Boxscore Breakdown #52: Dinger Frenzy – Angels 11, Tigers 9

The Angels might have finally discovered the solution to their GIDP problems: just hit the dang ball out of the ballpark. The team was able to overcome four double plays and an epic bullpen collapse Tuesday thanks to four home runs, the last a walk-off shot from C.J. Cron.

Of course, it’d be easier to put games away if the other team didn’t also hit a bunch of homers. The Tigers managed five on Tuesday, marking the first time since 2012 the Halos have allowed that many long balls in Anaheim and just the second time in franchise history (out of 18 games total) they’ve surrendered five or more dingers at home and still won.

Angels 11, Tigers 9

Run Expectancy Rundown

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C.J. Cron’s two two-run blasts don’t put him atop the RE24 leaderboard, but only because Mike Trout exists. Trout got the Angels end of the laser show started with a three-run moonshot to center, one of his four times reaching base on the day. Jefry Marte notched his first ever four-hit day, finishing a triple short of the cycle. Kole Calhoun and Cliff Pennington also had strong days at the plate, tallying three hits each. Unfortunately for Pennington, the last one put him back on the DL.

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It took 6,411 big-league plate appearances, but Ian Kinsler finally got his first grand slam. Too bad for him he’s still on the Tigers, so it didn’t matter in the end. Justin Upton, Miguel Cabrera, Victor Martinez, and J.D. Martinez, i.e. the guys you’d expect to hit dingers, all hit dingers. Five of the team’s eight hits went over the fence.

Starting Pitcher Scores

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For the third straight Hector Santiago outing, a starting pitcher failed to make it into the fourth inning. Thankfully, this time it wasn’t Santiago. Hector wasn’t very good, but he at least pitched almost through the seventh. His fastball looked good, helping him net nine strikeouts, but he couldn’t avoid the long ball.

Anibal Sanchez surrendered six runs on eight hits in three innings. He struck out none.

Bullpen Battle

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Somehow the Angels bullpen fared better than Detroit’s yesterday, despite allowing three runs (and two inherited runs) on two home runs in 2⅓. Cam Bedrosian allowed a grand slam to draw the score close, Fernando Salas a game-tying solo shot. Huston Street returned and calmed things down, retiring the side in order in the ninth.

Warwick Saupold had the worst day of anyone. He allowed three runs on five hits in two innings, then tore his groin in the most visually disturbing pitcher injury I’ve seen since Garrett Richard went down in Boston two years ago. Ex-Halo Mark Lowe gave up the game winner to Cron.

Game Flow

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I can’t believe the Angels almost managed to lose this one.

Halo Hero

C.J. picked a great time for his first two-homer game of the year.