The Angels defied elimination for a day with the most improbable win of the season. I mean, look at that win expectancy chart a the top of this post! Sure, the Angels took a 5-1 lead early, but with Hector Santiago on the mound in Arlington that may as well be a tie game. When Texas took that 10-6 lead into the ninth inning, the season was over for all intents and purposes. And then it wasn’t.
Of course, the Angels still need help. For all the talk about what a poor road team the Astros are, they’re currently 4-1 on their season-ending trip and another win today for them against the D’backs eliminates the Angels no matter what the Halos do against the Rangers. But that’s for us to worry about later today. The ninth inning heroics at least guaranteed the Angels a meaningful contest in Game 162. That’s something roughly two-thirds of the rest of MLB teams would kill for.
Run Expectancy Rundown
[googleapps domain=”docs” dir=”spreadsheets/d/114mZhheFHiyYgaocqT0PDXAWRzCkSoXK87Kko29J7qo/pubchart” query=”oid=1976391661&format=interactive” width=”623″ height=”429″ /]The Magic Cajun Elf strikes again, but hat tip to Carlos Perez for coming up with the hit that gave Johnny G the opportunity to win the game. You know it’s a good day for the Angels when they plate 11 runs and Mike Trout posts a negative RE24.
[googleapps domain=”docs” dir=”spreadsheets/d/114mZhheFHiyYgaocqT0PDXAWRzCkSoXK87Kko29J7qo/pubchart” query=”oid=1154832181&format=interactive” width=”620″ height=”341″ /]As expected when the opponent scores 10 runs, a little bit from everyone. Before the Angels’ miracle ninth inning it seemed appropriate Josh Hamilton would play a significant role in their 2015 elimination, but that embarrassment was postponed for now. Shockingly, Mike Napoli didn’t do much against his favorite opponent.
Starting Pitcher Scores
[googleapps domain=”docs” dir=”spreadsheets/d/114mZhheFHiyYgaocqT0PDXAWRzCkSoXK87Kko29J7qo/pubchart” query=”oid=161400381&format=interactive” width=”584″ height=”293″ /]The Angels usually hammer Colby Lewis and did so again. Everyone hammers Hector Santiago lately and that held true (he was also the benefactor of some more terrible Halo defense in the fifth inning as well). Credit to Mike Scioscia for yanking Santiago before he completely blew the lead. Not that it mattered, but still.
Bullpen Battle
[googleapps domain=”docs” dir=”spreadsheets/d/114mZhheFHiyYgaocqT0PDXAWRzCkSoXK87Kko29J7qo/pubchart” query=”oid=1141913419&format=interactive” width=”620″ height=”315″ /]September baseball, y’all! The teams combined to use 16 relief pitchers in a nine-inning game and they were all mostly terrible. The difference in the game was the Angels’ closer, Joe Smith, had a relatively quiet inning while the pitcher trying to finish off the game for Texas, Ross Ohlendorf, imploded to the tune of a -0.756 WPA.
Game Flow
[googleapps domain=”docs” dir=”spreadsheets/d/114mZhheFHiyYgaocqT0PDXAWRzCkSoXK87Kko29J7qo/pubchart” query=”oid=451609002&format=interactive” width=”619″ height=”316″ /]Cool, cool…DAMMIT HECTOR…OK still in it…welp, there’s the season….WTF?!
Halo Hero
Giavotella had a bigger game according to RE24 and WPA, but Carlos Perez’ two-out, two-strike base hit in the ninth inning literally saved the Angels’ season for a day. I don’t think it gets more heroic than that.
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