Boxscore Breakdown #48: Breakout – Angels 12, Tigers 2

Any night when an offense plates 12 runs is generally good for everyone, but it was especially good for the Angel hitters that had been struggling in recent days and weeks.

Chris Iannetta? Two hits including a double and the first grand slam from an Angels catcher since the days of He Who Shall Not Be Named.

Matt Joyce? A multi-hit game including his second game in a row with a dinger.

Johnny Giavotella? A multi-hit game, his first triple of the season and first extra-base hit in weeks.

Everybody is starting to breakout. It is enough to make one hopeful that the Angels offense as a whole will breakout, but we’ve been teased and subsequently disappointed by these big offensive outbursts before, so my advice is to remain cautiously optimistic.

Angels 12, Tigers 2

Run Expectancy Rundown
[googleapps domain=”docs” dir=”spreadsheets/d/1dhY5Qm0q7Zk2w-5uX5L03V8rq9wI3l46ytyMA0zoQfs/pubchart” query=”oid=1976391661&format=interactive” width=”623″ height=”389″ /] Obviously Iannetta and Joyce both had big days. The fun surprise is how much RE24 Kirk Nieuwenhuis compiled despite entering the game as a pinch-runner and not actually getting a hit. Clearly this guy is magic. The two biggest negatives were the shortstops, Erick Aybar and Taylor Featherston. Aybar had an RBI sac bunt, but his second inning GIDP was pretty rough on his numbers. Not as rough as legging out that bunt attempt was on his hammy, but pretty rough.

[googleapps domain=”docs” dir=”spreadsheets/d/1dhY5Qm0q7Zk2w-5uX5L03V8rq9wI3l46ytyMA0zoQfs/pubchart” query=”oid=1154832181&format=interactive” width=”620″ height=”341″ /] The normally terrific Tigers offense was pretty poor in this game. Most of their offense was generated from walks and HBPs with the lone extra-base hit coming during garbage time against the Angels’ mop-up man.

Starting Pitcher Scores
[googleapps domain=”docs” dir=”spreadsheets/d/1dhY5Qm0q7Zk2w-5uX5L03V8rq9wI3l46ytyMA0zoQfs/pubchart” query=”oid=161400381&format=interactive” width=”584″ height=”293″ /] C.J. Wilson took another step forward but is clearly still struggling with his mechanics. His stuff is working in terms of being hard to square up, but his command vacillates between pretty good and throwing darts whilst blindfolded. He’s also doing a lot of weird Tai chi with his push-off leg, which appears to be a pretty good indicator of when his delivery is going wonky. The Halos did not live up to the prophecy of getting shutdown by a rookie pitch. Buck Farmer instead will likely get bucked back to the farm.

Bullpen Battle
[googleapps domain=”docs” dir=”spreadsheets/d/1dhY5Qm0q7Zk2w-5uX5L03V8rq9wI3l46ytyMA0zoQfs/pubchart” query=”oid=1141913419&format=interactive” width=”620″ height=”315″ /] Jose Alvarez struggled again, fortunately he did it with an 11-run lead this time rather than while protecting a three-run lead. The Tigers bullpen supposedly has been better this year. I’ve yet to see live evidence of that.

Game Flow
[googleapps domain=”docs” dir=”spreadsheets/d/1dhY5Qm0q7Zk2w-5uX5L03V8rq9wI3l46ytyMA0zoQfs/pubchart” query=”oid=451609002&format=interactive” width=”619″ height=”316″ /] As much of an ass whooping as this turned into, C.J. Wilson’s penchant for free passes actually kept the Tigers within striking distance for most of the game. Once Iannetta launched that salami, the game officially moved out of reach.

Halo Hero

Iannetta had as many total bases in this one game as he had in ALL OF APRIL.