Thumbs Up & Thumbs Down (Indians Series)

* Santana on Wednesday afternoon pitched the first Halos CG no-hitter since Mike Witt pitched a perfect game against the Rangers to close the 1984 season. He allowed just 2 baserunners, a first inning error by Aybar on a GB that led to the only run scoring via SB, GB out, and WP, as well as an 8th inning walk to Chisenhall after retiring 22 straight batters. He struck out 10 batters, threw only 105 pitches, and the slider was especially unhittable on this special day. Erv now has a 1.70 ERA in July and a 2.57 ERA since June 1. Haren was magnificent himself on Monday night, pitching 7 2/3 innings and allowing just a run on 3 hits with a 10/2 Ks/BBs ratio. He unfortunately didn’t get a win as the Indians rallied to win that game, but he’s back on track after a pair of sub-par outings following the ASB.

* Weaver was his usual self, pitching 7 innings and allowing just a run on 5 hits with a 5/2 Ks/BBs ratio, and gave up only his 6th HR all season so far. He now has an AL leading 1.79 ERA, has won 8 straight decisions, and now is 14-4. The Starting pitching allowed just 2 runs and 8 hits in 23.2 innings.

* Downs pitched 1.1 innings and allowed just 1 baserunner (BB). Walden showed moxie in battling out of his own bases loaded and no outs spot in the bottom of the 9th inning with just a 1 run margin on Tuesday night, and preserved the win for Weaver.

* Izturis is emerging from his 5-46 slump, going 3-8 with a double. Kendrick continues to put his slump behind him, going 2-5 with a pair of BBs. Abreu went 2-8, and had a 2-run HR. Hopefully, he is emerging from his funk. Bourjos was 2-4 in the no-hitter game, and drove in a crucial 3rd run in the 9th inning. He also took a baseball off his chin during the game. Trumbo had a big 2-run double in Tuesday night’s win, for the only 2 runs that the Halos would score that night. Trout started just once and went 0-3, but had an important sacrifice fly that tied the game during the no-hitter.  The Halos had 2 doubles and a triple in the no-hitter game.

* The team stole 4 bases in 4 attempts in the series (two by Kendrick and one each by Bourjos and Wells).  Hunter’s dash to score the go ahead run during the no-hitter, as Indians’ catcher Carlos Santana channeled his inner Pele on the bad pitch, was a thing of beauty.

* Hunter made a great play to throw out the potential winning run at the plate as part of a 5 man IF on Monday night.  Kendrick came up big defensively throughout the series, including starting a huge 9th inning double play on a short hop with a throw to the plate on Tuesday night, with Mathis making a great throw to 1st for the double play. Kendrick also preserved Santana’s no-hitter with a great play on Kipnis’ GB in the 6th inning. In addition to Kendrick’s double play, the Halos also turned 2 additional double plays in the win on Tuesday night.  Defense continues to be an important part of the team’s success so far this season. Only 1 error was committed by the team in the series.

* The Halos managed to rest some players, each for a game, during the series as 12 different players appeared at least once in the starting lineup.

* This was series win #11 in the past 12 for the Halos. They now have a 26-12 record since June 13.

* AngelsWin.com congratulates Ervin Santana on his no-hitter.

* Walden failed to protect the Monday night 9th inning lead, but put it behind him the next night.

* The Halos scored just 7 runs in the 3 games, but fortunately the pitching, speed, and defense still brought home 2 wins. The RISP hitting had a poor series in going just 3-21, although Abreu (HR) and Trumbo (2B) both had big 2-run hits in the series. Bourjos struck out 5 times in the series, although going 2-4 in the no-hitter game. Trumbo was just 1-11, but had the big 2-run double on Tuesday night to lead the offense to the win. Aybar was 0-12 with 3 Ks. He was due for an off series at the plate.