The Angels play 2 today, the first one at 1pm this early afternoon. As a day game after a night game, Maddon-omics dictate that the best players must take the first game off. Ohtani didn’t, of course, because he insists so much, but no Trout, or Ward, or Rendon in the sun today.
That’s not good for Jhonathan Diaz, who was called up to pitch the game, making it known to everyone that the Angels will refuse to allow any of their starting pitchers to pitch twice in a week. He went 4 and 2/3 innings, giving up no runs and 1 hit(that should have been caught), striking out 4 and walking 4.
The B Team offense still managed to score, somehow. Sure, the A’s aren’t good this year, but the pitchers are STILL MLB arms. They did get assists in the 8th by the A-Team, and like said team, came in clutch to seal the win.
Highlighted Recap
The Angels struck first, getting a run in the first thanks to an Ohtani grounder that scored Marsh.
Diaz looked good right away, but part of that was due to his defense.
While Diaz didn’t make it to 5 innings, he kept the A’s off the board and turned it over to the bullpen to get 13 outs. The Angels offense, meanwhile, was also finding out difficult to get anything together, making it a tense pitching duel.
Things finally broke in the 7th, as the A’s had actual hits against Angels pitching, scoring a run and tying it up at 1.
With a tied game, Maddon used his big guns, having Trout pinch hit! Well, pinch IBB, but also Rendon pinch hit,nand actually hit! Driving in another run!
Velazquez then hit in another run, kinda, as Trout submit clutched but made it home anyway.
The bullpen held the lead and gave it to D-Cell. With two outs in the 9th things got scary, as a double and a walk put two on.
Aaand D-Cell blew the game, giving up a 3 run home run, losing the game.
Angels are now going to take a break and will be back out there for another game! Hopefully it goes better this time.
