Angels 2, Astros 4
Pain.
You would have been forgiven for thinking, after 1.5 innings, that this game was going to be a shootout. After Griffin Canning’s season debut was postponed to Thursday, the matchup of Zack Greinke vs. Dylan Bundy was supposed to be a pitcher’s duel. It definitely did not start that way.
After Shohei Ohtani reached on a dribbler up the first base line, Mike Trout absolutely turned on a baseball and provided some serious sound:
things you love to see: it pic.twitter.com/pY3lBrGQ7g
— Los Angeles Angels (@Angels) April 6, 2021
Hello, Shohei!
ain’t no lie, Ohtani said bye bye bye pic.twitter.com/x4YVRQiK6t
— Cut4 (@Cut4) April 6, 2021
After a 2019 and 2020 where it seems like Trout adopted some of the extreme launch-angle philosophy where he turned into just your average great hitter, through the early part of 2021, it seems that line drive, through-the-ball Mike Trout is back. While his gaudy home runs totals of the past two years have been impressive, I fully expect a line-drive Trout to both be able to crush home runs and keep the high batting average and on-base percentage that we’ve been accustomed to seeing. Get ready for this new version of Trout.
The Astros responded in the second. After Bundy struck out three in the first, sandwiched around an error, Kyle Tucker and Aledmys Díaz tagged him for solo shots in the second. It was all the stingy Bundy would allow. Despite being BABIP’d in the sixth, Bundy stranded runners on second and third with one out, getting out of the inning with a pop up and a beautiful 95 mph fastball that painted the outside corner. He polished off his quality start, going six strong innings, allowing four hits (two of them home runs, the other two dinkers), striking out ten and walking two.
(By the way, extend Dylan Bundy!)
At the same time, Greinke was matching Bundy stride-for-stride. After his rough first inning (which wasn’t really rough, just Mike Trout exists), he settled down, getting through seven innings allowing just the two runs. Hitting just 96 pitches, Greinke seemed like he could have gone longer, had this not been the second start of his year.
The bullpen held up until the ninth inning. Raisel Iglesias, who has had a few shaky outings, left a pitch up to Carlos Correa, and the Houston shortstop punched it out over the yellow line.
CORREA WITH THE 2-RUN HOMER TO TAKE THE LEAD!!!! pic.twitter.com/7VXDEd3XlI
— Apollo Media (@ApolloHOU) April 6, 2021
Not so fun fact: Angel Hernandez was behind the plate today.
Angel Hernandez and Alex Bregman exchanged some words after that strikeout. Bregman had a point. Hernandez rung him up on pitch 6 pic.twitter.com/dsmnz9PMs9
— Chandler Rome (@Chandler_Rome) April 6, 2021
SMH. 🤦♂️ pic.twitter.com/8qN48yYoW9
— Apollo Media (@ApolloHOU) April 6, 2021
Sure, Angel Hernandez. Pitch 3 looks like a strike. pic.twitter.com/QOxge8BLvj
— Jessica DeLine (@abaseballchick) April 6, 2021
José Rojas made his Major League debut. He looked a bit jittery in the field, bobbling a baseball and overcooking a few throws. He was able to draw a walk, so he did manage to reach base safely.
Onto Florida to face the Blue Jays.
The offense is fun to watch, we seem to be deeper than we’ve been in the last couple of years.
Seems Joe doesn’t trust the back end of the pen much, as he’s already asked our closer to come in for a 5 out save and in a tie game only 6 games in.
At first I was annoyed he brought in Raisel in a tie game, but I guess it makes sense at home and with a day off tomorrow.
Disappointing game, but still happy enough with a 1-1 split against the Astros. And, even though Iglesias giving up that HR was not what you want from your closer…he wasn’t given the chance to close. You need to score more than two runs to win ballgames. DP to end game with tying run at the plate was nothing to get excited about either. I’d say Bundy and Trout did their jobs, and everyone else, not so much. Greinke was also pitching well. You’re gonna lose some.
Iglesias sucks. I’m starting to think we gave up too much for him
Patience my namesake. You will be loving him and his 40+ saves by the end of the year.
Should we give back the $900,000 the Reds threw in the deal too?
https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2020/12/reds-trade-raisel-iglesias-angels.html
Although, With our luck Leo Rivas will turn into Rogers Hornsby ( without the Racist stuff of course)
A 4-2 start against two top-ranked teams is way better than I expected. Especially when you factor in some still-shaky pitching. We’re gonna be in contention for a while I feel after this barring major injury. Hopefully Marsh and Addell, maybe moving C-Rod to the rotation, and a mid-season trade get us over the line.
Either way, I’m actually looking forward to following this team for a full-season.
It is odd. I was iffy about the bullpen except Iggy, but now I am confident in them except for him. Seems to be a mental thing right now and hope he bounces back.
He will bounce back – he’s rock solid. No worries at all.
D-Cell is going to give us headaches, but he is better than what we had last year
D-Cell? I wasn’t around for much of ST.
Raisel
Duracell
D-Cell
Compared to last years closer, he’s Optimum
Imagine him throwing to Mathis!
While it sucks losing today had somebody offered me a 4-2 home stand to start the season I’d have taken it.
Iglesias needs to figure something out. Rest of the bullpen looks great but he’s the big money guy, the supposed rock.
Can we raise the RF-RCF yellow line again? I hate the HR that isn’t a HR.
Probably not till next season. Kinda difficult to change ground rules partway through the season.
I’m fine with that. Raise it in 2022. I hate it lower.
Bob Uecker calling today’s game.
Just a Bit Out… Strike!
Will take a 4-2 start all day long. Happy to split the series.
Absolutely agree! Bundy was marvelous today. He pitches like that and he will win a lot of games.
Pitching looked great aside from Raisel. And I have no reason to believe he won’t put it together. Lot to be excited about.
Should start talking about a Bundy extension
Agreed re extending Bundy and I also predict this will be a blip on the map for Raisel by the end of the season
Exactly! You offer me 4-2 to start the season against the White Sox and Astros, I’m taking that deal any day.
hey! Ok, now I see what you were saying about Odor and Blue Jays. I thought you were saying it gives *us* more opportunities to punch Blue Jays. Isn’t that silly?
I’m proud of you, Eric.
Was there any reasoning why rendon wasn’t starting today?
Get hime two days off in a row, i’d assume. Getaway day.
Playing a division rival the day before an off day should be more reason to start him. It’s not like he’s an old vet or injured.
“It’s early”
lol. Thanks, sosh.
I understand players need days off. But Albert 4th? The only way he won’t be hitting clean up every now and then is when his contract is up. I don’t even think he wants to hit 4th at this point anymore.
yea the fact that he hit 4th goes a long way towards showing me Maddon is not in on the reduced role thing nearly as much as we would like to believe. I think Pujols gets 400 abs. It could cost us the division or wild card spot. He’s horrendously bad at this point in his career and is only playing because of the 6 letters on the back of his jersey. That 3 pitch ab against Pressley should be proof to anyone he’s not a major league hitter anymore.
Walsh should have hit 4th, Upton 5th, Pujols 6th