Angels gifted 17-8 win

Recap

The Angels won at home vs Cleveland this afternoon due in large part to a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day from the Cleveland CF Rosario. Capitalizing on the errors and scoring with 2 outs, this Angels team looked like the team of 15 years ago more than the team of recent times.

Scoring Plays

Early scoring

Cleveland got to Canning early, scoring in the first thanks to a single a botched double play, and a double. 1-0 Cleveland. But then Cleveland gave it right back, with a fielding error giving the Angels 2 runs and Pujols driving in a third. 3-1 Angels

That first inning clearly bothered Bieber as he gave up more in the second, with hard hit singles by Suzuki, Ohtani, and Trout. 4-1 Angels. Cleveland got one back in the third with a triple and a sac fly, 4-2 Angels.

Back and forth they go, as Bieber was wild and the Angels score 3 after the bases were loaded thanks to 2 more errors by the Cleveland CF. That was before Shohei Ohtani hit yet another massive home run over the batters eye. 9-2 Angels.

More runs came the Angels way due to doubles by Rendon and Pujols, 10-2 Angels in the 4th. Cleveland, to their credit, did not fade away, as they scored 6 in the 5th, getting back into the game. 10-8 Angels.

Bottom of the 7th

Despite some scares on both sides, scoring would not happen again until the bottom of the 7th. Mulrine walked, Schebler flew out, Wong hit a single, and Bemboom reached on an error, loading the bases.

Lagares came up and drove 2 in with the bases loaded. Jose Rojas followed up with a single, scoring Bemboom. Cleveland continued to not field the ball, and another runner scored n a groundball by Jay. A new pitcher was brought in and hit Rengifo with the bases loaded, scoring yet another run.

The Angels batted around, with Mulrine striking out for just the second out of the inning. Schebler, with a second chance, drove in another with a single down the line, but Luis Rengifo got thrown out at the plate, which ended the inning. 17-8 Angels.

Final innings

Despite the chances, there was no more scoring by the Angels in the 8th and the Halos made it to the 9th with a 9 run lead. Kyle Keller made quick work of the batters he faced, pitching both the 8th and 9th innings to secure the win.

The Angels are now 8-6-2 on the spring, and play tomorrow night on St. Patrick’s Day at 6:40 PM. I will

Performances

Pitchers

Griffin Canning

It was a rough first inning for Canning as he was hit hard. Fortunately, only one run was scored. His second inning was better, even though he did give up two hard hits, he also struck out the side.

The third was another inning of hard hits as he gave up a triple down the line that scored on a sac fly. It was a trend that continued all day. He could get outs but a majority of them were hard hit outs or strikeouts. Very lucky to have a defense behind him.

For this reason, it is wrong to evaluate pitchers on wins as Canning’s performance was good, but lucky in both the positioning of his fielders and the bad play of the Cleveland defense. He ended his day with 4 innings pitched, giving up 2 runs on 5 hits while striking out 5 and walking one.

Jesse Chavez

A not so great outing by Chavez today, as he came in with an 8 run lead and got hit hard like Canning before him. 5 runs would score before an out was even recorded, including giving up a 3 run jimmy jack. He would be pulled after a double, not exactly making a case for a bullpen spot.

Ben Rowen

Rowen came in with a man on second and no outs. He allowed him to score by giving up a double. But that was it, as he got 3 outs and kept the lead, which shrunk all the way to 2.

Alex Claudio

Alex was given a 2 run lead and he allowed a hit to the first batter. However, he caught him stealing and kept his cool by not balking. Getting out of the inning with no runs allowed and a walk and a strikeout is good enough for now.

Chris Rodriguez

The second best Angels pitching prospect made everyone sweat as he let two on thanks to two singles. He did get out of it with no runs scored, striking out the last batter while walking off the mound. C-Rod has good stuff and looks to be a part of the rotation soon enough, if he can stay healthy.

Kyle Keller

Keller pitched the 8th inning after watching from the bullpen a long and fruitful bottom of the 7th. He made quick work with the Cleveland batters, getting a sweet 1-2-3 inning with 2 swinging strikeouts. It went much better than previous outings.

He was tasked to finish the game and get more work in as he only used 15 pitches in the 8th. Kyle got a 1-2-3 ninth inning and slammed the door on the woeful Cleveland team. This is an improvement and hopefully he pitches more like this in the future.

Batters

Starters

David Fletcher

Fletcher got luckier today with a flair hit vs CY Young winning Bieber. Lined out in the second. His third time up in the third he got an RBI single that turned into more de to an error. He was pulled after 3 PA.

Shohei Ohtani

Fielder’s choice in the first, infield single in second. Then, he made Bieber miserable by hitting a monster shot over the Batters eye. Ohtani is on fire, 464 feet to dead center off of the reining CY Young winner. After hitting that bomb, he left the stadium, his day done.

Mike Trout

Trout had a walk in the first and an RBI single in the second. He struck out in the third, going 1-2 on the day before leaving after 3 innings. His spring has not been particularly good, but at least his bad is not the worst thing ever. He left to go take batting practice most likely.

Anthony Rendon

He came up with 2 on and one out and popped up in the first. Popped up in the second with 2 on again. He made up for it partly with a double and was pulled after that.

Justin Upton

Hot Pocket has been on fire this spring, and when you are on fire, you get lucky. That happened today as the opposition pulled a Jo Adell and dropped an easily caught ball for a 2 run error. His second appearance saw him get a HBP right in the back. For his third plate appearance he struck out.

Albert Pujols

Pujols capitalizes on mistakes and with an extended inning thanks to Cleveland fielding woes, pulled an RBI single to score Upton in the first. He walked his next time up. For his third time up he hit a double, scoring the pinch runner from second before being pulled himself for a pinch runner.

Jose Iglesias

Groundout in first, reached on error next time up. Flied out for his third AB. Caught an absolute liner though, that he had to jump to get, saving Canning from giving up yet another hard hit.

Kurt Suzuki

Single in the first. Popped up with the bases loaded in his next AB. Flied out in the 4th. With how quickly the Angels scored, he was pulled rather early. As the starting catcher this season, he has nothing to worry about besides getting injured.

Others

Dexter Fowler

Dexter started today, but as he still have not impressed he is here. He hit into a fielder’s choice in his first AB, next time up he hit a sac fly with the bases loaded. Fowler struck out in the 5th. Again, as the likely starting right fielder, I am disappoint.

Kelton Wong

Strikeout in his first chance up, got a single in the 7th. Scored in the wild inning. Had another single in the 8th. Not much else to say other than he is likely to be with another team come summer as this team is loaded with IF depth.

Anthony Bemboom

Popped up his first time up, and his second time up, but reaching on an error that time. Scored in that wild 7th and as a DH, not too impressive, but they want him to bat some as he is the 3rd string catcher.

Juan Lagares

Still my pick for starting right fielder, he got a hustle double in his first at bat and had a 2 RBI single with the bases loaded in the 7th. He came around to score in that crazy inning. His slash this spring? .476/.500/.571 Yes, he is on an absolute tear and can play a defense CF, he needs to be on the team.

Jose Rojas

Walked in first PA. Drove in Bemboom in the 7th with a single. Scored 2 runs and has a quietly nice spring so far. Won’t make the team, but keep an eye on him as h had a good 2019 minors season.

Jon Jay

Popped up in his first AB and reached base on an error by the Cleveland ‘fielders’. He scored in that crazy 7th inning and it is one of his better days this spring, as overall, he is batting well below the Mathis line.

Taylor Ward

He walked in his first PA and again in the 7th, scoring a run. As a real utility player, he may make the team as the backup to everyone’s backups. Maddon seems to like him, so expect him at some point this season even if it isn’t opening week.

Luis Rengifo

The likely backup infielder this season pulled a Pujols and GIDP in his first AB. He was HBP in the 7th and got thrown out trying to score. It was a close play, and with the Cleveland fielding, he had a great chance at scoring.

Anthony Mulrine

A catcher I never heard of before, he threw out a runner who tried to steal in the 6th. He walked in the 7th and also struck out in the 7th, it was a long inning.

Scott Schebler 

Taking over right field for Fowler, he is the second most impressive RF candidate this spring, hitting the ball hard practically every game he had the chance to. He flew out in the 7th but made up for it in the 7thwith a second at bat, where he drove in a runner with a hit down the line.