The Angels started the game off in style when Nolan Schanuel singled and Luis Rengifo homered to make it 2-0 Angels.
Unfortunately, Kyle Tucker and Yordan Alvarez responded with back to back solo homers to make it a 2-2 game after one inning. Willie Calhoun had also singled in that inning to no avail.
Here is a nice double play the Angels turned in the bottom of the second.
The Angels batted around until Nolan Schanuel came up again in the third and he singled once again. Unfortunately, this time Rengifo hit into a double play. Then Taylor Ward walked and Willie Calhoun singled to put men at first and second with two outs. Kevin Pillar walked to load them up for Logan O’Hoppe who promptly lined out. Two RISP wasted.
In the fourth inning, Luis Guillorme singled and then Zack Neto doubled to make it 3-2 Angels.
Luis Rengifo also singled to drive in Neto from third base. 4-2 Angels.
Taylor Ward walked to put men at first and second with two outs for Willie Calhoun when unfortunately Rengifo got himself picked off/out by rundown. A third Angels RISP basically wasted himself.
Christian Javier and Griffin Canning were both forced to throw a lot of pitches early by patient batters. Christian Javier only lasted four innings and gave way to Tayler Scott in the fifth. Griffin Canning threw 67 pitches by the end of the fourth inning and only made it through five (85 pitches total).
Carson Fulmer came in to pitch the bottom of the sixth inning. He gave up a two run homer to Jon Singleton to make it a 4-4 tie. There went Griffin Canning’s chance at a win. Oh well.
Kevin Pillar came up in the top of the seventh inning and hit one out to make it 5-4 Angels.
Kyle Tucker answered with a homer in the bottom of the seventh inning off of Luis Garcia to tie it up again at five all. In the top of the eighth inning, Luis Guillorme doubled and Neto got him to third with two outs on a groundout. Nolan Schanuel lined out to strand another runner in scoring position.
Matt Moore came in to pitch the bottom of the eighth inning. He retired the Astros in order with two strikeouts. The Angels went three up three down in the top of the ninth to leave the score tied at 5-5.
Hunter Strickland came in to pitch for Matt Moore. Yainer Diaz doubled on the first pitch he saw. The Astros brought in a pinch runner for Diaz (Mauricio Dubon) and a pinch hitter for Chas McCormick (Victor Caratini). Fortunately, Caratini flied out to Taylor Ward. Jose Altuve popped out, also to left. Kyle Tucker grounded out to second. Holy crap! Hunter Strickland got the job done!
In the tenth, Cole Tucker pinch ran for the ghost runner, Willie Calhoun. Kevin Pillar struck out. So did Logan O’Hoppe. Not to be outdone, Jo Adell struck out on three pitches, although one of those calls was questionable.
Carlos Estevez came in to pitch the bottom of the tenth inning. The Astros also started things off with a Tucker at second. They intentionally walked Yordan Alvarez. Alex Bregman advanced both runners with a flyout to Ward. Jeremy Pena singled to right and the Astros won it walk off style in the tenth at 6-5.
Photo credit: The Astros’ code breaker program
The runner at 2nd in extra innings remains the dumbest rule change in the Manfred era.
I think at the start of the 12th or 13th inning, ghost runners can be in play. Give the teams a shot under normal rules.
Agreed.
The Angels ability to fail at scoring the runner is the dumbest thing since the rule change.
0-3 5+ ERA one third of the season almost gone, it may well be time to promote Strikland. There is 7 weeks until the All Star game, so let’s see who steps up to the plate before promoting Rengifo to represent the Angels. I can add that I O’Hoppe or Neto goes out and plays ALL Star worthy baseball.
The drama for me came to an abrupt end as soon as Estevez came in to pitch. It was this moment that I knew we were going to lose the game. At what point does the manager figure that out?
I agree, and I felt the same thing. Problem is, if Wash promotes Strickland or someone like that then you have Estevez blowing the game up in the 8th instead of the 9th. Really, we need to add at least two and probably three really good options.
Hopefully Joyce will be one. Perhaps when he is healthy Bachmann could be another ??
we have hit a little better than that 0 for 18 w/RISP game but we’re still not all that great at it, which puts us at a disadvantage in extras
As proven since 2016, the Angels will finish in the bottom two thirds W-L record, roll the dice and come up short. Remedy is to finish in bottom 3 or 4 and get a better chance of bringing in a 3b or CF or SP. Wins in another losing season is exactly like pissing into the wind. Just more embarrassment.
Wish we won. Oh well.
Gotta take the series tmrw
Let’s see ……….. Rengifo is still a bonehead error machine, and Estevez is not a closer, and should never be allowed to drink coffee.
Emilio and The Heef sitcom
If we could improve on one thing in addition to the bull pen, it would be putting the ball in play with men in scoring position and make the other team have to make a play.
I thought that is what Washington teaches?
In one ear and out the other, I guess.