The Angels are back after two days off due the storm and the field being too wet to play on Monday. Most importantly, Mike Trout is back as the Cincinnati Reds come into town for a rare interleague visit. Lucas Giolito got the assignment for the Halos against Graham Ashcraft of the Reds.
The second batter of the game, Matt McLain, got the Reds on the board first with a solo homer. It was a homecoming for McLain, a graduate of Irvine’s Beckman High School. 1-0 Reds.
Rookie sensation Elly De La Cruz stole a base as well, but no more runs were scored.
The Angels joined the long ball party in the 2nd inning, starting with Brandon Drury.
Then Mike Moustakas made it back to back with a solo homer of his own, creating more smoke over the field. 2-1 Angels after 2 innings.
Scoring was on pause until the 5th inning, when Logan O’Hoppe hit yet another solo homer for his first hit since returning from his multi-month injury absence to extend the Angels lead to 3-1.
In the bottom of the 5th the Reds answered back with a vengeance and with a little help from Nolan Schanuel at 1st base showing his inexperience. After a walk and a double, Elly De La Cruz hit a 2-out bouncer to 1st that should’ve been an easy play, but Elly’s speed must’ve spooked Schanuel because the ball bounced off him as he seemed to be already thinking about if he was going to run to step on first or toss the ball to a covering Giolito. This allowed both runners from second and third to score, tying the game at 3.
Then Long Beach’s Spencer Steer doubled to the left field corner with De La Cruz on first which normally when fielded cleanly would’ve resulted in runners at second and third. However, Elly is the fastest baseballer alive so he scored pretty easily, giving Cincy a 4-3 lead.
Giolito pitched 6 innings, allowing 4 runs on 5 hits with 9 K’s, but only one of the runs was earned. Jose Soriano relieved Lucas and pitched a scoreless 7th inning. Unfortunately for the home team, Ashcraft did not allow any more runs in the 6th or 7th.
Dominic Leone continued the scoreless streak with a shutdown 8th, then Sam Moll replaced Ashcraft in the Angels half of the inning getting pinch hitter Escobar out on strikes before Trout legged out in infield hit. Shohei had a chance to be a hero, but he flied out to left. Ian Gibaut then replaced Moll and got Drury out on a grounder to end the inning with no runs scored.
Aaron Loup pitched a scoreless top of the 9th, only allowing a bunt single. Reds closer Alexis Diaz came in and struck out Moustakas before hitting O’Hoppe on the elbow. Moniak pinch ran but then was caught stealing second base and Grichuk grounded out to the player of the game Elly De La Cruz. Reds win 4-3. Double header Shohei Day tomorrow.
Play all the youth. Nothing to lose, now is the time. I’m looking forward to the future…
2028, Team of Destiny.
Tough day for Schanuel defensively that led to 3 Unearned runs resulting in a Loss. The Rook needs to make sure the ball is in glove before running to first. If De La Cruz beats you to first then so be it (Impacted the game with pretty much his insane speed). Too much living and dying by the Home Run for the Angels’ offense.
I don’t think it had anything to do with being young. Players misplay the ball all the time when they’re in a hurry and looking. It just happened at a bad time.
Was there in diamond club tonight so was Percy and Adam Kennedy. You could see Nolan look up to peek at Elly getting up the line clear as day. Speed kills.
Nice humble brag…
“was there in the diamond club” …. just rolls off the keyboard.
😀
btw … the filename of my HH/CtPG avatar is “chillin-in-the-diamond-club”
and yes, I am headless … explains the brainless posts I post.
Artie is farty
3 good things
1. Trout is back
2. The bullpen was ok
3. We didn’t lose 18-4
Your bar is set low 😀
That bar is on the floor
My comment I sent you the other day rings true
Let’s build a team around speed, opportunity, and run manufacturing. Keep Grichuk, and lose Renfroe, let’s acquire a fast guy.
Tommy Edman of the Cardinals……a fast guy, versatility at SS, 2B, 3B plus some power. Plus a team like this is cheaper than a homerun team which is good news for well , never mind!
I miss a prime Gary Pettis
Schanuel – traditional definition of goat
Does it really matter? Isn’t the important thing for him to play and learn? The team is 10 games out of the wildcard. So the kid makes mistakes and hopefully learns from them.
Ah … the guy who is satisfied with every loss
Glad to hear your side
I’m satisfied with nothing. No one here should be satisfied. I hate to see what this team has become with two generational talents. My point only was a young guy has to play. This stupid Org has brought him up way too early. So give the kid a break and what the f does it matter?!
Mixed signals from the team
1 we have a chance
2 trout comes back early
3 let the kids play
Sounds like a tank…. let’s call it that. They’re tanking
But we as smart logical people know the reality. So let the kid play and learn and let’s not get down on someone who has been brought up to MLB stupidly/prematurely. He’s gonna make mistakes.
So many parallels between this season’s MFYankees and the Angels. Rodon pitched well today, but still managed to lose to the last place Nats. Both Judge and Stanton almost hit homeruns, but fell just short. Their ninth loss in a row (first time since 1982). If they are swept by Nats, they will lose 14 in a row because MFYankees will play the Rays at Tropicana next.
Parallel also exists between the Angels and Rangers. Would they be more miserable than Halos if they end up missing the playoffs?
Rangers aren’t missing the playoffs. They might not win the Division but they will make the playoffs.
It will be close between Blue Jays, Mariners, Rangers, and Arstros. Did you look at Rangers September schedule? They have the toughest ones. 3 against Arstros and Mariners and 4 against Blue Jays. Did you look at Mariners schedule? They essentially can coast their way to division title. And I think the Angels will win at least 2 out of 3 from the Rangers to take the season series, too.
Interesting. Don’t you think if Houston or Seattle win the Division, Texas is most likely getting WC1 or 2?
Seattle or Toronto are the two teams most likely vying for WC3.
But if Texas ‘tanks’ and plays .500 from here on out it’s possible they would be WC3.
Will be an interesting September for sure.
They need Moose to play 3B which resulted in a gaping hole at 1B.
Why not play the rookie? They’re desperate for production AND they get to evaluate him for 6 weeks ahead of 2024.
It became necessary after Cron’s injury. (One could argue whether that was a good signing with the injury history/risk, but that is a different conversation.
Yes, this is my point. The Angels have a black hole at 1B and 3B so it makes perfect sense that they opted to go with Moose at 3B and the rookie, by default, at 1B.
Escobar is the backup for both spots.
The handwringing about the rookie being called up “too early” completely ignores the reality that we had no better option at this time.
You’re confusing him with me
Another problem I have with him, every time I see his name I think it’s “Parker Schnabel” and he kinda looks like him.
😂
Can’t that guy pitch? Talk about finding a gold nugget in all these prospects!!!
Angels find new way to lose. Painful.
Honestly, I feel bad for manager Phil. He can truly do no right.
I feel bad for us
Elly De La Cruz 0 for 3 tonight and Squid 0 for 2
9ne of them was a factor in winning the game and one inked himself.
Schanuel, your defense is suspect at best. Time for you to learn some MLB defense. Yeeesh.
The kid cost us this game. It was a painful learning experience. But a learning experience it was… Secure the ball before you go to the base.
Yep. Signature sign of a losing e team not headed to the playoffs. A leash long enough to allow a guy drafted in July to struggle on a big league roster.
Flush the turd of a game. This team will NEVER be successful trying to hit home runs in every at bat. They look like incompetent idiots up there swinging out of their shoes.
As I mentioned yesterday, the Angels should have played in muddy field to prevent Ella and his friends from stealing (puns intended) this game.
Good old fashioned eye test……long before computers, fancy new stats and metrics, eye ball test 162 times told you a lot. The eye test with this team, says they will find a way to lose. Unfortunate and untimely, don’t finish innings, don’t finishing ABs, don’t finish off hitters. Not very good at any one thing, most nights the other team is in control. They dictate the action, are better prepared.
Poorly managed, poorly coached, out scouted, fundamentally unsound, If they bring back this same group or at least not find someone (new Manager) who can put it together (a better prepared team), we will have the same results next season. And obviously need to come up with a better plan for minor league development. Who ever is responsible for Jordan Adams development defensively should have been fired yesterday. Who ever told Phillip that Adams strength was his defense, should have been fired yesterday.
It’s embarrassing to be a fan of this team.
“Does it really matter? Isn’t the important thing for them to play and learn? The team is 10 games out of the wildcard. So the team makes mistakes and hopefully learns from them.”
I said ‘him’ not ‘them’ referring to the rookie not the whole team. You changed the quote. Fake news! 😃
😂