The Angels got off to a good start once the rain stopped. Taylor Ward doubled and made it to third on a fly ball out by Zach Neto. Nolan Schanuel singled him in to make it 1-0 Angels. It was basically a swinging bunt, but it got the job done.
Kevin Pillar walked and Logan O’Hoppe lined out. The Tigers pitcher balked to advance the runners to second and third, but Anthony Rendon struck out to end the threat. The Tigers could not score in the bottom of the first inning so The Mighty Brandon Drury led off the second inning. One pitch, one out. Jo Adell came up. Two pitches, two outs. Jack Lopez took his time and saw six pitches before grounding out.
Everybody on both teams kept going down in order until Anthony Rendon walked in the top of the fourth inning to bring up Brandon Drury with a man on and two outs. He hit into a force out. Ho hum. Parker Meadows tripled to start off the bottom of the fourth inning. The ball should have been caught but Ward and Pillar apparently had communication issues. Matt Vierling doubled (plus an error by Adell) to end up at third base. 1-1 tie. Kerry Carpenter hit a ball to Neto that ate him up. Ole! 2-1 Tigers. It was ruled a hit. Neto did make this awesome catch in the fourth to put out Colt Keith.
Jo Adell tripled to lead off the fifth inning.
Don’t get too excited. Jack Lopez was up next. He struck out swinging. Taylor Ward scored Adell on a sac fly to center. 2-2 tie.
Zach Neto doubled with two outs. Unfortunately, Nolan Schanuel grounded out to center.
Jake Rogers homered to reclaim the lead in the fifth inning. 3-2 Tigers.
The Tigers brought in Brenan Hanifee to replace Brant Hurter on the mound for the sixth inning. The Angels did nothing. Riley Greene homered for the Tigers to make it 4-2 Tigers in the sixth inning. Matt Vierling walked. Kerry Carpenter also homered to make it 6-2 Tigers. Johnny Cueto was removed from the game in favor of Brock Burke. I had to check to make sure how to spell Burke’s name. You can’t tell the players without a scorecard.
The Angels brought in Ryan Miller in relief. He recorded his first major league strikeout against Jake Rogers.
Not a whole lot of interesting stuff occurred after this. The Angels brought in Ryan Zeferjahn for the anti-close. In his defense, I am sure the theory is that he keeps the game close so the Angels can come back in the ninth. He did so.
Can the Angels come back though? That’s the question. Pillar= lineout. Logan O’Hoppe= strikeout. Anthony Rendon= single. Brandon Drury= hit by pitch. Jo Adell= force out. End of game. The Angels lost 6-2.
Photo credit: Rex Fregosi
