It went about as we’ve come to expect from Roansy Contreras. Bring up the next guy.
Second batter of the game, Josh Smith, homered to make it 1-0 Rangers. Here we go again! Nolan Schanuel doubled out of the two hole in reply. He stole third while Taylor Ward was striking out, but Keston Hiura lined out to end the inning.
In the second, Brandon Drury, batting all of .185 struck out to go down to .180. Thank goodness we no longer have to worry about Miguel Sano batting .205 at third. That would suck. On the positive side, Logan O’Hoppe homered to tie the game 1-1.
Andrew Kizner and Derek Hill both singled to start off the third inning. Marcus Semien doubled in a run to make it 2-1 Rangers. Corey Seager got an intentional walk. Josh Smith singled. 3-1 Rangers. Roansy Contreras got replaced on the mound by Hunter Strickland. Strickland gave up a sacrifice fly to Wyatt Langford. 4-1 Rangers.
The Angels half of the third started inauspiciously with Jo Adell striking out to drag his average down to .183. Anthony Rendon doubled. Nolan Schanuel also doubled to drive in Rendon. 4-2 Rangers.
Taylor Ward singled to right plus was gifted with a defensive error that scored Schanuel. 4-3 Rangers. Taylor Ward was thrown out at third base. The scorers eventually took away his run batted in.
Keston Hiura just grounded out to third. Oh well!
Texas did nothing in the fourth inning. Brandon Drury was out again on a grounder to Scherzer. Logan O’Hoppe homered again. 4-4 tie.
The Rangers failed to score in the fifth inning. Ben Joyce mowed them down. The Angels also failed to score, unfortunately.
The Rangers went down 1, 2, 3 in the sixth. So did the Angels.
Luis Garcia came in to pitch for the Angels in the seventh inning. He issued a two out walk to Marcus Semien who later advanced to second on a wild pitch. Corey Seager got another intentional walk before Josh Smith grounded out to end the Rangers half of the inning. Logan O’Hoppe settled for a single in the bottom of the seventh. Zach Neto singled to send O’Hoppe to second. Jo Adell flied out. At least the runners each advanced one base. Jose Leclerc came in to replace Max Scherzer on the mound. Anthony Rendon walked to load the bases. Nolan Schanuel grounded out to first.
In the eighth inning Luis Guillorme came in to bat in Keston Hiura’s spot and play third base. Brandon Drury moved over to second. Adolis Garcia then homered to right center to make in 5-4 Rangers. Nathaniel Lowe grounded out and then Matt Moore came in to pitch and struck out Leody Taveras. David Robertson came in to pitch against the Angels. The Angels went three up, three down.
Derek Hill singled with one out to put a Ranger on in the ninth inning. Marcus Semien and Corey Seager both flied out to left. Kirby Yates came in to replace Robertson on the mound. Logan O’Hoppe grounded out to short. Mickey Moniak struck out. Zach Neto singled on the ground to left field. Jo Adell struck out looking to end the ball game. The Angels lost 5-4.
Photo credit: Rex Fregosi
Just a reminder to all of us Xanax Halo fans:
Schanuel has basically hasn’t even completed a year of MiLB at the MLB level yet. He will end up being a gamer, but wow what a gamble by the Halos.
Schanuel is a keeper.
Well, at least Scherrrrrrzer didn’t get the win and he gave up two dingers and four runs….
Oh, what a sad rallying cry that is.
Adell strikes out looking to end the game. Fitting for this 2024 season.
We wasted Sano’s pitching potential
But, can he hit….wait a sec….
Ohoppe looks like the character I used to make in my mlb video games
Vs Scherzer
Not to bad.
The Angels’ GM position, and maybe that of all teams, is similar to the President’s press secretary. That is, lie, lie, lie to protect your boss.
It was clear what we needed in the off-season and by the time we began playing it was clear we weren’t gonna get it because Arte wasn’t going to allow Perry to spend past a certain amount.
Poor Perry had to pretend “building the bullpen” was the objective, even though the pen is ….well, you know..
I feel kind of bad for him because he wasn’t allowed to do his job properly. I expect he’ll get fired after the season (technically not extended) as Arte will never blame himself..
Laying money PTP will still be the GM starting spring training in 2025….IMHO.
No doubt. You can certainly make a case for his firing but I doubt Arte wants to go through another hiring process especially with some of PTP’s young acquisitions showing some level of competence. We have another big draft starting Sunday and with the Angels largest signing pool in history coupled with the fact that the Angels are giving out record bonuses in the international market again (Post Baldoquin and Maitan eras of course ) ithe Angels really need to focus on these kids’ development.
Short of hiring a POBO to oversee everything ( With Arte I doubt that would ever happen) I just dont see any major changes in the Baseball front office anytime soon.
I won’t go beyond that. Probably gets a 2 year deal, maybe an option year, little luck, he’ll get another contract. He’s done barely enough. Just a hunch, Arte probably isn’t in the mood to GM shop. IMO Perry has taken a completely rudderless 1000 foot tanker ship and has turned it around….its now facing in the right direction, it’s anchored and motionless in safe harbor. And he is waiting for parts to fix the ships steering and engine, in hopes that it finally can move forward in the right direction. Needs a little luck from the baseball Gods to push us into open waters.
Runsy Contreras doesn’t appear to be an answer to our pitching problems.
Expiring contract drury loves Disneyland so much he’s made himself untradeable.
O’Hoppe is quite the ballplayer. Best player on the team, by far.
Neto is still very promising but, he must take the next step and get to .270 / .320
Adell & Moniak – Sad face.
Schanuel @ .240. Ward @ .238
We really can’t start anyone aside from Contreras?
Logan O., might be a superstar in the making. The kid’s future Q Rating is going to be through the roof….bought stock, and buying more.
Extension!!
So they need to Blue Pill him?
Schanuel is trending well last 100-ish AB’s. 15 walks. .280/.360/.420-ish slash line. He might still be OK.
I looked at splits last night. It’s not just last 7 or 10 games. It’s last 30 games.
That’s encouraging and he’s only 22. He gets some leash as far as I’m concerned.
Yes, Schanuel is trending upwards which is great to see. My comment was more directed at Ward hitting .238. This would be a good time for him to get hot.