CJ Wilson began the afternoon hurling 37 pitches in the first inning. So, too see him coming out to the mound in the 7th inning was a minor miracle. Credit the lefty for navigating in and out of trouble, wiggling out of a first inning bases loaded jam and another in the 6th.
In the meantime, the Angels offense scratched together just enough to give Wilson a lead. Howie Knedrick homered in the second, continuing to look impressive between his compulsive GIDP's. Mike Trout is starting to heat up, clubbing a massive home run into the left field seats of A's starter Tommy Milone in the top of the sixth inning Mark Trumbo followed a couple hitters later with a laser that, upon further review, cleared the yellow line in left field.
Wilson did his best to give it back to the A's in the bottom of the inning, but got a massive 5-3 double play to escape unscathed. Once he was given the hook with an out in the 7th, he had thrown 123 pitches. It is a notable gamble that hasn't worked out for manager Mike Scioscia this season. But it is now May. April is gone, and the Halos may just be ready to turn the corner. Maybe.
The A's certainly aren't going away; it took Ernesto Frieri 35 pitches to get 5 outs, finally dispatching of the A's, and, as is fitting for the theme of the entire day, had to wriggle out of trouble. It's going to be quite the grind, folks.
Game Notes
— Trout is starting to heat up. The phenom looked more like himself during the last two games in Oakland, driving the ball with authority in this game. In addition to the home run, he added a triple to deep center in the 8th inning, eventually scoring on Albert Pujols' sacrifice fly.
— Josh Hamilton is starting to look like he could be a great singles hitter this season. He had two singles on Wednesday.
— Scott Downs hurt himself bizarrely in the 8th inning. The hits just keep coming for these Los Angeles Angels of the Infirmity Ward.
Halos Hero of the Game
The Kid Fish, the Milville Meteor, is on his way back. Be afraid, American League. Be very afraid.
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