Boxscore Breakdown #158: LeBlanc-ed – Angels 2, Athletics 0

So, who wants Wade LeBlanc in the playoff rotation now?

I kid, I kid. Sort of. I think.

Still, this is now the second time the Angels have shutout the A’s with a starting pitcher that seemingly has no business starting a game. Last month, it was Rasmus in the first “bullpen day” game. This time it was Wade LeBlanc. C.J. Wilson and Hector Santiago can’t get out of the first inning, but somehow those guys are throwing up goose eggs against a likely playoff team.

Baseball, man.

Run Expectancy Rundown
[googleapps domain=”docs” dir=”spreadsheets/d/16UlS2mhtswSpGNJ8BbnuDUSzuZqe88zsZBroH8in8_k/pubchart” query=”oid=1976391661&format=interactive” width=”623″ height=”318″ /] The biggest play of this whole game was Erick Aybar stealing home on a strike ’em out-throw ’em out double play, which is a really weird sentence to write. That seems like the sort of thing that shouldn’t be possible, which is probably why the TV cameras basically missed the whole thing. Gordon Beckham also had the solo jack that pretty much assured his place on the postseason roster. Everyone else struck out a bunch.

[googleapps domain=”docs” dir=”spreadsheets/d/16UlS2mhtswSpGNJ8BbnuDUSzuZqe88zsZBroH8in8_k/pubchart” query=”oid=1154832181&format=interactive” width=”620″ height=”341″ /] Josh Reddick was a real problem, but Geovany Soto grounding into two double plays undid a lot of those problems. If it wasn’t Soto, it was Stephen Vogt striking out. #IBelieveInStephenVogtStrikingOut

Starting Pitcher Scores
[googleapps domain=”docs” dir=”spreadsheets/d/16UlS2mhtswSpGNJ8BbnuDUSzuZqe88zsZBroH8in8_k/pubchart” query=”oid=161400381&format=interactive” width=”584″ height=”293″ /] The defense definitely helped him out, but LeBlanc was very efficient and put together a solid performance. Sonny Gray was terrific, making just one bad pitch and getting screwed once by his defense.

Bullpen Battle
[googleapps domain=”docs” dir=”spreadsheets/d/16UlS2mhtswSpGNJ8BbnuDUSzuZqe88zsZBroH8in8_k/pubchart” query=”oid=1141913419&format=interactive” width=”620″ height=”315″ /] Jason Grilli had two huge punchouts. They were huge for the game situation but also huge for Grilli personally as he had been pretty lousy of late. The A’s bullpen was perfect for two innings.

Game Flow
[googleapps domain=”docs” dir=”spreadsheets/d/16UlS2mhtswSpGNJ8BbnuDUSzuZqe88zsZBroH8in8_k/pubchart” query=”oid=451609002&format=interactive” width=”619″ height=”316″ /] The Angels only had three hits and three walks, so they definitely didn’t have many chances at all.  The A’s had more baserunners but often saw them erased via pickoff or GIDP. Their only significant threats were in the sixth and eighth inning.

Halo Hero

When Aybar tries to do something crazy on the bases, I feel like it usually backfires, but this time it didn’t. Good work not screwing up, Erick!