 28. I have to take care of this arm.”

SKAGGS SPEAKS

After Monday’s game, left-hander Tyler Skaggs addressed the right hamstring injury that will send him to the disabled list.

He called it a “freak thing” that developed during his last start on getaway day Thursday in Houston.

“I didn’t even really even notice until I got off the plane,” Skaggs said. “I just figured I was tired or cramping because it was like 90 degrees there. It’s minor. It’s just a minor setback.”

Skaggs lost his last start against Oakland and wanted to atone for that Tuesday.

“I’m very, very pissed off that I’m not going to be pitching tomorrow, because they definitely left a sour taste in my mouth the last game I threw against them,” he said. “I’m looking forward to pitching against them next time, though.”

NOTES

Scioscia on Monday’s win: “They cracked the door open for us tonight, and we got the game. What we have to do now is come back and play a good game tomorrow.” …Scioscia said Garrett Richards’ brushback pitch to Josh Donaldson was not intentional, and he didn’t think Jesse Chavez’s pitch that hit Hank Conger near the elbow shortly afterward was either. “Obviously we’re not trying to hit anybody or send any messages,” he said. “That’s just the way it was.” …Did Monday’s starter (and winner) Garrett Richards need the win to boost his confidence? “I think Garrett’s confidence has been building since last season, and I think his confidence is high enough now that I don’t know if he needed to get the results he did tonight to feel he’s going to have a terrific season for us. I think his confidence is very high,” Scioscia said.