Every time we start feeling just a teeny bit good about the Angels, a game like this happens. Futility, ineptitude, misery. Call it what you will, the fact of the matter is the team’s inability to hit with runners in scoring position remains staunchly intact.
It took thirteen hits before the Angels finally managed to plate a single run against the lowly Marlins. This despite the Halos having at least one baserunner in every single inning. This despite the Marlins having Javier Vazquez, their version of Scott Kazmir, on the mound.
Even then, it took an error for the Angels to get that second run.
What is truly amazing about this game wasn’t that they went 1-for-15 with runners in scoring position. It was that when the Angels entered the ninth with no runs and twelve hits, the Angel fans on the internet were actually rooting for the Angels to get two more hits and NOT score so that they could have a piece of the league record for most hits in a game without scoring a run. At least then the team’s ongoing futility would finally help them accomplish something memorable.
Of course, the Angels couldn’t even do that right.
Game Notes
- Torii Hunter had four hits and the lone Angel RBI for the second night in a row, yet the one time he made an out, he still found a way to hit into a doubleplay, this one of the line out variety. When you’re snake bit, you’re snake bit.
- It is official, Russell Branyan has been elevated to public enemy #1 amongst Angel fans. We all knew he was going to strike out a lot, but when he fans twice in situations where the Angels desperately need for him to get a big hit with runners on base, that is just too much for us to handle.
- Well, Michael Kohn is back and he didn’t walk anyone. I guess that’s something. To think that I was actually excited to see him return. Silly rabbit.
Halo A-Hole
It may be unfair to single out one player here, but tell me you weren’t hoping against hope that he would tie the game with a homer in the ninth instead of striking out to end the game?