Game Rewind: Karma is a Bitch – Angels 10, Rays 5

I have the distinct feeling that the next time Joe Maddon manages an All-Star game he’ll remember to use each and every Angel on the roster.  The baseball gods used their karmic forces to make sure that Maddon and the Rays got what was coming to them as the Angels completed a sweep despite starting two untested rookies in the series.

Wednesday’s game was just one karmic slap to the face after another for Tampa Bay.  First the Angels got a solid performance from Trevor Bell in his major league debut.  Then the offense got started by an unlikely triple from Mike Napoli, followed by an uncharacteristically clutch three-run, go-ahead homer from Gary Matthews (yes, you read that right, GARY FREAKING MATTHEWS).  And then things just fell apart totally in the seventh inning when a potentially inning-ending double play went somehow got turned into a two-run error instead and then quickly led to another three-run homer to put the game away for good for the Halos.

Only scoring four runs off of Bozo the Clown’s grandson?  Fat guys hitting triples?  Crappy hitters hitting three-run homers?  I wouldn’t be surprised if the Rays get swarmed by a plague of locusts on their way out of town with the way things went for them today.

Good News:

• Trevor Bell’s line for the day isn’t that impressive, but I liked what I saw (though I admit it was via Gamecast).  He pounded the strike zone which is a great sign for a young pitcher since most youngsters are terrified of throwing strikes against major league hitters.  He did fan four batters but those Pena two homers marred his day.  Still, he probably earned himself another start.
• And breath a sigh of relief.  Figgy is back on track collecting three hits today and even driving in a run for the third game in a row.
• The Angels continue to get contributions from everyone on the roster.  The unlikely trio of Gary Matthews, Reggie Willits and Jeff Mathis all came up with big moments this series.  How can this team not be the team of destiny?
• Darren Oliver has been really shaky lately but he was back on it today, fanning Carl Crawford and Ben Zobrist despite inheriting a runner on second in a one-run game.

Bad News:

• Jose Arredondo certainly isn’t doing much to prove that he is ready for prime time again, giving a homer to Pat Burrell on just one pitch is hardly confidence inspiring even if he did follow it up with two strikeouts.

Halo Hero:

• Howie Kendrick

Gary Matthews had the go-ahead homer, but Kendrick put the game away, thus allowing me to keep my policy of not saying good things about Private Matthews intact.  Plus Howie did add another hit and a steal, so he definitely edges out Matthews.