Game Rewind: First Place? YOINK!!! – Angels 9, Rangers 4

After allowing two-run first inning to the Rangers, it seemed we were well on our way to another Jered Weaver flop against the Rangers, but then something funny happened…

… Weaver started dealing, throwing five shutout innings before an ill-advised high fastball to Ian Kinsler let Texas back on the board.  That one bad pitch aside, Weaver was lights out after the first inning, striking out nine while walking just one and allowing only two extra-base hits all game long.  Yeah, that’s the Weaver we are used to.  If only he done this last week, he might be on the All-Star roster instead of being talked about as an All-Star snub.

While Weaver was clearly at the top of his game, the Angels really didn’t need him to be the way their bats were going last night.  Jeff Mathis started things off with a clutch second inning three-run bomb to give the Angels the lead and then the blood of Kevin Millwood was in the roster and the Angels began a feeding frenzy, beating up the Rangers’ ace (term ace used loosely) for a season-high nine runs stranding just one runner in scoring position all night, a vast improvement from their season average of 53 (my math might be a little off there, but that sounds like a good guess to me).  With that, the Angels have taken hold of first place all to themselves and if last night was any indication, they won’t be letting it go anytime soon.

Good News:

• You have to hand it to Rex Hudler.  He can be a bit of a tool sometimes, but he has a knack for nicknames as he basically dubbed Kendry Morales as “Bam-Bam” last night.  That is just a great nickname and it actually kind of works with Kendry.  Well done, Wonder Dog.
• Vladi Daddy keeps on doing it, hitting ropes all over the field last night.  I’m not saying he is back because that would be jinxing it, but I’m just saying.
• Kevin Jepsen got his ERA below 10.00!!!!  Hang up the phone, Tony Reagins.  We may not need another reliever after all.

Bad News:

• Howie Kendrick got another start, but he still looks like the same guy he was before his brief hiatus in Salt Lake City.  The rest of the team was ripping Millwood up, but Howie took the collar and was the only strikeout victim of the night, getting fooled badly (again) on a breaking ball.
• While Figgins had a nice night, picking up three walks and scoring two runs, Ian Kinsler belted a homer which is just so much more flashy and bound to secure him the final All-Star selection.

Halo Hero:

• Torii Hunter

Two RBIs, two hits, two runs scored and another Spidey-style catch against the wall… it’s gotta be Big Game Hunter.