It is opening day. A day of optimism and hopium. When every team has a chance, even for a moment. Even Angels fans here have some hope. Not for playoffs, or even a winning record really, but that hey, maybe Mike Trout will be Mike Trout again. Or that Soriano can become that Ace. Whatever the optimism is, this is the day for that, and we can all use some of that these days.
Soriano started Opening Day. he went 6 innings, giving up no runs on 2 hits, striking out 7 and walking 4. A marvelous start that ended with him leaving in a 0-0 game.
Mike Trout looked good. He even STOLE A BASE! He hasn’t had double digit SB since 2019. Maybe this year?
Highlighted Recap
It was a pitching duel. And that meant no scoring. The best highlights were stuff like Trout stealing a base, or a strikeout. In fact there were many, MANY strikeouts today. Mike Brown for the Astros struck out 9 Angels despite not even making it through 5 innings.
Jose Soriano did even better, going 6 scoreless. But this meant that it was 0-0 through 6 innings.
In the 7th, it was still 0-0. And Mike Trout was tired of being walked, deciding to hit a Home Run instead.
This was only the 2nd time in modern MLB (since 1901) that a player had 3 walks, a SB, and a home run on Opening Day. This also meant that Soriano was now in line for a win!
Walbert Urena took over in the 7th. Holding a 1-0 lead as his MLB debut.
The offense rewarded him by scoring a 2nd run.
Despite all the Ks, things were looking good for the Angels. Although people were wondering why Nolan was batting 3rd, as he kept not even swinging at strike 3-
Up 3-0, Kurt went to Jordan Romano to close the game. He pulled it off!
Angels win! Their first Road Opening Day Win since 2013.
Upcoming
Angels face the Astros 3 more times as this is a 4 game Opening Day series. Then they go to face the Cubs in Chicago.
