Baseball is unfair a lot of the time. Sometimes a missed strike call leads to a walk, which eventually results in the tying run coming around to score. Sometimes the left fielder misplays a single so badly it becomes a triple. Sometimes an inning-ending GIDP goes off the pitcher’s leg, making it a two-run double instead. Sometimes Ryan Braun‘s big RBI hit travels all of 15 feet. And sometimes all those things happen in a two-inning span during one game.
That was the Angels’ lot Monday, as the Brewers put up an eight spot in the fifth and sixth innings thanks to some absurdly good fortune. That Jered Weaver couldn’t seem to induce anything but blistering line drives after the fourth certainly didn’t help the team’s chances, but this was one the Halos win 99 times out of 100. Unfortunately for them this was the 100th scenario, which included all manner of hijinks and the Angels needing their 25th man to come through with the bases loaded and two outs in the ninth. He didn’t.
Run Expectancy Rundown
[googleapps domain=”docs” dir=”spreadsheets/d/1IPbhWRAzzAGrBbzaMF7NwUUPMVX9dQEaoqvaZkjopzs/pubchart” query=”oid=1976391661&format=interactive” width=”623″ height=”389″ /]The Angels again notched double-digit hits, doing so for the fourth time in the last six games. Mike Trout led the way with four knocks, including a solo home run in the sixth. Albert Pujols tallied his fifth multi-hit game of the year. Rafael Ortega reached twice yet again. Geovany Soto also had a hit and a walk and has now reached safely in nine of his 10 starts behind the plate.
[googleapps domain=”docs” dir=”spreadsheets/d/1IPbhWRAzzAGrBbzaMF7NwUUPMVX9dQEaoqvaZkjopzs/pubchart” query=”oid=1154832181&format=interactive” width=”620″ height=”341″ /]Ryan Braun went 3-for-3 with a walk, but also got picked off and his only RBI came on a dribbler that didn’t make it halfway to the pitcher’s mound. The biggest hits of the day, both two-RBI doubles, came from Jonathan Lucroy and Jonathan Villar: The former was a legit gapper, while the latter was the aforementioned ricochet ball. Leadoff man Alex Presley was the only Brewers starter without a hit. Even pitcher Jimmy Nelson got in on the action, slapping two singles in three trips to the plate.
Starting Pitcher Scores
[googleapps domain=”docs” dir=”spreadsheets/d/1IPbhWRAzzAGrBbzaMF7NwUUPMVX9dQEaoqvaZkjopzs/pubchart” query=”oid=161400381&format=interactive” width=”584″ height=”293″ /]Jered Weaver definitely got hosed on that fateful pitch to Aaron Hill in the fifth, but that doesn’t excuse the 10 line drives (and nine hits) Weaver surrendered to the final 15 batters he faced—he just wasn’t fooling anyone the second and third time through the Brewers’ batting order.
Jimmy Nelson had a shaky first frame but then settled down nicely, allowing just two hits from innings two through seven. He made one big mistake pitch to Trout in the sixth, but otherwise kept the ball down and induced a whole bunch (11) of groundball outs.
Bullpen Battle
[googleapps domain=”docs” dir=”spreadsheets/d/1IPbhWRAzzAGrBbzaMF7NwUUPMVX9dQEaoqvaZkjopzs/pubchart” query=”oid=1141913419&format=interactive” width=”620″ height=”315″ /]Greg Mahle was a little wild and let a few inherited runners score, but in his defense he got the double play ball he needed. He just couldn’t get his leg out of the way in time. Cam Bedrosian threw hot fire, getting all five of his outs via the strikeout. Recent recall A.J. Achter finished things out, throwing a scoreless ninth.
Milwaukee’s bullpen nearly coughed up the game, but still looks better by RE24. Michael Blazek gave up two runs in the eighth, then Jeremy Jeffress put the tying run on first in the ninth before closing things out.
Game Flow
[googleapps domain=”docs” dir=”spreadsheets/d/1IPbhWRAzzAGrBbzaMF7NwUUPMVX9dQEaoqvaZkjopzs/pubchart” query=”oid=41272350&format=interactive” width=”619″ height=”315″ /]The Angels tried their best to mount a comeback, but the deficit was too great.
Angel Antagonist
Weaver is back to looking like a guy with no business being in an MLB rotation. Hurry back, Tyler Skaggs, Andrew Heaney, and/or C.J. Wilson.
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