Boxscore Breakdown #60: Thanks, Jepsen – Angels 6, Rays 2

Just when it looked like the Angels were going to drop another series to the Tampa Bay Rays… KEVIN JEPSEN STRIKES!

If you’ve read this blog for even a few years, you know full well how I feel about Kevin Jepsen. Seeing him leave the team was not exactly an event that filled me with sorry. But watching him blow a lead and take the loss for the Rays well, this is how it made me feel…

 Thanks for the win, Kevin. You kind of owed it to us.

Angels 6, Rays 2

Run Expectancy Rundown
[googleapps domain=”docs” dir=”spreadsheets/d/1S-ZVwUJCQgRoqFzmpZOPmYA9k3V0BPxtyrrAsogRQbw/pubchart” query=”oid=1976391661&format=interactive” width=”623″ height=”389″ /] Two of the most questionable lineup choices, Johnny Giavotella batting fifth and Efren Navarro batting at all, turned out pretty well, I’d say. Each of them knocked out three hits, as did Mike Trout, but one of his hits left the yard. The biggest knock of the night though was probably Kyle Kubitza‘s game-tying single, going a long way towards making up for his misadventures the night before. Thus far, it looks like the kid should probably stick around once David Freese is healthy to play again. Someone get the kid an outfielder’s glove.

[googleapps domain=”docs” dir=”spreadsheets/d/1S-ZVwUJCQgRoqFzmpZOPmYA9k3V0BPxtyrrAsogRQbw/pubchart” query=”oid=1154832181&format=interactive” width=”620″ height=”341″ /] Steven Souza had the one big knock for the Rays and Joey Butler continues to be inexplicably impossible to get out. That was pretty much it for Tampa though.

Starting Pitcher Scores
[googleapps domain=”docs” dir=”spreadsheets/d/1S-ZVwUJCQgRoqFzmpZOPmYA9k3V0BPxtyrrAsogRQbw/pubchart” query=”oid=161400381&format=interactive” width=”584″ height=”293″ /] Aside from the Souza dinger, Garrett Richards looked like he was back to his old self. He missed a lot of bats, threw a lot of strikes (only needing 94 pitches to get through seven innings) and only allowed the one well-hit ball. I think we all breathed a collective sigh of relief after this performance. Alex Colome started strong, but Kevin Cash wasted no time pulling him at the first sign of trouble. That didn’t exactly work out.

Bullpen Battle
[googleapps domain=”docs” dir=”spreadsheets/d/1S-ZVwUJCQgRoqFzmpZOPmYA9k3V0BPxtyrrAsogRQbw/pubchart” query=”oid=1141913419&format=interactive” width=”620″ height=”315″ /] It didn’t work out because Kevin Jepsen was involved, LOLZ. It wasn’t a save situation and Richards probably could’ve gone deeper in the game, but Scioscia turned to Joe Smith and Huston Street as neither had pitched in over a week.

Game Flow
[googleapps domain=”docs” dir=”spreadsheets/d/1S-ZVwUJCQgRoqFzmpZOPmYA9k3V0BPxtyrrAsogRQbw/pubchart” query=”oid=451609002&format=interactive” width=”619″ height=”316″ /] It wasn’t looking good at all for the Angels after the Souza homer, but then Jepsen happened.

Halo Hero

Three hits, a homer, he got the Angels on the board and knocked in an insurance run. What else do you want him to do?