MESA, Ariz. -- A's pitching prospect Jesus Luzardo, just 20 years old, picked up quite the homework assignment Friday.
Tasked with tackling an Angels lineup loaded with regulars, the left-handed Luzardo managed just fine, capping his day with a strikeout of superstar Michael Trout.
"A couple of my friends videotaped it," Luzardo said, smiling.
Luzardo totaled three strikeouts in 2 2/3 impressive innings, working around three hits and one walk to hold a star-studded Angels lineup scoreless under his watch. The A's went on to win, 4-2.
"He was really good," A's manager Bob Melvin said. "This lineup's going to get your attention. I don't care who you are, but at [20] years old, throwing breaking balls in off counts, up to 97 [mph] that I saw on the radar gun, very poised, it was very impressive to go out and start against this team and look the way he did."
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Three times this spring, the A's have borrowed their No. 2 prospect from Minor League camp. Luzardo has been as advertised in each outing.
"Definitely just a confidence booster, and I'll take that into the season, and it kind of helps me think that I don't need to do anything more than what I already am, just kind of keep doing my own thing," said Luzardo, who has no experience above low Class A.
That didn't matter Friday. He induced an inning-ending double play ball off the bat of Jose Pujols in the first inning and racked up two strikeouts in the second.

After fanning Trout in the third, Melvin had to pull the plug on account of a pitch limit.
"Honestly, that pitch I struck him out on was a curveball left up, so it was kind of surprising to me, but you can't complain," Luzardo said. "I mean, you strike out a guy like that, you can't help but smile."
"That's a nice little feather in his cap," Melvin said.
Up next
The A's are jetting home Saturday, meaning their regulars will be lifted from their scheduled 12:05 p.m. PT meeting with the Brewers after only a few innings. Righty reliever Santiago Casilla will be on the mound to start the game and work one inning. Fans can listen on Gameday Audio, or an exclusive A's audio webcast.