June 9, 2017

Cameron Maybin came off the disabled listed and came up with three hits and a career-high four steals, as the Angels defeated the Astros 9-4 on Friday night at Minute Maid Park.

“I just really enjoy just creating some havoc out there, putting some pressure on the guys,” Maybin said. “I’ve always been pretty good at getting bags and tonight they just didn’t do a great job of holding me and I got some really good jumps out there.”

Matt Shoemaker improved to 6-3 after pitching 7 strong innings, and Martin Maldonado added a 2-run homer in the 7th inning.  Kole Calhoun also had three RBI, as the Halos won for the third time in four games.

Houston starter Brad Peacock (3-1) took the loss,  allowing a season-high seven hits and tied a season high with four runs in just three innings.

Maybin singled with no outs in fourth, stole second base and later advanced to third on an error by third baseman Bregman. The Angels extended to the lead to 5-2 when he scored on a single by Calhoun.

Shoemaker had retired 13 straight before Marwin Gonzalez singled with one out in the seventh. Bregman followed with his homer to left field to cut the lead to 8-4. Shoemaker yielded seven hits and four runs while striking out four.

Ricky Nolasco (2-6, 5.05 ERA) will pitch for Los Angeles on Saturday.  Mike Fiers (3-2, 4.84) is set to start for Houston.

June 8, 2017

Erick Young Jr. had three hits and scored three runs, as the Angels rallied to beat the Tigers 11-4 on Thursday afternoon Comerica Park.

The Halos trailed 4-1 heading into the 5th inning, but they rallied for four runs to take the lead.  Albert Pujols hit a sacrifice fly to left, scoring Andrelton Simmons, which broke the tie and gave the Angels the lead for good.

The Angels exploded for 6 more runs in the 7th.  With the bases loaded, CJ Cron delivered a 2-run single, scoring Simmons and Kole Calhoun.

Moments later Young Jr delivered a run scoring single, Danny Espinosa drove in two more with another single, followed by Simmons RBI single.

JC Ramirez got the win, improving to 6-4 on the season.  He gave up 4 runs on 10 hits in 5 innings of work.

Michael Fulmer took the loss, falling to 6-4 for the Tigers.  He yielded 5 runs on 9 hits in 4 1/3 innings of work.

The Angels now travel to Houston for a 3-game set with the Astros beginning Friday.  RHP Matt Shoemaker (5-3, 4.12 ERA), who is 4-1 in his last five starts, pitches the opener.  Brad Peacock (3-0, 2.30 ERA) goes for the Astros.

June 7, 2017

Buck Farmer allowed just three hits in 6 2/3 innings, and Justin Upton hit a 3-run homer, as the Tigers shutout the Angels 4-0 on Wednesday night at Comerica Park.

Farmer has not allowed a run in either of his two starts, and outdueled Alex Meyer, who also pitch well for the Halos.

Meyer allowed three hits in six strong innings of work, but fell to 2-3 on the season.  He walked four and struck out nine, however, he allowed an unearned run in the third.  A hit batter, a walk and an error loaded the bases with nobody out.  Victor Martinez bounced into a double play, resulting in the first run of the game.

“I can’t walk that many guys, and it is something I need to fix,” Meyer said. “I thought I did a really good job of limiting hits, but I want to do both.”

Upton’s blast to left field added some insurance for the Tigers in the 8th, which was his 12th of the season.

The Halos got three singles on the night, and couldn’t even get a man to second base.  They fell two games below .500 on the season.

The Angels and Tigers will play the rubber game of the 3-game set on Thursday afternoon at Comerica Park.  JC Ramirez (5-4, 4.11 ERA) will be on the mound for the Halos.  Michael Fulmer (6-3, 3.00 ERA) goes for Detroit.

June 6, 2017

Kole Calhoun and CJ Cron hit home runs and the Angels hung on to beat the Tigers 5-3 on Tuesday night at Comerica Park.

Calhoun connected on a solo shot in the 1st inning, while Cron hit a 2-run blast in the 4th.  Both came off of Tigers’ starter Daniel Norris.  That gave the Halos a 3-0 lead.

Calhoun singled again in the 5th inning, scoring Andrelton Simmons after an error by Tigers’ center fielder Alex Presley.  He also delivered a sac fly in the 7th.

“That’s a nice win against a hot team,” Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. “We had some trouble closing out some innings, including the ninth, but we got it done.”

Jesse Chavez got the win, improving to 5-6 on the year.  He pitched 5 2/3 innings, giving up 2 runs on 7 hits before he was pulled.  After giving up a solo homer to Alex Avila and an RBI single to Justin Upton, he was pulled from the game and seen walking off the mound yelling several expletives.  Blake Paker would come in to record the final out of the 6th to end the Tigers threat with J.D. Martinez stranded at 3rd.

Martinez would add a sac fly in the 8th inning to make it 5-3, but that’s as close as the Nationals would get.

Bud Norris pitched the 9th to record his 11th save of the season.  It wasn’t before running into some trouble though.  After recording the first two outs, Presley and Jose Iglesias singled, and both advanced to 2nd and 3rd after a wild pitch.  Ian Kinsler walked to load the bases, but Norris would strike out Avila looking to end the game.

“That was a great job by Bud,” Scioscia said. “He didn’t get a couple calls, but he got back into the at-bat with some great pitches. He knew he was playing with fire if the next guy (Miguel Cabrera) got to the plate.”

Daniel Norris (3-3) took the loss, allowing four runs — three earned — five hits and three walks in six innings.

The second game of the series will be on Wednesday.  The Halos will deploy Alex Meyer (2-2, 4.91 ERA), while the Tigers will go with Buck Farmer, who was just recalled from Triple-A.

June 4, 2017

Miguel Sano hit a 2-run homer in the 6th inning off of Ricky Nolasco, and the Twins got by the Angels 3-2 on Sunday afternoon at the Big A.

Sano’s homer came with one out in the top of the 6th, and on a 1-1 pitch with Robbie Grossman aboard.  It was the decisive blow delivered by the Twins, who took three out of four games from the Angels during their weekend series.

Jason Casto also hit a solo homer in the 3rd inning for Minnesota off Nolasco, who fell to 2-6 on the season.  He gave up 3 runs on 7 hits in 5 2/3 innings of work.

After falling behind 1-0, the Angels tied things up in the 3rd when Andrelton Simmons hit into a double play, which allowed Eric Young Jr. to score.  Ben Revere delivered an RBI single in the 4th inning to give the Halos a 2-1 lead.

Jose Berrios (4-1) got the win for Minnesota after giving up just 2 runs on 6 hits, and striking out 4.  Brandon Kintzler came into record his 15th save of the season in the 9th inning.  He worked around a one out single from Ben Revere to keep the Halos off the scoreboard.

The Angels fell to 29-31 on the season with the loss.  They’ll now travel to Detroit to open a 3-game set with the Tigers on Tuesday.  Jesse Chavez (4-6, 4.68 ERA) gets the ball for the Halos, while the Tigers counter with Daniel Norris (2-3, 4.47 ERA).

June 3, 2017

Albert Pujols hit a grand slam home run in the 4th inning, which was his 600th career long ball, as the Angels defeated the Twins 7-2 on Saturday night at the Big A.

Pujols became the 9th player in major league history to join the 600 home run club.  The 37-year-old clubbed a low pitch from former Angel Ervin Santana inside the left field foul pole, for his 14th career grand slam.  That made it 7-1 Angels, which was all the scoring they would need on this historic night in Anaheim.

The future hall of famer credited his wife, Deidre, for helping him relax and meet the moment.  She sent him a text of encouragement during the game.  “I’m glad I listen to her one in a while,” Pujols said with a smile. “At a moment like this, I always start putting pressure on myself. Usually she’ll give me some encouragement. It was just a perfect time to check my phone, and I’m glad I did.”

The Angels also got home runs from Andrelton Simmons and Kole Calhoun in the 3rd inning.  Matt Shoemaker improved to 5-3 on the season, giving up 2 runs on 5 hits in 6 1/3 innings.

Max Kepler had an RBI single in the 3rd inning, and a solo home run in the 6th inning, which accounted for all of the Twins’ runs.

Santana (7-3) took the loss, giving up 7 runs on 7 hits, over 4 innings of work.  He made 82 pitches on the night.

The series finale will be on Sunday afternoon at the Big A.   Ricky Nolasco (2-5, 5.07 ERA) faces the Twins for the first time since they traded him last season.  Jose Berrios (3-1, 2.70 ERA) makes his fifth start of the season for Minnesota.

June 2, 2017

Joe Mauer, Robbie Grossman, and Max Kepler each hit 2-run homers, as the Twins beat up the Angels 11-5 on Friday night at the Big A.

Minnesota built a 7-0 lead by the 5th inning against J.C. Ramirez (5-4).  He took the loss after getting abused for 7 runs on 8 hits in 4 1/3 innings of work.  Ramirez departed after 74 pitches.

Albert Pujols went 0-4 on the night with two strikeouts.  He remains at 599 career home runs, one short of joining the milestone 600 home run club.

The Halos got a couple of runs back in the 6th inning.  Kole Calhoun delivered one with an RBI single, and another came when Andrelton Simmons scored after Pujols grounded into a double play. An RBI double from Martin Maldonado, and a 2-run homer from Danny Espinosa in the 9th inning capped the scoring for the Angels.

The Twins got four more runs in the 8th inning, highlighted by a two-run double from Byron Buxton, and an RBI single from Mauer.

Kyle Gibson (2-4) got the win after giving up 2 runs on 6 hits.  He struck out 6 and walked 2 in 5 2/3 innings of work.

Mauer finished 4-5 with 3 RBI on the evening.  His .349 career average against the Angels is the second-best against any AL team.  He’s also a career .366 hitter at Angel Stadium.

The Angels will try to get back in the win column tomorrow in game 3 of the series.  Matt Shoemaker (4-3, 4.26 ERA) gets the ball for the Halos.  He’ll be opposed by former-Angel Ervin Santana (7-2, 1.75 ERA).

May 31, 2017

Erick Young Jr. hit his 1st home run of the season in the bottom of the 8th inning, as the Angels edged the Braves 2-1 on Wednesday night at the Big A.

The Braves jumped out to a 1-0 lead on a solo home run by Matt Kemp.  It was his 2nd home run in two nights.

It remained that way until the bottom of the 7th inning.  The Halos got a pair of infield singles, putting runners at 1st and 2nd.  Then Shane Robinson came to the plate and hit a chopper to 3rd baseman Rio Ruiz.  Ruiz stepped on 3rd base to get the force out, but made a throwing error in attempt to get the ball to first base, which allowed Danny Espinosa to score from 1st base and tie the game at 1-1.

Jesse Chavez went seven innings for the Angels, giving up the one run, five hits and a walk, striking out four.

Jaime Garcia also went seven innings for the Braves, allowing one unearned run, five hits and three walks.

Blake Parker (1-2) picked up the victory with one inning of work, while Bud Norris got the final two outs for his 10th save.

Arodys Vizcaino (1-1) took the loss after giving up the solo blast to Young Jr. in the 8th.  Vizcaino had made 12 consecutive scoreless appearances until giving up the homer to Young.  Young was called up after Mike Trout was put on the disabled list with a thumb injury.

The Angels now open a four game series with the Minnesota Twins on Thursday evening at the Big A.  Alex Meyer (2-2, 5.79 ERA) will come off the disabled list to make the start for the Halos.  The Twins will go with Adalberto Mejia (1-1, 4.64 ERA).

May 30, 2017

Albert Pujols hit the 599th home run of his career, and the Angels dominated the Braves 9-2 on Tuesday night at the Big A.

Pujols three-run shot in the 3rd inning off of Bartolo Colon began a 9-run explosion, which put the game away early for the Halos.

Colon did not make it out of that 3rd inning.  He fell to 2-6 on the season after giving up 9 runs (2 of them earned) on 7 hits.  The Braves made 3 errors during that brutal 3rd.

Parker Bridwell got the win in his first major league start.  He went 6 innings, giving up 3 earned runs on 6 hits, while striking out 4 and walking 1.  He allowed a 2-run homer to Matt Kemp in the 3rd inning, and then a solo homer to Tyler Flowers in the 7th.  He walked off the mound to a standing ovation.

Deolis Guerra and David Hernandez pitched the final three innings of the game.  They yielded just 1 hit in that stretch.

The rubber game of the three game set will be on Wednesday night in Anaheim.  Jesse Chavez (4-6, 5.09 ERA) gets the ball for the Halos.  Jaime Garcia (2-3, 3.58 ERA) goes for the Braves.

May 29, 2017

The Braves exploded for 6 runs in the 3rd inning on Monday night in Anaheim, as Atlanta took down the Angels 6-3.

Matt Adams and Danny Santana each had two-run doubles in the 3rd, highlighting the early rally that put the game out of reach.

It was the first game the Angels played after learning that they will be without Mike Trout for the next 6-8 weeks.  The center fielder elected to undergo surgery to repair a torn ligament in his left thumb.

“We have to be more than one guy, and feel we are,” Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. “It’s a big loss in the clubhouse and on the field, but hopefully the surgery goes well and he’s back in a reasonable amount of time and we’ll have our offense in gear by the time he gets back.”

Ricky Nolasco fell to 2-5 on the season, and lasted just 2 2/3 innings.  He gave up all 6 runs on 6 hits.

“It looked like Ricky was trying to throw his way out of jams instead of pitching,” Scioscia said.

The Halos 3 runs came on 3 solo home runs.  They led 1-0 after Andrelton Simmons 5th of the season.

Albert Pujols connected on his 7th home of the year in the 4th, which was the 598th long ball of his career.  Luis Valbuena followed with a solo blast of his own to make it back-to-back.

However, Julio Teheran (4-4) got the win after holding the Angels to those 3 runs on 6 hits.  He pitched 6 1/3 innings, departing after 91 pitches.

Jim Johnson pitched the 9th inning, picking up his 11th save of the season.

The Angels and Braves will be back at it on Tuesday night at the Big A.  Parker Bridwell will make his major league debut for the Halos.  Bartolo Colon (2-5, 6.96 ERA) gets the ball for the Braves.