Angels help Astros snap out of slump, Pujols achieves milestone

Astros 11, Angels 4

After suffering a sweep at the hands of the high-flying San Diego Padres, the Houston Astros returned home, hoping for something that would get them back on track. The Angels happily obliged.

Patrick Sandoval gave up five runs in 2.2 innings, and the rout was on. With a double-header on Tuesday, the Angels were looking for Sandoval to provide some length, and he even got what seemed to be a longer leash than usual considering the quality of pitching he demonstrated. In the first inning, he was hit incredibly hard, but the shots were at fielders. In the second, Kyle Tucker opened the scoring with a home run.

Josh Reddick singled in another run, and the Astros were already running away with the game.

In the third, the Angels snuck one across the plate thanks to some creative work on the basepaths by Andrelton Simmons.

David Fletcher then hit a routine ground ball to first base and beat out Yuli Gurriel for a single to score Simmons.

It didn’t matter. The next inning, Michael Brantley doubled in a run and Reddick tacked on another. The Angels tried to storm back, with Justin Upton (!!!) hitting a home run in the fourth and Anthony Rendon and Albert Pujols tacking on RBI hits in the fifth, but they would still be down one. Pujols’s RBI single moved him ahead of Alex Rodriguez for third (second according to Elias) on the all-time RBI list.

In the sixth inning, the Astros effectively took the Angels out of it, scoring four times. They added another two in the seventh. This happened:

Anthony Bemboom pitched the eighth inning, and he shut the Astros down scoreless. Go figure.

Two games tomorrow.

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MH252525
Trusted Member
4 years ago

Man who is in charge of defensive positioning. Putting Pujols like 35 feet from the bag means that any movement other than towards 1B he can’t make it there on a dp consistently.

eyespy
Super Member
4 years ago
Reply to  MH252525

That extends to every fielder.

When Joe got tossed, Gallego and another coach were taking turns with their hands possitioning a player(s) on the same play.

2002heaven
Super Member
4 years ago

comment image
Arte and Billy can we have better pitching PLZ?

Senator_John_Blutarsky
Legend
Reply to  2002heaven

They’ve answered that question over the past 5 years with a resounding “no”.

eyespy
Super Member
4 years ago

Poor Oliver, we have too much as it is.

We get all kinds of pitching. Just not good, and unfulfilling.

Fansince1971
Legend
4 years ago

I have a crystal ball and just looked into it.

Angels end up 19-41 and have the first pick. They draft Kumar Rocker. He is sent to rookie ball and in a freak accident is hit by a lightening bolt while on the mound. He survives but the electricity causes irreparable damage to his pitching arm ending his baseball career.

He goes into movies and makes some funny films with Harold Baines.

Meanwhile some unknown 6th round pick by the A’s becomes the next Cy Young.

I don’t make these things up. It is what the ball fortells.

Last edited 4 years ago by Fansince1971
LAAFan
Trusted Member
4 years ago
Reply to  Fansince1971

When you said lightning I thought we were gonna get a God tier superhero pitcher, highly disappointed.

eyespy
Super Member
4 years ago
Reply to  Fansince1971

Yes. The Record. Na-Na-Na-Nineteeeen

h27kim
Trusted Member
4 years ago

So, who have we got on the trading block and what can they be traded for? This strikes me as a bizarre market–on the one hand, a lot of teams are still “in the hunt.”. But, for most of them, the chances of going far are still low enough, in part precisely b/c there are too many potential contenders and too few games, not to mention the danger that the whole season may still get cancelled or otherwise detailed unexpectedly, that I don’t see many teams making big trades at high prices in prospects (whose values are now much less clear due to disruption in development).

And then, there’s the question of how things will look next year. The core of Trout, Rendon, Ohtani, and Fletcher will still be around. No good reason to believe that Adell will continue to look lost. I think the lineup problem is mostly that of getting a good cast of inexpensive role players who’d only need some of the time (but be pretty good in their limited roles) and that, with the right personnel in FO and scouting dept, should not be too problematic.

OTOH, pitching other than Bundy (apparently, the best trade chip we got) looks utterly dreadful. With the current team leadership, it’s not clear we’ll see in any near to medium term future any serious attempt to build and/or develop a cast of good role players in the organization (furloughed scouts? Zero undrafted player signing?)…

Senator_John_Blutarsky
Legend
Reply to  h27kim

Benboom pitched a scoreless inning, so that could fetch us something real purdy if Eppler barters effectively

GrandpaBaseball
Legend
4 years ago

In the standings keep on fallin’,

A win just means you’re stallin’

To a plan the Halos must stick,

So the team earns the last pick,

One more year of Al the big one,

two more years of J. Upton,

Lead the team in hits betcha,

Is that hit everything Fletcha,

No cardboard people to moan,

None that can cheer for hot Rendon,

Now all that we can sadly say,

For a cold and darkened Big A,

Is there will be many a night,

Western Skies will be lit by your light,

Many World Series flags raised,

All to be heard is the praise,

Fans to be loudest in serenade,

With Trouty leading the parade,

In the standings keep on fallin’,

A win just means you’re stallin’…….

nishiogawakun
Super Member
Eric_in_Portland
Legend
4 years ago

You know I hate that Elias BS. I’ve decided Pujols is#1 since I don’t recognize RBIs before 1980. Why should I?

Or maybe I only recognize hits during the last two weeks so Rendon is the leading hitter of all time.

GrandpaBaseball
Legend
4 years ago

I’m right at your side Eric.

Eric_in_Portland
Legend
4 years ago

I’m there for the Trout resurgence. The Fletch-ness. Rendon.

Christianhanson
Trusted Member
4 years ago

Huhhh who do we want Kumar or Leiter?

GrandpaBaseball
Legend
4 years ago

70% Kumar, 30% Leiter but either one is a huge help.

Eric_in_Portland
Legend
4 years ago

We need a 3b/dh/catcher more than pitching

GrandpaBaseball
Legend
4 years ago

Wise guy huh?

Eric_in_Portland
Legend
4 years ago

“Rocker” is my real answer

Jessica DeLine
Admin
Super Member
4 years ago

Well…comment image

GrandpaBaseball
Legend
4 years ago
Reply to  Jessica DeLine

The Angels colors too. Slip slidin’ away.

Senator_John_Blutarsky
Legend
Reply to  Jessica DeLine

Too graceful for our Angels. We are a faceplant

GrandpaBaseball
Legend
4 years ago

Hard to bum me out but tonight done did it for sure.

Please Uncle Joe do not ever pitch Mike Myers with runners on base again.

It is now not hard to root for the Draft Choice and the Halos to sink into mediocrity.

l only ask one thing of Arte, give walking papers to Billy Boy.

One bit of advice Arte, hire as your new General Manager someone with experience.

eyespy
Super Member
4 years ago

Arte needs to hire a non yesman, and needs to stay out of the business of baseball. Be the boss, pay the bills, and enjoy the games.

GrandpaBaseball
Legend
4 years ago
Reply to  eyespy

Fact Jack. You got that right.

nishiogawakun
Super Member
4 years ago
Reply to  eyespy

This 100%

Rahul Setty
Admin
Trusted Member
4 years ago

Me watching Framber Valdez throw an absolute gem of a game. Some incredible curveballs.

Rahul Setty
Admin
Trusted Member
4 years ago

Look, I’m not rooting for the Angels to lose, I’m just rooting for them not to win. Actually I take that back, I am rooting for them to lose. Two games tomorrow with Suárez and Teherán is a terrific setup, go Kumar Rocker—I mean, go team!

eyespy
Super Member
4 years ago
Reply to  Rahul Setty

Is there a reason for the double-header. I don’t remember missing a game this season, it’s been such a blur.

https://www.mlb.com/angels/news/angels-astros-rescheduled-due-to-tropical-storm-laura

Found it. I hope we don’t get blown away.

Last edited 4 years ago by eyespy
Rahul Setty
Admin
Trusted Member
4 years ago
Reply to  eyespy

Thursday’s game was moved up to tomorrow due to Tropical Storm Laura that’s heading towards Texas.

eyespy
Super Member
4 years ago
Reply to  Rahul Setty

Mahalo

GrandpaBaseball
Legend
4 years ago
Reply to  eyespy

Starts at 9am the first gm.

eyespy
Super Member
4 years ago

Looks like 10AM for me

John Henry Weitzel
Editor
Super Member
4 years ago

comment image

Last edited 4 years ago by John Henry Weitzel
LAAFan
Trusted Member
4 years ago

That Springer hbp was the most excited I’ve been all season.

UtahAlumnus
Trusted Member
4 years ago

I figured it out: We’re 2017 Baylor football.