It was 11 AM PDT, 1 PM in Chicago, and it was 22 Freedoms with wind chill at a Baseball game. Those at the game covered up as if it were winter while those back home were watching while thinking about lunch. Could the Angels win in such chilly conditions? Or will their chili dogs freeze as well as their bats?
Kikuchi was on the bump, hoping that his previous experiences in the cold would help. He had played in Seattle, Toronto, and Tokorozawa in the past, and was born and raised in Morioka, all places that get colder than Anaheim or Houston do. Still, Lake Wind Chill was no joke. He went 5 and 1/3 innings, giving up 5 runs on 6 hits, striking out 5 and walking 4. That’s bad. Horrendously bad.
Offensively, the Angels were offensive. Neto was the only one to get on base in the first 4 innings… and he got picked off.
However, the worst was the defense. 2 errors undersells it greatly. Really, it is a shame they aren’t highlight worthy enough to be easily shared because they were bad.
“Highlighted” Recap
Kikuchi had it rough, allowing free passes in each inning. It did not hurt him in inning 1 or 2, but a double in the third allowed a run. A run that was close enough to be challenged, if our manager Suzuki was quick enough. But he wasn’t.
He allowed another hit, for another run.
A sac fly made it 3-0 Cubs
Was it over? NOPE! he continued to get BABIP-ed to death.
And the clumsy fielding allowed even more.
The inning finally ended, as did all hope of Angels fans.
HOWEVER, luck could fall the Angels way. Like a seeing eye single that Jo Adell had to get a run in for the 6th.
And a botched play by Bregman for another one
Kikuchi did last 5 and 1/3 innings, so his 5 runs allowed only mostly sucked instead of all sucked. He ate those innings as well as those Earned Runs.
The bullpen came in and got through the 6th, but gave up one in the 7th. (To be fair… the Angels defense sucks and it was unearned)
Angels struck out a ton this game, and lost badly 6-2.
Upcoming
Angels get the day off tomorrow, and head home to have a home opener vs the Mariners.
