The Angels welcomed the most despised team in baseball to the Big A to conclude their first homestand of the season and were defeated handily. That team I’m referring to, of course, would refer to the evening’s umpiring crew. Ted Barrett, Angel Hernandez, Stu Scheurwater, and Jose Navas combined to attempt* to gift the Astros a free win in grand fashion by missing call after call, with an assist credited to New York.
Here is just one such call:
Here is another:
The man on the bump did the Angels no favors either. Jose Quintana was hit early and often, giving Houston a 3-0 lead mere minutes after the game had begun. He struggled to command the zone as Cheaters 1, 2, 3, and 4 strung together singles and one of those people with little integrity scored on yet another dropped 3rd strike. He would settle down for a bit, but the damage had been done.
His Houston counterpart, meanwhile, was cruising for a while. The Halos were held hitless through 3 innings, and the Astros put up their 4th consecutive run in the top of the 4th before Christ Rodriguez himself showed up on the day after Easter for some reason to mow down the Astros. He was absolutely filthy, surrendering a lone run on the botched play at the plate by the villainous crew in blue. Just look at this.
In the bottom of the 4th, the Angels would chip away at the deficit. It all started with an absolute moonshot by the Fish King himself.
They would tack on 2 more over the ensuing two innings in order to bring the team within 1 (and eventually 2 after the Maldonado safe call that was totally an easily reversible call).
But the 8th inning was when everyone knew it was over. Pujols and Iglesias singled, Ohtani was hit by a pitch after pinch hitting for Kurt Suzuki, and then Dexter Fowler of all people stepped up and singled to score a run with no outs. There was no way we were going to lose this game at that point.
Fletcher grounded into a force out, and then Jared Walsh did Jared Walsh things.
Another run would score on an Anthony Rendon sacrifice fly.
It didn’t matter when Mayers surrendered a solo shot in the 9th because the game was sealed in our hearts. The Angels are now tied for the lead in the division, and they didn’t even need to cheat to do it. This team is looking destined for greatness! Stick around guys!
Dusty Baker was whining about fans booing the Astros. His team cheated to win a World Series and got a ridiculously light punishment, what did he expect?
They got off last season with no fans. I fully expect boos all season long this year and it’s well deserved.
It was loud. Louder than many regular attendance games I’ve attended.
Complaining by Dusty will only make it worse.
Great atmosphere. It was loud, I was definitely impressed!
Read Dusty’s comments and they’re weak. Remember when idiot fans would throw something or go onto the field to show their displeasure with a player/coach. Some boos and a trash aren’t a big deal, telling us to get over it is about as likely to help as telling someone with a panic attack to just relax
Travis was talking about that on his show today, that the fans were loud.
Yeah, Baker had some ridiculous, and misapplied comments about “we don’t live in glass houses.” What the Astros did with their cheating was systematic, intentional and CONTINUOUS. It was not the same as losing one’s temper and cussing somebody out, or showing a personal failing in some fleeting manner.
The Astros cheating negatively impacted hundreds if not more individuals in their livelihoods and fraudulently delivered a championship to their franchise.
Dusty, this is not the kind of personal failing that is referred to when we speak about “glass houses.”
Celebrate the win!
Went to bed after Pujols popped out in the middle of the game… woke up and was like, I bet they still came back and won. Wow. Keep this going!
Which anime series are you getting all these from? Is it NGE?
The Angels are the only A.L. West team to win tonight.
Team Of Destiny, bitches! We were there until the 6th when us old people started to freeze solid. Watched the end over late dinner. We are beyond wow at this point.
Sucks you left a little early but it got cooler more last night there than Friday or Saturday. Last nights game went a bit longer too.
I don’t know why but I kind of like this one….
Are picture comments not working for anyone else?
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Please tell me that inflatable trashcan was the promo giveaway.
7x they have batted in the 8th and 9th innings this year. They have scored 14 runs. I am expecting this every game.
Had an absolute blast at the game tonight. Bought tickets on a whim over Easter dinner, and our team did not disappoint. Team shows true grit and effort for the ENTIRE GAME!! LTBU!!!
More 8th inning magic. I won’t expect it but I won’t be surprised when it happens again
What a fun game!
this vibe with the team is so much loose and fun, i cant wait to see more of it
Fixed the end of the postgame, just like the Angels fixed the end of this beauty of a comeback.
Lots of energy, resilience and focus thus. Really fun to watch. My key takeaways from this team victory:
1) Great/clutch swing by Pujols to get that 8th rally going. He didn’t try to do too much. Get on base and trust the next guy;
2) Rodriguez was great keeping the game close;
3) Key dig by Walsh on a bad throw by Rendon – that saved at least a run;
4) Fowler with a clutch hit (again)
5) Ohtani batting the day after that collision and flashing attitude after getting hit and the speed!;
6) Rendon just looking to hit a fly ball and executing;
7) Fletch hitting to the right side to pick up a key RBI.
There is more continuity in this lineup than this team has had in a long LONG time.
That’s good and exciting baseball. Really fun to watch.
Those Trash Cans!
I like this seizure inducing gif, more please
Only saw the 9th, but what impressed the hell out of me was watching Mayer.
He lost that 11 pitch AB to a HR. The he shrugged, got back to work, and calmly got the next two guys. That’s pro stuff right there.
Felt very 2002 Percy right there
Tip your cap and get the next guy!
Very true. Great poise shown by Mayers.
I am working on a gif of it right now
Nice!
Alias better watch his back.
Dammit. I used to *LIKE* Alias.
And then he hit the most likable dude in the league.
Screen shot good enough