This team tends to play to the level of its opposition. And while the White Sox have played better baseball as of late, the Tampa Bay Rays are actually above .500 and in the Wild Card race. So of course the Angels are able to beat the better team.
Jo Adell got the Angels on the board early with his 22nd home run of the year. This shot to left erased a 1 run deficit and put the Angels on top 2-1.
Yusei Kikuchi gave up a run to the Rays in the top of the first but then settled down nicely. He went 6 innings giving up only that 1 run while striking out 7 Rays. Walks are often a problem for Kikuchi but he only handed out 2 free passes on the night. He had to battle in the first and third innings, but he limited the damage and dominated in his final 3 frames. All in all, a really nice outing by the Angels best starter.
After scoring 2 in the bottom of the second inning, the Angels doubled their run total in the bottom of the third on this Taylor Ward single. When Trout touched home plate, that notched 100 RBI for Ward on the season.
The Angels could have added even more runs in the 3rd inning if not for an outstanding play by Rays left fielder Jake Mangum.
The score held at 4-1 until the home half of the 6th inning. That’s when Zach Neto’s double scored Bryce Teodosio, who had a heck of a game. On the night, the newest Angels outfielder had 3 hits including a double and a run scored. The kid has some serious wheels and it would be great if he can stick at the MLB level.
Birthday boy Burke pitched a scoreless 7th inning and Ryan Zerferjahn put up a 0 in the 8th. Conor Brogdon handled the 9th inning and brought the win home.
Light up the Halo! Angels win the opening game of the series.
You again
So are you ready to sell your soul on Jack Kohanwicz and Kyle Hendricks plus Taylor Ward probably not being back?
Anything can happen, but probably won’t
Another week has passed and we are…. 5 games back of the wild card with four teams to overtake. So there’s our All In Update.
Koochi still lookin good. We should trade him this winter but we won’t.
Offense is still sputtering though. Ward almost has his OPS up to 800, which in Honk Math is the same as 1000. Digging Teodosio’s energetic style though. Hope he does well the rest of the way. Hope Cmo gets that average over .200 at some point and then comes in next year with some ideas. It would be REALLY cool if Adell and Nolan broke that 800 OPS barrier too. Come on bois. You can do it.
Kikuchi looks like a solid rotation guy for the next few years. Trading him would leave a gaping hole. Why would they trade him? Is it all about supposed hot young prospects that would be available maybe in 2028, if they are even good? Teams need actual proven guys that can play now too.
I concur. He’s savvy and his FB is still 94-96. Good pitcher.
I wouldn’t trade Kikuchi for babe rooth
BTW Zack Wheeler and Tarik Skubul both suck.
Taylor Ward is better than Aaron Judge and Pete Alonso.
Wardy on pace for 100 rbi? Only 84 after 2nite (according to Gameday)
He can crack 100 RBIs in two months. Only issue is, who cares? He still has an OPS+ under 120. he is basically Alejandro Kirk, Brendan Donovan, Tyler Soderstrom or Kyle Manzardo. All those guys are quality players, but cmon…. they aren’t good the way Honks on TV are trying to make 100 RBIs sound in Wards case.
I was just questioning the stat in the write-up
Maybe misread his stats – 100 hits on the season
That’s exactly what happened.
The broadcast kept mentioning RBI and I let it creep into my head.
Growing up 100 rbis was the bare minimum for a num 3 – 5 hitter.
Actually crazy to think he only has 84 with 26 HR’s.
Most Angels have HRs x 2 plus a few extra because not enough players are on base. Look at O’Hoppe or Trout.
Angels and Solo HR go together like Cans and Corn.
Teo sounds like he put on a show tonight. I’ll have to go back and watch the middle innings I missed.
Ward is at 84 RBI right? Not 100 yet.
Teodosio, stepping up in his opportunity in the bigs. I like what I saw tonight.
He looks solid and he is FAST.
If we win again tomorrow, it’s called a “winning streak”… It has happened before!