The game started out so promissing. Jerome Williams gave up a run in the top of the first, and the Angels responded by scoring three in the bottom of the first. Even when the Orioles rallied back on a two-run homerun by JJ Hardy, Trout gave them the lead again one a solo homerun. However, it just wasn't meant to be. The Angels had two opportunities with the bases loaded and got zero runs out of it as both times J.B. Shuck got out, and as a result they could never pull away from the Orioles. But that empitomizes the Angels season. So much early promise, only for the Angels to find a way to mess it up.
The real story of this game were the walks by Angel pitchers. The walks, for the seemingly millionth time this season, came back to haunt the Angels. All three walks Jerome Williams issued came around to score, and the game really got out of hand in the top of the 8th when Dane De La Rosa issued a 4 pitch walk to Manny Machado. Small hint to Angels pitchers, if you want to win stop issuing so many walks. Hopefully the Angels turn the page and start fresh against Houston.
Games Notes
— Mike Trout continued his hot hitting with another homerun in the 4th inning to give the Angels the lead. With Trumbo and Trout continuing their, the return of the TNT combo is about to start carrying the Angels.
— Josh Hamilton only struck out once today (that's an improvement right?). I think it's gotten to the desperation point when Angel fans are excited he simply made contact
— Scott Downs injury doesn't seem to be effecting him anymore as he looked solid en route to a 1-2-3 inning. This is HUGE benefit because the Angels bullpen has been ravaged by injuries and they need all the dependable relievers they can find
— Hank Conger made an appearance as the DH today and he faired quite well with an RBI hit and a walk. Conger has always excelled with the bat and it's great to see Scioscia finding innovative ways to get his bat in the line-up.
Halo A Hole
As much as I want to blame the pitching staff, if J.B. Shuck had found a way to drive in a run when he had TWO opportunities with the bases loaded the pitching staff never would have had the opportunity to blow it. Get well soon Peter Bourjos, the Angels badly need you
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