Halos Daily

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Game 71: Mariners Squash Angels in Extras

June 19th, 2013

Joe Blanton struck out a career high 11 batters Tuesday night.

Final Score: Mariners 3, Angels 2 (10 Innings)

Halos Daily Player of the Game: Joe Blanton (6.2 IP, 6 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 11 SO)

A day after beating Seattle to reclaim sole possession of third place in the AL West, the Angels once again squandered any potential momentum with a 3-2 extra inning loss to the Mariners.

The Mariners were the first to get on the board, leading off the top of the second with back-to-back solo home runs from Raul Ibanez and Justin Smoak to take a 2-0 lead.

The Angels cut that lead in half during the bottom half of the inning when Mark Trumbo led off with a solo home run to left-center field.

Trumbo’s home run would be the last run either team scored until the eighth, as both starting pitchers were quite effective. Mariners starter Jeremy Bonderman, who is making a rather successful comeback, went six innings and allowed just one run on six hits, dropping his ERA to 3.28.

Game 70: Angels Crush Mariners, Reclaim Third Place

June 18th, 2013
Teammates congratulate Josh Hamilton following his second inning homer.

Teammates congratulate Josh Hamilton following his second-inning homer.

Final Score: Angels 11, Mariners 3

Halos Daily Player of the Game: Albert Pujols (4-for-5, 2B, RBI)

The Angels rode 21 hits and Jason Vargas’ strong outing to defeat Aaron Harang and the Seattle Mariners 11-3 in the first game of a four-game series. Rallies in the second and sixth innings put the Mariners away for good, giving the Angels their 31st victory of the year and pushing them past the Mariners in the AL West standings.

In the bottom of the second, Alberto Callaspo started the rally with a leadoff single.  After a Chris Iannetta groundout advanced Callaspo to second base, Peter Bourjos followed with an infield single, allowing Callaspo to move to third. Mike Trout’s sacrifice fly drove in Callaspo, then a Josh Hamilton homer to dead center off Michael Saunders’ glove gave the Angels a 4-0 lead, effectively ending the game.

Week 12: Angels, Mariners, and Pirates Party Like It’s 1992

June 17th, 2013
Air Cutch

Air Cutch

The Angels continue their noble quest for third place this week, hoping to take advantage of four home games against the Seattle Mariners to climb ever higher on Mt. AL West. Unfortunately, with Oakland and Texas already pretty much camping out on the summit telling ghosts stories, the Angels remain stranded on the middle of the mountain, looking like this.

Since we last discussed the Mariners, they’ve gone through quite a few changes. Eric Wedge blamed math for Dustin Ackley’s struggles. Because of math, Ackley was demoted to the minors. So was Jesus Montero. In Ackley’s stead, the M’s called up prospect Nick Franklin, who has performed admirably (.384 wOBA). Catching prospect Mike Zunino was also called up, and has hit .300 in three games.

The roster moves seem like that of a front office grasping for straws. General Manager Jack Zduriencik, hired in 2008, has done an excellent job building the farm system in his tenure, collecting top prospects such as Ackley, Montero, Justin Smoak, and Tajuan Walker, just to hand pick a few. The problem for Seattle is translating those young talents into successful big leaguers; other than Kyle Seager, none of these prospects have really panned out. Eventually, a fan base’s patience wanes, especially as Felix Hernandez’ talents continue to be wasted, his most meaningful start every season coming on Opening Day.

Game 65: Defensive Excellence Not Enough

June 12th, 2013

Peter Bourjos is tied for the MLB lead in home run robberies since 2010.

Final Score: Orioles 3, Angels 1

Halos Daily Player of the Game: Jason Vargas (6.2 IP, 7 H, 3 ER, 1 BB, 1 SO)

A night after losing a battle of the elements, the Angels once again fell at the hands of the surging Baltimore Orioles.

Tuesday night’s 3-1 loss marked the Angels’ fourth straight defeat, and eighth in their past 10 games. The Angels were solid on the pitching and defensive fronts, but the offense once again fell silent at an inopportune time.

The game started off in a rather flashy fashion. Just three pitches into the game, Orioles phenom Manny Machado robbed Mike Trout of a potential extra base hit by making a diving stop to his left and firing across the diamond to get the out. Immediately following the play, Trout and Machado exchanged smiles, a precursor of what the next decade could bring from these two.

With one out in the bottom half of the inning, Peter Bourjos made an outstanding catch, reaching over the center field fence to rob JJ Hardy of a home run, eerily similar to Trout’s spectacular grab of the same nature almost a year ago. Overall, the Angels’ defense was on display Tuesday night, with key plays coming from all over the diamond.

Game 64: It’s Raining, It’s Pouring, Angels Fans Are Snoring

June 11th, 2013
Jerry Dipoto, asking the rain gods for answers.

Jerry Dipoto, asking the rain gods for answers.

Final Score: Orioles 4, Angels 3

Halos Daily Player of the Game: Mike Trout (1-for-4, HR, BB; Hamilton’s error disqualified him)

Halos Daily Player of the Game Honorable Mention: Garrett Richards, for eating the last 2 1/3 innings and saving the bullpen

In a game marred by the elements, the Orioles defeated the Angels 4-3, led by Freddy Garcia’s strong start and Adam Jones’ fourth inning home run. The game proved that the Angels, like the postal service, are consistent in any form of weather, losing games in sunshine or thunderstorms. The 2013 Halos don’t discriminate.

Mike Trout, playing in front of his family,* scratched the first run of the game, launching a Freddy Garcia offering over the right field scoreboard for a solo home run, putting the Angels up 1-0 in the third inning.

* His hometown of Millville, New Jersey is a  111-mile drive to Baltimore. #AngelsGeography.

Halos Daily

Dedicated to bringing you top-notch Angels analysis!