They say that a win is always a win, but bejeezes was this one ugly game.
Seven combined errors.
Four combined GIDPs.
Three wild pitches.
Awful bullpen work all around.
And yet somehow the Angels won by six. I’ll take it, but, yeesh!
Really, the only reason the Angels won this game was because the Nats did everything worse than the Angels. The Halos fielded poorly (2 errors), but the Nats were even poorer (5 errors). The Angels hit into a rally-killing bases loaded GIDP early in the game, but the Nationals hit into a soul-crushing GIDP late in the game (and two more before that, for good measure). All four Angel relievers looked shaky, but ultimately only gave up one run. Washington’s relievers though were all categorically awful with of the three relievers allowing at least two runs.
Bad, bad, bad all around. I’m just glad that the Angels came out on top for a change since most every bizarre game they’ve been involved in this season (and there have been several) always end with the Halos hanging their heads.
Game Notes
- Why does Trumbo get the green light on a 3-0 pitch? I’m sorry, but that is a privilege that is earned and Trumbo isn’t even close to that level in my book. Maybe Sosh was just trying anything to get the offense jumpstarted, but the Halos dodged a major bullet by having Desmond muff the should-have-been GIDP. Sure, it worked out for the Angels, but I’m guessing that Trumbo won’t be getting the green light again for awhile.
- Vernon Wells had four hits, scored three runs, drove in two and hit a HUGE, clutch two-run homer to put the Angels on top for good. Just go ahead and let that sink in. Feels good doesn’t hit?
- I think Bobby Cassevah stinks, but he may well have bought himself another few weeks on the roster with that bail out GIDP in the seventh. Good for him and good for Scioscia for bringing him in. I feel like Scioscia is starting to actually think a little harder about how to best use his relievers, mostly to positive results. The Sosh of old would have left Thompson in our pulled him in favor of Kohn, who can get a strikeout, but going to the groundball specialist was the team’s best chance of getting out of that jam and it worked out perfectly, though not without some drama.
Halo Hero
Big Vern keeps on getting it done and very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very slowly is starting to make his acquisition look not so awful.