Jo Adell singled and then was caught stealing so things looked grim, but the Angels started the scoring in the top of the first today. Things were a little back and forth but the Angels took a late lead and held on to win 3-2.
Jared Walsh singled and made it to second on a fielding error. It sent Brandon Drury to third base. He scored on a Hunter Renfroe groundout. Throw in a couple of walks and Eric Lauer’s first inning was over. Logan O’Hoppe ended the festivities with a strikeout. 1-0 Angels.
Though he had been replaced in the first inning, Eric Lauer came back out to start the second inning. Being a glutton for punishment, he gave Jordyn Adams a one out four pitch walk. A couple of flyouts and a groundout rendered the point moot. Detmers was cruising, though. Six up six down through two.
In the third inning, Brandon Drury doubled to left. Jared Walsh also doubled to left field off of a lefty. 2-0 Angels. After a couple of outs Lauer gave up a four pitch walk to Logan O’Hoppe, but Livan Soto made the third out to end the threat. Detmers went nine up nine down over three innings.
A fielding error and a wild pitch put an Angel on second base with one out in the top of the fourth inning. Jo Adell struck out and William Contreras made an error to put Velazquez at third with two outs. Eric Lauer was removed, this time for good. Brandon Drury struck out. Reid Detmers retired twelve in a row through four innings; the best kind of monotony.
Things definitely settled down for the Angels in the fifth inning. Peter Strzelecki proved to be more effective than Lauer was and the rest of the Brewers remembered how to field. In the bottom of the fifth Luke Voit homered to break up the perfecto. 2-1 Angels. Josh VanMeter got a one out single but Detmers got out of the inning without further scoring.
Joel Payamps came in to pitch for the Brewers and Logan O’Hoppe finally got a hit. It went for naught, though. In the top of the seventh inning Luis Barrera reached on yet another fielding error by the Brewers. A line out and two strikeouts (including an automatic strike three on Adell) ensured there would be no scoring. Carlos Estevez came in in the bottom of the seventh and started walking guys. Blake Perkins singled to drive in a run. 2-2 tie.
In the top of the eighth inning, Chad Wallach singled to start things off. Livan Soto chipped in a single of his own and Wallach made it to third. Andrew Velazquez hit a sacrifice fly to make it 3-2 Angels. Brett Phillips walked to keep the inning alive but Kevin Padlo struck out to end it.
Ryan Tepera came in for thee bottom of the eighth inning and got three quick outs. The Angels went three up three down in the top of the ninth inning. Jacob Webb replaced Ryan Tepera on the mound and struck out three guys to preserve the win. (He did issue a four pitch walk in between).
Photo credit: Rex Fregosi