Boxscore Breakdown #80: Bigger in Texas – Angels 8, Rangers 2

Everything is bigger in Texas, even the Angels offense. They hadn’t scored more than four runs in a game since June 19th, then they go and double that up in one game. If I didn’t know better, I’d say they were motivated by the presence of a former teammate or maybe the absence of a certain executive. Or maybe baseball is just weird and this was a random coincidence.

Angels 8, Rangers 2

Run Expectancy Rundown
[googleapps domain=”docs” dir=”spreadsheets/d/1jO2WhQxqD3ORvsyIWf-hvPuezDwWFCN9d1T-opbY6dA/pubchart” query=”oid=1976391661&format=interactive” width=”623″ height=”389″ /] This was a great game for underperforming key contributors. Erick Aybar exploded for a five-hit game. Kole Calhoun ripped two doubles (to almost exactly the same spot). David Freese had one of his best games in recent memory as well. Matt Joyce still stinks, but everything else came roses for the offense.

[googleapps domain=”docs” dir=”spreadsheets/d/1jO2WhQxqD3ORvsyIWf-hvPuezDwWFCN9d1T-opbY6dA/pubchart” query=”oid=1154832181&format=interactive” width=”620″ height=”341″ /] Ryan Rua had the pinch-hit homer, but Adrian Beltre was the only Texas starter on the positive side of the axis. Still, I could’ve done without the Josh Hamilton double.

Starting Pitcher Scores
[googleapps domain=”docs” dir=”spreadsheets/d/1jO2WhQxqD3ORvsyIWf-hvPuezDwWFCN9d1T-opbY6dA/pubchart” query=”oid=161400381&format=interactive” width=”584″ height=”293″ /] Garrett Richards got the run support, but he didn’t need because he was dominant once again. Chi Chi Gonzalez got demoted after the game for reasons that now seem pretty obvious.

Bullpen Battle
[googleapps domain=”docs” dir=”spreadsheets/d/1jO2WhQxqD3ORvsyIWf-hvPuezDwWFCN9d1T-opbY6dA/pubchart” query=”oid=1141913419&format=interactive” width=”620″ height=”315″ /] Mike Morin returned from the DL and returned to having problems giving up homers. Anthony Bass was the Texas reliever that gave up all the runs, but Neftali Feliz was the reliever that got designated for assignment after the game. That hardly seems fair.

Game Flow
[googleapps domain=”docs” dir=”spreadsheets/d/1jO2WhQxqD3ORvsyIWf-hvPuezDwWFCN9d1T-opbY6dA/pubchart” query=”oid=451609002&format=interactive” width=”619″ height=”316″ /] That escalated quickly.

Halo Hero

This could’ve gone to a number of player, but five-hit games don’t happen very often, especially on this roster.