This game was the all too typical Canning start where he spotted the Braves with four runs in the first two innings. It was a typical Chris Sale start in that the Angels bats were largely silent.
Inning #1
Michael Harris II led off with a double. Then Austin Riley singled to put men at first and third with no outs. Marcell Ozuna homered to deep center to make it 3-0 Braves with no outs in the first. Matt Olson struck out and Travis d’Arnaud popped out to Neto. Ramon Laureano grounded out to third base.
Taylor Ward struck out looking. Zach Neto flied out to center. Nolan Schanuel singled to center field and then Kevin Pillar struck out swinging.
Inning #2
Jarred Kelenic flied out to center field. Orlando Arcia singled to Pillar in center. Whit Merrifield grounded into a force out to new guy Jack Lopez at second base. Merrifield stole second base and then Michael Harris II singled to make it 4-0 Braves. Austin Riley then popped out to Drury at third.
Logan O’Hoppe walked to lead off the second inning. Brandon Drury hit into a force out to short. Jo Adell struck out. Michael Stefanic lined a single into center field. Jack Lopez struck out.
Inning #3
Marcell Ozuna singled to center. Matt Olson flied out to Ward in left field. Travis d’Arnaud hit into a double play. Taylor Ward singled on a liner to right. Zach Neto walked. Then Nolan Schanuel lined into a double play. Kevin Pillar struck out looking.
Inning #4
Ramon Laureano struck out swinging. Jarred Kelenic struck out looking. Orlando Arcia popped out to short. Logan O’Hoppe stuck out swinging. Brandon Drury grounded out and then Jo Adell struck out swinging.
Inning #5
Whit Merrifield homered to left field. 5-0 Braves. Michael Harris II singled on a liner to right. The hits just keep on coming. Austin Riley lined out to left. Marcell Ozuna walked. Griffin Canning was lifted from the game in favor of Mike Baumann. Matt Olson flied out to left. Travis d’Arnaud doubled to make it 7-0 Braves. Ramon Laureano homered to make it 9-0 Braves. I guess the Braves like Baumann. Jarred Kelenic walked. Orlando Arcia flied out to Adell in right.
Michael Stefanic lined out to left field. Jack Lopez flied out to center field. Taylor Ward struck out swinging.
Inning #6
Whit Merrifield hit a fly to Ward that was ruled a catch after review.
Michael Harris II also flied out to Ward. Austin Riley struck out swinging. Zach Neto struck out looking. Nolan Schanuel singled on a liner to right field. Kevin Pillar doubled in Schanuel to make it 9-1 Braves.
Logan O’Hoppe struck out swinging. Kevin Pillar scored on a wild pitch by Chris Sale. 9-2 Braves.
Brandon Drury singled on a line drive to center field. Jo Adell lined out to center.
Inning #7
Marcell Ozuna singled on a grounder through to center. Matt Olson flied out for the first out and then Travis d’Arnaud reached on a hit by pitch. Jose Cisnero walked Ramon Laureano on four pitches. Jarred Kelenic hit into a force out that scored two thanks to a throwing error by Zach Neto. 11-2 Braves. Orlando Arcia then grounded out to Neto.
Pierce Johnson came in to pitch for Chris Sale. Michael Stefanic grounded out to second. Jack Lopez reached on a throwing error by Whit Merrifield. Taylor Ward singled on a line drive to left. Then Zach Neto hit into a double play to end the inning.
Inning #8
Whit Merrifield flied out to left again. Michael Harris II struck out swinging. The Angels brought in Hans Crouse to replace Jose Cisnero on the mound. Austin Riley struck out swinging. Jimmy Herget came in to pitch for the Braves. Nolan Schanuel promptly doubled. Kevin Pillar singled and Schanuel scored again. 11-3 Braves.
Logan O’Hoppe struck out. Brandon Drury struck out looking. Jo Adell reached on a ball hit toward Herget, deflected, and eventually ruled a single. At least he didn’t give up on this one. Michael Stefanic struck out swinging.
Inning #9
Pinch hitter Luke Williams grounded out to first. Matt Olson walked. Sean Murphy, batting in d’Arnaud’s place, struck out. Ramon Laureano doubled; driving Olson to third. Jarred Kelenic then flied out to left. Jack Lopez and Taylor Ward both struck out swinging. Zach Neto doubled on a liner to left field. Nolan Schanuel flied out to the shortstop Arcia to end the game. The Angels lost badly.
Photo credit: Rex Fregosi