I don’t think any of us mentioned Mitch Farris in our farm updates until about two weeks ago. Somewhat of an afterthought after being the 812th trade with the Atlanta Braves, Farris quietly settled into AA and put up middling baseline numbers with nice K rates.
Today, on a day the Angels really needed it, Farris put up his second consecutive good outing at the MLB level.
That’s 3 earned runs in 11 innings to begin his big league career. Impressively, Farris has only walked 3 hitters while striking out 7. The K’s might not be matriculating to the MLB level, but the lack of free passes is a nice sign for a young pitcher.
Offensively, Farris was supported by Jo Adell, who cracked his 35 HR of the season in the bottom of the first inning. Yoan Moncada was on base when the ball left the yard and the Angels were staked to an early 2-0 lead.
Sacramento cracked a bomb in the 3rd to cut the lead in half but Bryce Teodosio hit a ground rule double in the bottom of the 4th. The score held at 3-1 Angels until the 7th inning. Farris was kept in the game and allowed a solo shot to Tyler Soderstrom that cut the lead to 3-2.
The Angels had a good scoring chance in the bottom of the frame but stranded two runners when Taylor Ward flew out to left to end the inning.
Reid Detmers had a rough outing and coughed up the lead in the top of the 8th inning. He was fortunate to only allow the A’s to tie the game as the third out was recorded on an absolute hanger of a curve ball with a runner on base. The pitch was lofted to right field where Jo Adell caught it.
Of note, Chris Taylor was hit by pitches twice today then had to dive out of the way of another pitch in the 8th. Yoan Moncada was also hit twice by pitches. Logan O’Hopped had even worse luck, being hurt by a follow through while behind the plate. Logan also scorched a ball that resulted in a double play.
Oswald Peraza was drilled just after Chris Taylor’s dive in the top of the 8th and some word were exchanged. None of the hit by pitches looked intentional but at some point you have to control the ball if you’re going to pitch inside.
5 hit by pitches is a new Angels team record.
All of that pain led to Travis d’Arnaud hitting a long fly ball to right center field to cash in Chris Taylor and give the Angels a 4-3 lead in the bottom of the 8th. After the A’s intentionally walked Zach Neto to load the bases they went with sidearmer Michael Kelly. Ray Montgomery countered by removing Teodosio’s defense to gamble on Luis Rengifo’s left handed bat.
Rengifo predictably struck out, leaving the Angels defensively compromised and with a 1 run lead. To be fair, Mike Trout had a chance to extend the lead and flew out to center to end the inning.
4-3 Angels after 8 innings meant Kenley Jansen came in for the save. The Angels took the field minus Jo Adell with no word on his health status. Chris Taylor manned center and Matthew Lugo took over in right.
Only Taylor Ward needed to make a play as Jansenshut the door on the A’s. Light that baby up and get ready for the Twins tomorrow.
