So this is what last place looks like, eh? Haven’t been down here in awhile. Conditions certainly haven’t improved since last time. Excuse us if we don’t stay long.
Once again, the Angels fell apart against the Mariners. The first half of the game was a tightly played contest. The pitching was strong; the defense was mostly solid (except for the Torii Hunter “cloud ball” that led to the first run of the game).
And then the sixth inning happened. Weaver gave up a few hits and then decided to keep up the trend of poor pitcher fielding that Scot Shields started last night (can we please get a little pitcher’s fielding practice scheduled, Sciocsia?). Total disaster was averted when Kevin Jepsen got Ichiro to ground into an improbable double play. Surely the Angels had weathered the storm, right?
Wrong. After getting a run back in the top of the 7th by way of a Juan Rivera RBI single (hooray, production from a left fielder finally!), the Halos were poised to tie it up (at least) with runners on second and third with just one out. However the continued lack of situational hitting (supposedly the Angels calling card) reared its head with Erick Aybar and Chone Figgins both striking out.
That is when things got really bad. Jepsen came back out for the 7th but was wild, issuing a single and two straight walks. The call went out to the bullpen and was answered by Jason Bulger who brought his gas can with him and proceeded to allow the Mariners to tack on six runs without recording an out. Bravo, Bulger, your plane ticket to Salt Lake is being booked right now.
That would be all she wrote for the Angels, though we did get to see the major league debut of Rafael Rodriguez. So the Angels have that going for them… and pretty much nothing else. They’ll try and avoid the sweep tonight and get the game back on track.
Highlight of the Night:
- Another home run for Torii Hunter aka the Entire Angel Offense.
Lowlight of the Night:
- Mike Scioscia going with Bulger to try and keep the game close rather than Jose Arredondo. If you aren’t going to use him then, Sosh, when are you going to use him?
Halo Hero:
- Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man. Big Game Hunter racked up three hits, including a two-run homer, and a stolen base. With the exception of a ball lost in the clouds, he was pretty much flawless.