Angels 9, Astros 5
It was a winding narrative with many storylines. There was the heat, combined with the little Angels winning streak they had coming into the game, along with a multitude of other factors that created an atmosphere of “cringe-but-must-watch” for the game. Mike Trout wasn’t in the lineup. And then Luis Rengifo was scratched with injury.
Jaime Barría got the start to try and prove he deserves a permanent spot in the rotation. Kyle Tucker immediately greeted him with a two-run shot to deep right:
Kyle Freaking Tucker. #ForTheH pic.twitter.com/PB8xLhG8RS
— Houston Astros (@astros) September 6, 2020
Then Aledmys Diaz got into one, and Barría’s afternoon looked to quickly be derailing:
2 innings, 2 homers. #ForTheH pic.twitter.com/6gE9vu2xnt
— Houston Astros (@astros) September 6, 2020
But that was all Barría allowed. He hung in there, not exactly throwing his best stuff, but leaving the Houston hitters bamboozled enough to get through five innings only allowing the three aforementioned runs. He struck out six and walked two.
Meanwhile, after being down 3-0 early, the Angels would strike for five straight runs, as Taylor Ward cashed in one, Anthony Rendon hit a two-run home run, Jared Walsh hit a sac fly, and Franklin Barreto had a productive hit:
How many ants does it take to lift a baseball out of the ballpark?
— Los Angeles Angels (@Angels) September 6, 2020
Just one: ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/XZhJrUXdaY
But it was too much to ask for the Angels bullpen to get through four innings unscathed. Felix Peña, who had otherwise been good, blew the save:
Hey bartender,
— Houston Astros (@astros) September 6, 2020
1 homer on the rocks with a splash of a tie game. #ForTheH pic.twitter.com/YFSnMHV1g3
It was a Carlos Correa home run followed by an Abraham Toro double that did the damage.
The Angels were on the precipice of going down, but Noé Ramirez was able to get some timely outs, helped out by solid defensive positioning from Ward in right field.
And then in the eighth, the magic happened once again. Three seeing-eye singles combined with a pair of walks plated a couple runs, and then Justin Upton (who is on fire right now) drove in two more with an RBI single.
Ty Buttrey slammed the door shut in the ninth.
Sidenote: In the bottom of the sixth inning, Barreto injured himself sliding into second base on a steal attempt. Joe Maddon, manager extraordinaire, decided to send backup catcher Anthony Bemboom out to run, putting in the erstwhile Luis Rengifo to play second base after the Angels were out of outs. The move meant that the Angels would play the rest of the game without a catcher (although Ward probably still has that ability in him) and was altogether dumbfounding.
To win without Mike Trout is something awesome!
(Picture a screenshot from Fox Sports West)
2018……13-3 start until the RS and the Giants came into town and urinated on our parade.
2019…….beating the Dodgers and the Brewers after Tyler Skaggs passing, then we fell off a cliff vs the Orioles, Tigers, Pirates, Reds, Royals all losing record teams.
2020……Astros..and then we play losing teams again, UH OH!!! 😯 😯
Nice surprise sweeping the asstros but our pitching is still garbage. Not getting my hopes up.
And we thought our pitching was bad….6 out of the 9 Angel hitters In today’s lineup were hitting under 0.230 ave and 5 of the 6 were hitting under the Mendoza Line. 2 replacements came on later were both under the Mendoza as well. Maybe one of these 6 anemic hitters would you expect to be much better, Upton, as he should be hitting higher and perhaps the big prospect, Adell, but he is too raw, needs more time and fire in his belly. How can we honestly keep rolling this shit out every game? Pathetic. F’n pathetic. Trout has got to be biting his lip.
Now, I’m very happy we swept the Stro’s but they are just in a rough patch right now with injuries of their own and a bullpen that is just as bad as the Angels. I just cannot get over such mediocrity of the lineup. Shows how bad the lower half of the roster was constructed by management, coupled with 2 suspect trades.
That is how the ball bounces.
Sometimes a team will get on a roll.
Winning is contagious.
Any team at anytime can do this, things just need to be lined up and click.
Enjoy it my friend, good things always come to an end.
While I agree with your partially Justin and Jo are getting hot and they have both been streaky hitters. Jo has needed some time to adjust but he is making them. It’s not the best situation to be in but I would make the argument that this is truly the Angels offensive potential. Pitching still sucks but there could be enough to sneak into the playoffs this year. Any other year no chance.
I just don’t understand giving Trout a rest day, especially when he is finally playing his best baseball of the year. He has historically been a really poor performer following “rest days.” In fact, in the first 10 games immediately following non-injury related “rest days,” his average is a depressing .239, with similar declines in OBP, power, etc…Additionally, his strike out rate jumps 19%. It just doesn’t make any sense when there are less than 3 weeks left in a season where he has already missed 15 percent of the games we’ve played.
Disagree. A lot of times the benefits of rest are seen immediately after the day off, but sometimes it comes later. Rest has a cumulative benefit.
Also, since the Angels are off Monday (travel day) it is like giving Mike TWO days off. This is important, and I think, why Joe did it today. That coupled with game time temperature of 109 degrees probably played a part.
I like the decision and feel it will help to have “fresh” Trout coming into this next stretch of games.
Finally, a player does not need to be struggling necessarily to benefit from rest.
He gets two days off, it’s his all star break, and then plays out the rest of the season.
Give the guy a break, bottom line Arte.
He’s pfat and SoCal is hotter than Venus. Let the guy relax in the shade for an afternoon.
Just saw Lou Brock passed away at the age of 81. What a player.
Seaver and Brock – the generation some of us grew up watching is fading into eternity
Maddon explained it on the post game. Rengifo was banged up and dint let Maddon know he could actually play until after the substitution with Benboom.
So Joe, what you are saying is, Rengifo was dogging it? Or, you fail to ask the right questions, and enjoy kicking your players under the bus.
Yeah, I think he was softly alluding to that (Rengifo dogging it)
I seriously can’t. This happens at some point almost every season, and every time I say “I won’t let them hurt me anymore”. Then against my better judgement I start to believe and they sweep a tough team. But it ends as it always seems to. Buttercup. Alas, let’s go!!!! 10 game win streak!!
You’re Charlie Brown!
Lucy, doooooooooooooooonnnnnnnn””””””” …
4 teams ahead of us for a playoff spot and we’re at the equivalent of game 144. 5 out. With 18 left we can likely catch Baltimore, Detroit and Seattle. But the Skanks….gonna be tough.
no need to worry about the other teams. Just us and Houston, head-to-head. Catch ’em five more times and we make it.
It would help not to get swept again by Texas…
Is that right? Top two plus 2 wild cards? Cool! Let’s get ‘ em!
I just heard we won which completed a 4 game sweep.
Don’t play with my feelings Angels. Just stop.
Angels scored 32 runs in the last 72 hours. Not bad.
As much as drafting Rocker or Leiter would be cool,
I…LIKE…TO…WIN…BABY
and yes, my self-esteem is dependent on the team’s fortunes.
BILLY EPPLER FOREVER.
So Billy Eppler does post on CTPG
XOXOXO
Ha ha. Agree.
I don’t think we’re winning recently because of Eppler but IN SPITE of him.
Win or lose, Eppler is never an issue
This is a very good swept of my most disliked team in MLB. 8-3 is really unreal. Hope really is now for a chance in the PO’s.
It helps not to see Verlander or Grienke, but who cares, the team set their trash can on fire.
We didn’t have Ryan and Tanana, and we still swept their Asstros
Is it a bad thing to say that Stassi is encouraging this year? Great game by most of the line up, especially bottom of the order.
I guess I should ask is it safe to say he’s encouraging
One way or another, he will find out
I’ve just been handed this breaking new bulletin: Baretto got a hit
Details at 11:00
AND STOLE A BASE!
And then promptly broke himself.
and an RBI and a stolen base and a visit to the IL. Busy day for Fred
I just started watching these games in like the last week and a half. I’m not sure what all of you are complaining about. Seems like a pretty good team!
🙂
I’m enjoying the bit of a turn around, but it would have been nice if they didn’t wait until the division is out of reach to start it.
Thanks Patrick
Angels with a .405 winning percentage.
Get the champagne ready
Celebrate the win
I still see two hairy balls with something rising in between them.
“That’s what she said”
Angels and come from behind Wins!
Sweeping the cheaters is probably the biggest highlight of this season thus far.
Unfortunately the two guys you’d want to get back at the most (Altuve and Bregman) weren’t playing.
But I enjoyed the sweep nonetheless.