The good news: the Angels scored 5 runs in the bottom of the 1st inning. They did so on only 3 hits thanks to Walker Buehler walking 4 and plunking 2. You’d figure a 5 run first inning would lead to a win, right?
Well, the team was down 3-0 going into the bottom of the 1st inning thanks to a really shoddy pitching performance by Jack Kochanowicz. Silent C needed GPS to find a sometimes tight strike zone, but unfortunately his Garmin was out of whack today.
Super Stud Zach Neto got 1 of those runs back on his first swing of the game.
Jo Adell later had a hit to drive in Mike Trout from second base. That was the first time I can recall Trout really busting it for two bases since he came back from injury. After Trout scored the second run, the wheels fell off for Buehler. HBP, BB, BB, HBP followed and the Angels ultimately ended the frame with a 5-3 lead.
If you’re a lifelong fan, you know that dreaded feeling of “we’re going to blow this, aren’t we?”
When Boston scored in the 4th to make it 5-4 Angels, that feeling in our stomachs got worse. But then a great double play swung momentum back the Halos way.
Confirmed cheater Alex Cora got the boot for arguing nonsense, giving the home crowd some bonus entertainment.
That feeling in our stomachs got worse when Ryan Zeferjahn gave up a solo shot in the 6th to knot the score at 5-5.
But this group of kids and castoffs has fight. That stomach was about to feel all better
Lamont Wade Jr. singled to lead off the 8th, stole second and advanced to third on a throwing error. Newbie Christian Moore hit a long fly ball to punch him in and give the Angels a 6-5 lead. Angels hitters continued to work walks and scored a key insurance run when Taylor Ward walked with the bases loaded to score Luis Rengifo. Ward walked 4 times tonight, Rengifo 3.
Travis d’Arnaud had another clutch moment and put the game to bed with a 2 out, 2 run single to push the lead to 9-5. If you’re getting up there in age, you know this popped in your head.
Kenley Jansen got warm when it was a 1 run game so he came in to secure the win. It wasn’t a save scenario, but it was key to take the first game of this series on a nigh when Silent C was simply not his best. Unfortunately he left after just 4 pitches.
Hector Neris to the rescue.
Beating Boston is great. I’d love little more in life than to see them go 0-162. So light up that Halo extra bright tonight.
Interesting side note: the Angels used 8 of their own first round picks in this game. Neto, Schanuel, Adell, Trout, Ward, Moore, Detmers, and Bachman
