Caden Dana got his first taste of MLB adversity today. After looking like a future stud in his debut, he looked like a dud early today in Arlington.
On the day Dana would be charged with 5 runs on 7 hits in only one inning. 3 of those 7 hits went over the wall, making it a particularly ugly day for the rookie who should see brighter days as well.
Enter the newly acquired Ryan Zerferjahn, who is also fighting for a roster spot in 2025. The Z Man (we need a better nickname) threw up three zeroes to keep the deficit at 5-0 and give the Angels an opportunity to come back.
The come back started with a 3 run home run off the bat of Charles LeBlanc in the top of the 4th.
The score stayed that way until the top of the 7th, largely thanks to this great catch by Taylor Ward.
The Plumber hit into a fielder’s choice that scored Matt Thaiss in the top of the 7th, cutting the deficit to 5-4. Angels pitching had held the Rangers hitless since Dana departed and momentum seemed to be on their side.
Taylor Ward led off the top of the 8th with a double down the line and the Halos had men on the corners with only one out. Alas, trAdition dictated those runners not score and the team still trailed 5-4 after failing to capitalize on that opportunity.
Momentum swings in baseball are often both swift and brutal. That was the case today. After leaving Taylor Ward stranded at third in the top of the 8th as the tying run, the Angels promptly surrendered a pair of two out runs to push the game out of reach 7-4.
In the 162 game Spring Training view of things: Dana was bad, Zeferjahn was good. Neto had two hits. I can’t imagine anybody else on the field was a question mark for 2025 with Ward and Thaiss the only other players on the field who really fit into the plans for 2025.
