My goodness. Just when you think Mike Trout has demonstrated everything his preternatural baseball talents make him capable of, he goes and does something like this:
[mlbvideo id=”504268983″ width=”400″ height=”224″ /]The thing that I find most remarkable about Trout’s season-saving snag, among the many, many remarkable things about it, is that he made it look so damned easy. As though clearing the centerfield wall with more than half his body at the precise moment needed to rob a 400-ft missile is a totally normal thing he does every day during pre-game drills. He makes the breathtaking look ordinary on a regular basis, and always follows it with that sheepish, “did I do that?” grin. Other players must secretly hate that it comes so easy for him.
Oh yeah, did I mention C.J. Cron and David Freese did some pretty important things too and that Huston Street got hurt? We’ll get to those.
Run Expectancy Rundown
[googleapps domain=”docs” dir=”spreadsheets/d/1kXwyot_9vKEhf1obSYw6WdkMPyh42IC80TYGmsMD9O0/pubchart” query=”oid=1976391661&format=interactive” width=”623″ height=”389″ /]David Freese played hero in the ninth with the walk-off dinger, but his day up to that point had been uninspiring, hence the minimal RE24. C.J. Cron’s game-tying shot was his lone hit as well, but he didn’t leave three runners on base like Freese. Kole Calhoun and Mike Trout again played catalyst at the top of the lineup, reaching base twice each. Every Angel but David Murphy had at least one hit.
[googleapps domain=”docs” dir=”spreadsheets/d/1kXwyot_9vKEhf1obSYw6WdkMPyh42IC80TYGmsMD9O0/pubchart” query=”oid=1154832181&format=interactive” width=”620″ height=”341″ /]Ketel Marte hit his first big-league home run in the third, and Jesus Montero came thisclose to having a huge night, but the rest of the Mariners offense did a whole lot of nothing. Jesus Sucre had easily the worst night at the plate, leaving five runners on in four plate appearances.
Starting Pitcher Scores
[googleapps domain=”docs” dir=”spreadsheets/d/1kXwyot_9vKEhf1obSYw6WdkMPyh42IC80TYGmsMD9O0/pubchart” query=”oid=161400381&format=interactive” width=”584″ height=”293″ /]Andrew Heaney was good, but the game score doesn’t account for Trout absolutely saving his bacon in the fourth. The left-hander settled down after The Catch, needing only 16 pitches to get his final six outs. The Angels were all over Felix Hernandez early, but a trio of unnecessary outs on the bases allowed him to stick around through the sixth.
Bullpen Battle
[googleapps domain=”docs” dir=”spreadsheets/d/1kXwyot_9vKEhf1obSYw6WdkMPyh42IC80TYGmsMD9O0/pubchart” query=”oid=1141913419&format=interactive” width=”620″ height=”315″ /]Until last night I’m not sure I’d ever seen a player need help off the field after a groin injury. Doesn’t seem to bode well for Huston Street returning this season. Jose Alvarez and Fernando Salas held the M’s off the board in Street’s stead, and will have to work with Mike Morin and Trevor Gott again to do the same over the season’s final week. With Joe Smith already out indefinitely, the situation seems pretty dire. If ever there was a time for Cory Rasmus to regain his 2014 form…
Game Flow
[googleapps domain=”docs” dir=”spreadsheets/d/1kXwyot_9vKEhf1obSYw6WdkMPyh42IC80TYGmsMD9O0/pubchart” query=”oid=451609002&format=interactive” width=”619″ height=”316″ /]Another one that had playoff atmosphere written all over it. The Angels refuse to die.
Halo Hero
David Freese and C.J. Cron deserve a tip of the cap for their late-inning dingers, but those home runs don’t matter without Mike Trout’s defensive wizardry.
Add The Sports Daily to your Google News Feed!
