Bullpen Postgame Sept. 24, 2023

Andrew Wantz started off the festivities today after Tyler Anderson went on the injured list. The Angels also had recently called up Carson Fulmer available, although he didn’t appear in the above video.

Nothing really happened in the first inning. Jo Adell doubled in the top of the second inning with two outs but Michael Stefanic struck out in keeping with the best Angels LOBsterfest tradition. Alex Kirillof singled and Matt Wallner walked to put men at first and second for the Twins. Trevor Larnach singled on the ground through the right side to score Kirillof. 1-0 Twins after two.

David Fletcher singled and Zach Neto got a two out single to create an opportunity for Brandon Drury who doubled to score two. 2-1 Angels.

Carson Fulmer came in to pitch the bottom of the third inning for his first major league appearance since 2021. He served up a nice big old fat home run to Jorge Polanco to make it a 2-2 tie. Max Kepler singled and got advanced to second on a wild pitch. Matt Wallner got hit by a pitch. Fulmer somehow got out of the situation without further scoring, though.

Carson Fulmer’s second inning of work went a little better than his first leaving the score at 2-2. Brett Phillips struck out in the top of the fifth inning but Randal Grichuk and Zach Neto hit back to back doubles to put the Angels ahead 3-2.

Neto was then caught trying to steal third base. Brandon Drury grounded out to end the top of the fifth. The Twins challenged a double play involving a Zach Neto “neighborhood” put out and the call was overturned. It didn’t matter since the Angels got out of the inning with no further scoring.

In the bottom of the sixth, Matt Wallner singled. Ryan Jeffers got a one out triple to tie it at 3-3. Trevor Larnach hit an RBI ground out to make it 4-3 Twins while the rain began falling. Buttercup incoming!

After a rain delay of just under an hour, Louie Varland came in to pitch to Michael Stefanic who reached safely on an infield hit. David Fletcher hit a sac bunt to advance Stefanic to second. Brett Phillips struck out. Randal Grichuk also struck out. Jose Marte came in to pitch for the Angels. He walked Eduard Julien on four pitches. After a Jorge Polanco flyout, Max Kepler hit a second deck homer to make it 6-3 Twins. Marte obviously got the memo. Matt Wallner hit a two out rain-assisted double followed by a Kyle Farmer single. 7-3 Twins. Ryan Jeffers also homered. 9-3 Twins.

In the top of the eighth inning, Logan O’Hoppe and Mike Moustakas both singled. It was all for nought. In the bottom of the eighth inning, Jaime Barria came in to pitch. Can he be worse than Marte? No. He retired the Twins in order. In the top of the ninth inning, Kody Funderburk came in to pitch for the Twins. He walked Michael Stefanic on four pitches. David Fletcher struck out. Pinch hitter Eduardo Escobar grounded a base hit to right. After a Grichuk flyout, Zach Neto fouled a ball off his left leg and spent a long time on his knees. Then he got hit by a pitch. Damn Bro! Bases loaded. Brandon Drury struck out. Game over.

Photo credit: Rex Fregosi