It was the first game of the Freeway Series, Canning vs Miller, a real test for the regular season. The Dodgers had the advantage of having played 2 real games already, but also having a good team. All the Angels could hope for would be getting them late with scrubs vs scrubs. Either that or just be typical Spring Angels, since, for some reason, the Angels play the Dodgers well this spring anyway.
Canning went 4 and 2/3 innings giving up 4 runs on 3 hits, walking 2 and striking out 8. If he was just trying to fine tune his put away pitches, he did a good job.
Alas, Miller had the Angels stumped, as the Angels did not score on him, or most of the Dodgers bullpen. But at least they did score in the 7th to keep it from being a shutout. Alas, it was not enough and the Angels lost the first game of the Freeway Series.
Highlighted Recap
The pain started in the 2nd, when Canning gave up a double to Heyward, bringing in the first run of the game.
Two more immediately scored as Canning gave up a bloop to Lux.
A walk with the bases loaded would score the 4th run of the game. 4-0 Dodgers.
It was quiet after that on both sides until the 7th, when Neto hit an RBI triple that the Dodgers failed to overturn on replay.
After an RBI groundout by Sano, Jake Marisnick, of all people, drove in one more more with a double and it was a game now.
That run was given back immediately, however, as a sac fly made it 5-3 Dodgers in the bottom of the 7th.
Anyway, Angels lose, but this doesn’t technically count, so whatever.
Upcoming
Two more Freeway Series Games. Tomorrow at Dodger Stadium at a more reasonable time of 6 PM and at Angel Stadium on Tuesday just after 6 PM. The Series can still be won. Eh, have a drink, we will need it.
A Postgame thread?
For the Angels to have any chance to exceed last year’s win total, a lot of things have to go right. Neto, O’Hoppe and Schanuel need to be the real deal. Trout needs a comeback season. Rendone needs to at least be productive. The pitching has to hold up with Sandy, Canning and Detmers being at least good all season. It’s a lot to ask. Not impossible but baseball is a long season and you have to count on things going wrong. The lack of depth and a decent farm system puts a lot of pressure on things to go repeatedly right.
I’m looking forward to the opportunity to prove (or disprove) these theories. Sports is supposed to be fun, so lets have some fun, shall we?
Save the vitriol for the criminals in government, media, academia and big pharma.
No vitriol. Just what I see. Sports are not always fun. They also can be frustrating and run the gamut from thrilling to bumming and everything in between. I see what I see and am not going to get psyched for a team where I just don’t see much potential.
Canning pitched far better tha the box score indicates. Shit happened.
I was running “Lets Go -Angels” noise in my section and caught zero shit from doyer fans
Well I was out since my comment early on the gamethread and I signed on to see what happened. No one has even commented here yet, which tells me how it went…
2GA2 ☑ ?
Halos mercy ruled the Blew Crew.