Reid Detmers got off to a rocky start and the defense behind him let him down. Meanwhile Cardinals starter Sonny Gray was cruising for the first few innings. And then everything changed.
Following another noodle armed throw from Cole Tucker to allow the first run of the game, the Cardinals doubled their lead to 2-0 early. Then Pedro Pages cracked his first MLB hit.
Down 5-0 and with Sonny Gray cruising, it was easy for Angels fans to check out of this one. But if you did, you missed some serious fight.
Logan O’Hoppe is probably the best reason for Angels fans to come to the ballpark. And he brought the Angels to within one run with a huge blast in the bottom of the fourth.
Down one and with plenty of game left, the Angels were in this thing. Time for veteran Taylor Ward to step up and get the job done.
It was a brand new game after 5 innings. All knotted at 5 runs apiece, the Cardinals stuck with Sonny Gray. He loaded the bases with two out in the bottom of the sixth but was able to get Nolan Schanuel to strike out and strand the runners.
Unfortunately skipper Ron Washington was forced to go to the bullpen. It was Amir Garrett’s turn to bring the fossil fuels to the mound and he immediately gave up a two run bomb to blow the lead.
But the Angels kept on fighting. They must’ve known our own Lana was in the stands tonight. RBI machine Kevin Pillar knocked in Taylor Ward in the 7th to cut the deficit to 7-6.
Zach Neto cracked a double down the right field line and Kyren Paris worked a walk on a full count pitch clock violation in the 8th. The tying and winning runs were on base and both guys can fly. Cardinals reliever Jojo Romero was falling behind in counts as he was unable to locate his slider in the strike zone. Nolan Schanuel took a slider low to load the bases with one out.
Luis Guillorme whiffed on a bunt, hanging Neto out to dry on a squeeze attempt. Two on, two out. Calling for the squeeze when the reliever is missing low and away with his slider wasn’t a smart move and cost the Angels a chance to tie the game as Guillorme struck out to strand the runners. I’m not sure if Romero threw way outside expecting the squeeze or due to lack of control, but either way it killed any chance of a rally.
PIllar reached to bring O’Hoppe to the plate as the winning run with 2 outs in the bottom of the 9th. This team really didn’t quit tonight. Logan was unable to come through and the Cardinals won 7-6.
In a year in which we are trying to compete this game would be a buttercup. In a year in which we’re hoping to see growth, O’Hoppe, Schanuel, Neto, and Paris all come through in big moments. Carson Fulmer deserves some props for pitching scoreless 8th and 9th innings.
Okay, burn the page!
Wash was delusional in the post game. Said Romero was throwing strikes. Blamed the player for failing to execute a stupid plan.
Really lost respect for him there.
You can be direct but take it behind closed doors, Ron, Don’t need to prove yourself to the media and fans.
I don’t think it’s about any of that. He’s a cantankerous old school dude in his 70’s that is in “fuck it, I’m letting it flow” mode. It’s his last job.
As a fan, it’s nothing if not entertaining. And refreshing. Fuck coach speak.
We still have the cloak of fuck exemption tonight, right?
He’s trying to prove himself and maybe he’s realizing this team is not going to allow that. Seems like he might be putting his personal goals ahead of anything else. A manager calling out a player in the press like that….its…..well it’s not good.
He has lost his mind. Totally unhinged.
That’s how you lose the clubhouse (it was prob lost well before this , tho)
I agree. Did you see the way he iced Neto after the failed squeeze when he returned to the dugout like it was his fault. I don’t see how he can manage the team any more.
I’m barely watching games anymore because I find this to be a miserable , hopeless exercise.
But hey, at least it’s May!
I think he would have looked a lot better saying, something like, “We have to do this before two strikes. With the bases juiced, you have to run it as a suicide, but also know that the pitcher doesn’t want to fall behind. Didn’t want a double play, and he controls the bat well. The pitch was off the plate and a tough pitch to bunt, but we have to make extraordinary effort to protect the runner and get that down. I think the decision was right, but we didn’t execute.”
By the way Guillorme’s form on a squeeze for a lefty was terrible. He opened up his front foot which limits his outside plate coverage, the thing you have to protect as a lefty. You can wear a ball in, but you need to be able to react out.
Good point on the form – he did appear late on the execution as well. Maybe it was a botched call.
But he did need a 50 inch bat to reach that thing no matter his batting form.
Ward 1 home run and less than 5 RBIs in a month, he just cannot make the next step up.
He gets off to crazy hot starts then crashes to Earth every year. Normally he has another hot spurt or two in him, though.
Tantalizes but yeah, usually has one more thrust somewhere
Thank you for bringing him up. I always can the box score stats. His OBP is only .315 (I think).
Dry spells occur, but his our lengthy and he doesn’t draw walks or run well to supplement his game.
More importantly, he’s miscast as the 3/4 hitter. He would be a 6/7 guy on a better team.
Inspired write up, Jeff.
Positives:
O’Hoppe. Our all-around best building block? Perhaps. Maldonado clearly thinks highly of him.
Schanny. 2 hit, 1 walk and 1 rbi.
Pillar. Playing well enough to keep Mickey on the pine. Trade him to the 1st team that calls. The iron may never be hotter.
Adell. This is where it becomes pivotal: How does he work thru slumps whilst playing everyday.::
We might need to draft all pitchers. Again.
Thanks.
Hahahaha wash is pissed off in this presser.. throwing poor Guillllorme under the bus. He was apparently unaware that the pitcher was wild and had walked the previous hitter and gone to 4 straight 3 ball counts.
Nevin is probably saying “Miss me yet?”
Never thought it could worse, but a quarter of the way into the new season, here we are.
Washington throws his player under the bus. What a turd.
Wash’s honestly is easily his best attribute.
Coach speak is nauseating.
He wasn’t honest about his own stupidity.
Missing the point. Wether he’s right or wrong is secondary to the fact that he saying what’s on his mind vs. canned responses.
Mmmm I’m not so sure. Honesty is one thing. Calling out a player in the press is something quite different. While it’s technically “honest” it leads to player distrust of their manager which is never good.
Yep. Until now I’ve been enthusiastic about Wash and what changes he might bring. But this latest thing isn’t a good look, and he may have just lost the respect of the clubhouse, which is game over.
Thanks Jeff. You nailed the article perfectly.
Thanks.
…and I thought the Cardinals were tanking
…and fade to the old Halos war cry, “Avoid the sweep!”
Ron must have been seeing tracers or something. Fuck him for that stupid aqueeze play.
GA too GA to slam Washington.
Yeah, I can’t see GA bashing anyone.
F bombs used to describe Ron Washington’s game management in this thread are exempt from the 1 per month rule.
Have at it.
Sorry you had to write this recap. It’s bad enough for the rest of us but it’s gotta be worse for you having to think of what to say.
Jeff was so gracious. He’s a class act.
This one was actually pretty fun. The team fought back and the players I think will be the next core did well.
Wash blows as hard as our bullpen, though.
Thanks Ron! That was some real fancy strategerizing there.
I think Scioscia called the dugout phone. Maybe we should change the number.