The Angels lost their first series of the season. Kansas City just shut down the offense and did enough to send the Halos back to Anaheim as losers, hopefully with time to field a better roster.
Recap
Griffin Canning had his second start of the season. It did not go as planned. He escaped a bases loaded jam by sheer luck when a liner hit a Royal. Not that he was lucky when he left a meatball to be crushed for a home run in the 3rd. Then in the 4th, the Royals used small ball to gain a second run off of him.
Unlike yesterday where there was ample failed opportunities, this game the Angels failed to do anything the first 5 innings. Indeed, only 2 hits until the 6th, when Trout and Walsh put a couple of hits together to get a run across.
Canning lasted 5 innings, allowing 2 runs on 6 hits and 2 walks to 6 strikeouts. He was replaced by Chris Rodriguez, who, after a clean 6th, allowed a run in the 7th and was pulled with 2 outs.
Watson came in and allowed 2 more runs to score before getting that 3rd out, 5-1 Royals headed to the 8th. The Angels got runners on but failed to score again. Ben Rowen pitched the 8th and allowed another run due to throwing the ball away.
One positive thing was that Jose Rojas got his first MLB hit in the 9th, a double. Besides that the bats didn’t try and the Angels lost 6-1.
Pain
Upton is still not feeling good and was not in the lineup. Mike Trout also got hurt scoring but stayed in the game. With the Astros on a losing streak, the Angels ruin their chances to pad their AL West lead.
The Angels head back home and next play Friday vs the Twins. Now at 7-5 on the season, they do not look to hold that AL West lead for long.
Wah. If the Angels go 7-5 every twelve games against teams like the WSox, Astros, Jays and Royals I’m not gonna cry over it. We have some minor injuries, plus the “loss” of Fowler. They just need to get a couple players back and give up on Jay/Rojas in favor of Schebler/Ward/Rengifo. Cobb looks a hell of a lot better than I thought he would as does the bullpen over all. Heaney will probably remain bi-polar and Canning will probably not suck forever. Honestly, it’s way to early to start clinching our thighs and singing songs of seasons lost in a piercing counter tenor. The team still looks basically a little better than average, they’ve at least figured out they need to play Walsh, they’re heading home now and can shuffle their taxi squad etc before next road trip, as long as Rendon and Upton’s injuries don’t become three months of suck I think we’ll be fine. The timings even better than it could have been with Houston losing Ventura, Altuve and Bregman to the IL today and still being thin on pitching.
White Sox phenom Mercedes is 2 for 2 so far today. 27 year old rookie hitting the cover off the ball is a big go figure, hmm….don’t we have something like that ? First hit is the toughest.
I was wondering why this guy who probably was fighting hard to get a spot on the roster, had a leeway to thumbs up an opponent’s pitch during ST.(which was funny of course)
Turns out he looks like the real deal.
https://twitter.com/R0Oo_171717/status/1371052541094465541?s=19
This seemly new rule of a taxi squad is all you can call up on road games is another of Manfred’s doings. Have the MiLB games even begun? I have no issues with Bemboom but Jay? And a 3b who only our GM and his mother recognize. Yes injuries suck but having ridiculous rules is worse. Yes our offence has tanked unexpectedly but giving the Royals free outs is disturbing and not fair. But I hope the team learned to have a taxi team that can hit the ball.
Good for Rojas and Jay getting hits, maybe this will encourage them to show the top of the order how it’s done.
Walsh can play OF Ball along with 1B. Kind of like that guy playing CF for the Blue team.
This team is good, but in 2014 the Royals were a nightmare and same team different players. The Royals seem to be Trouty’s Kryptonite.
end the Jay era, please
Royals beat the taxi squad but it still counts in the standings.
Really need some rest and reinforcements.
PAIN
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lSPNQ82Sq4E
I pity the fool that has to watch this team.
Hah! I just showed that to my trainer! He’s like 24 and has never heard of Clubber Lang. Now he wants to be Mr T.
Jose Rojas!
Asstro news……almost got a tear in my eye.
https://sports.yahoo.com/astros-lose-jose-altuve-yordan-alvarez-alex-bregman-others-due-to-health-and-safety-protocols-211616709.html
If they have Covid, they will miss the start of their Angels series next week (10 day minimum). Apparently if they have only been “exposed” and don’t have it, they can come back in 7 days.
Karma baby.
1 stinking run? That is all this offense could muster was 1 stinking run? Yeesh.
These made my day not suck.