Oh right, that’s what a playoff atmosphere feels like. The Angels managed to eke out the first of what could become an endless stream must-win games over the final two weeks of the season, but what for now results in keeping their postseason hopes alive for at least one more night.
Mike Trout and Albert Pujols were the early heroes Tuesday, but it was the bullpen that carried the day in the end. Six of the team’s last eight victories have now come by one run, which I’m sure hasn’t helped the stress levels in and around the Angels clubhouse. It certainly hasn’t in my house.
Run Expectancy Rundown
[googleapps domain=”docs” dir=”spreadsheets/d/1eqRI6Fr5kYNvebniaV7sMOberi81X4q8BkXg7DDQXsY/pubchart” query=”oid=1976391661&format=interactive” width=”623″ height=”389″ /]Trout and Pujols provided most of the Angels offense within 10 minutes of the game’s start, blasting back-to-back jacks in the first. After that the bats fell silent until the eighth, when Kole Calhoun blooped a slump-busting(?) *crosses fingers* RBI single to plate a much-needed insurance run.
[googleapps domain=”docs” dir=”spreadsheets/d/1eqRI6Fr5kYNvebniaV7sMOberi81X4q8BkXg7DDQXsY/pubchart” query=”oid=1154832181&format=interactive” width=”620″ height=”341″ /]Marwin Gonzalez and Chris Carter both went deep off of Hector Santiago—also back-to-back jacks—but that was it for big hits. The club went 0-for-8 with RISP on the night, with Evan Gattis leaving the tying run on second twice.
Starting Pitcher Scores
[googleapps domain=”docs” dir=”spreadsheets/d/1eqRI6Fr5kYNvebniaV7sMOberi81X4q8BkXg7DDQXsY/pubchart” query=”oid=161400381&format=interactive” width=”584″ height=”293″ /]No starting pitcher plays with fire more often than Hector Santiago. That he ended up with a win in a game where he walked five and allowed two home runs in just five innings is some serious dark arts stuff. Lance McCullers was spectacular outside of the first inning, which seems to be the running theme of his rookie season—the young righty owns a 5.59 ERA in the opening frame and a 2.73 ERA the rest of the time.
Bullpen Battle
[googleapps domain=”docs” dir=”spreadsheets/d/1eqRI6Fr5kYNvebniaV7sMOberi81X4q8BkXg7DDQXsY/pubchart” query=”oid=1141913419&format=interactive” width=”620″ height=”315″ /]The Angels bullpen’s first big test sans Joe Smith was an incredibly stressful one, but it was still undoubtedly a success. Fernando Salas and Trevor Gott both went an inning-plus, Jose Alvarez got his one guy out, and Huston Street did just enough to earn the save. On the Astros’ side, Joe Thatcher continues to not get lefties out. Thank the gods for that.
Game Flow
[googleapps domain=”docs” dir=”spreadsheets/d/1eqRI6Fr5kYNvebniaV7sMOberi81X4q8BkXg7DDQXsY/pubchart” query=”oid=451609002&format=interactive” width=”619″ height=”316″ /]This is what a three-hour anxiety attack looks like in graph form.
Halo Hero
Lots of options here, but I’ve gotta go with Street for getting some redemption.
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