June 20, 2017

Cameron Maybin hit a tie-breaking solo homer in the 7th inning, as the Angels took down the Yankees 8-3 on Tuesday night at Yankee Stadium.

Maybin’s homer was part of a three-run 7th, which also included a Yunel Escobar RBI triple, and an RBI single from Luis Valbuena.

The three runs came against Yankees’ reliever Tyler Clippard, who took the loss and fell to 1-4 on the season.

The Halos would put the game out of reach with some insurance runs in the 8th and 9th inning.  Maybin delivered an infield single, scoring Martin Maldonado.  Luis Valubena hit a solo shot in the 9th.

Blake Parker (3-2) got credit for the win after coming in to pitch the 6th inning.  He gave up a solo homer to Gary Sanchez that tied the game at 3-3.

The Angels took a 3-0 lead behind an Albert Pujols RBI single, and RBI double from Danny Espinosa, and a run-scoring single from Kole Calhoun.

The Yankees rallied against Halos’ starter Parker Bridwell, who allowed a sacrifice fly from Chase Headley in the 4th, followed by Aaron Judge’s 24th homer of the season in the 5th.

Bridwell went five innings, giving up two runs on on two hits, striking out three and walking five.  He made 95 pitches.

The Angels moved back to .500, while the Yankees have now lost seven straight games.

Game 2 of the series will be tomorrow night in the Big Apple.  Ricky Nolasco (2-8, 5.01 ERA) starts for the Angels.  Jordan Montgomery (4-4, 3.78 ERA) goes for the Yankees.

June 18, 2017

Salvador Perez hit a three-run homer in the 4th inning, and the Royals took down the Angels 7-3 on Sunday afternoon at the Big A.  The win was the third victory over the Halos during the four-game weekend series.

Former Angel Jason Vargas improved his record to 10-3 with six strong innings of work. He gave up three-runs on eight hits.

The Angels jumped in front 2-0 in the 1st inning on an RBI double from Kole Calhoun and a run-scoring single from Andrelton Simmons.

Mike Moustakas answered with a three-run double in the third inning off of Angels’ starter JC Ramirez to give the Royals the lead right back.

A sacrifice fly by Eric Hosmer in the 4th inning made it 4-2 Royals.  Then came the big blow by Perez in the 4th.

A sacrifice fly by Ben Revere in the 6th got the Angels a run back, but that was all the offense they could put together on this afternoon.

Ramirez (6-5) took the loss after yielding five runs on five hits in three innings of work.  He struck out six and walked four, while making a very inefficient 89 pitches.

The Halos had to burn five relievers over the next six innings.  Keynan Middleton was charged with a pair of runs in the fourth inning.

Kelvin Herrera came in for the 9th inning to record his 15th save of the season for Kansas City.

The Halos fall one game under .500 now at 36-37.  They are way out of the AL West race, but still have a shot at the AL Wild Card.

After an off-day on Monday, the Angels will travel to New York to open a 3-game series with the Yankees.  Ricky Nolasco (2-8, 5.01 ERA) will start for the Halos in game 1.  The Yankees will go with Michael Pineda (7-3, 3.71 ERA).

June 17, 2017

Alex Meyer threw six shutout innings and the Angels hit three home runs, as they defeated the Royals 9-0 on Saturday night at the Big A.

Cameron Maybin, Luis Valbuena, and Albert Pujols hit home runs.  The Halos put together a 13-hit attack.

Maybin hit a leadoff homer in the first inning, Pujols had a two-run shot in the fifth and Valbuena added a three-run homer in the seventh.

The story was Meyer though.  He improved his record to 3-3 on the season. He gave up only a pair of singles, struck out nine, and walked one.

“The more you go out there, the more confident you get,” Meyer said. “I definitely feel it’s another step in the right direction.”

Blake Parker, Cam Bedrosian and Yusmeiro Petit came out of the bullpen to combine for the Angels’ fourth shutout of the season.

Jake Junis (2-1) got the first loss of his career, surrendering five runs and eight hits in 5 1/3 innings.

The Angels placed pitcher Matt Shoemaker on the 10-day DL on Saturday with forearm tightness.   Parker Bridwell was recalled from Triple-A Salt Lake to take his roster spot.  Bedrosian (groin) was also activated from the DL and RHP Daniel Wright returned to Salt Lake.

The Angels will try to salvage a split of their four-game series with KC on Sunday afternoon at the Big A.  JC Ramirez (6-4, 4.19 ERA) gets the ball for the Halos.  The Royals will counter with Jason Vargas (9-3, 2.10 ERA).  Vargas has the 2nd lowest ERA in the majors this season.

June 16, 2017

Lorenzo Cain hit a pair of home runs and had 3 RBI, as the Royals defeated the Angels 3-1 on Friday night at the Big A.

Ian Kennedy (1-6) picked up the win, retiring the first 17 batters that he faced.  It was the Royals sixth straight win and ended his sixteen-start winless streak.

The Angels finally broke up Kennedy’s perfect game in the 6th on a solo home run from Cliff Pennington.  It was Pennington’s first homer since last August.

Kelvin Herrera pitched the ninth for his 14th save in 16 chances for Kansas City.  The Royals improved to 5-0 against the Angels this season.

Jesse Chavez (5-7) took the loss after yielding two runs on nine hits.  He went seven innings but he has now allowed at least one homer in 12 straight appearances.  That’s the longest streak in the majors.

The Halos will try to find the win column on Saturday night.  Alex Meyer (2-3, 4.05 ERA) will be on the mound for the Angels.  Jakob Junis (2-0, 4.67 ERA) gets the start for KC.

June 15, 2017

Lorenzo Cain and Alex Gordon came through with solo homers, as the Royals beat up the Angels 7-2 on Thursday night at the Big A.

It was another tough outing for Angel starter Ricky Nolasco (2-8), who lost his sixth straight start.  Nolasco gave up five runs on ten hits in six innings of work.

The Royals have now won five straight games, and provided plenty of run support for starter Matt Strahm (2-3).  Strahm went five innings, striking out three while giving up three hits and one walk.  It was his first-career start after working as a reliever over the past two seasons.

The Halos took a 1-0 lead after Kole Calhoun scored an unearned run after a single by Albert Pujols.  Calhoun had reached second base after an error by Gordon.

However, the Royals scored four unanswered runs over the next two innings.  That rally was highlighted by Cain and Gordon’s solo blasts in the 3rd and 4th innings, respectively.

The Halos second run of the game came on an RBI single by Yunel Escobar.  However, the Royals answered with three more runs in the 7th inning.

Game two of the series is tomorrow night at the Big A.  Jesse Chavez (5-6, 5.06 ERA) will try to keep the ball in the yard against a red hot Royals team.  Ian Kennedy (0-6, 5.40 ERA) looks for his first win of the season for KC.

June 14, 2017

Danny Espinosa and Andrelton Simmons hit home runs, and the Angels rallied past the Yankees 7-5 on Wednesday night at the Big A.

Unfortunately for the Halos, starter Matt Shoemaker left the game with an injury.  Shoemaker departed in the 4th inning with tightness in his forearm.

“I’m really annoyed and frustrated by it because I wanted to go out and pitch and help our team win,” Shoemaker said. “I’m not really concerned about it at all. We’re going to see the next couple days how it reacts. It should be fine.”

Eric Young Jr. had two more hits including an RBI single.  He also threw out a runner at the plate and made a diving catch.  Young’s single snapped a 4-4 tie, after the Halos fell behind 4-0.

Simmons homer came in the 7th inning off of Yankees rookie Ronald Herrera, who was making his major league debut.  Herrera took the loss.

Blake Parker (1-1) got credit for the win after pitching 1 1/3 innings of solid relief.  David Hernandez pitched the 9th inning to record his 1st save.

Up the next the Angels will open a four-game series against the Royals beginning Thursday at the Big A.  Ricky Nolasco (2-7, 4.81 ERA) tries to find the win column for the Halos against Matt Strahm (1-3, 4.50 ERA).

June 13, 2017

Erick Young Jr. hit a home run and drove in the game-winning run in the bottom of the 11th inning, as the Angels got the by Yankees 3-2 on Tuesday night at the Big A.

In the 11th inning, Andrelton Simmons walked with one out.  After CJ Cron flied out, Simmons stole second.  A Martin Maldonado groundout back to the box allowed Simmons to move to 3rd.  Cliff Pennington walked, and that set the stage for Young, who hit a line drive that was deflected by Yankees relief pitcher Ben Heller, allowing Andrelton Simmons to score the game-winning run from 3rd.

Young also led-off the 8th inning with a home run that tied the game at 2-2.  The ball traveled over the right field wall, 382 feet.

Chase Headley gave the Yankees a 2-1 lead with a solo shot to center field in the 7th inning.  It came off of Angel starter JC Ramirez.

Ramirez went 6 2/3 innings giving up 2 runs on 5 hits.  He struck out 7 and walked 3, but did not factor into the decision.

Keynan Middleton (2-0) got credit for the win.  He recorded the final 2 outs of the 11th inning after coming in with one out and the bases loaded.

Yusmeiro Petit, Bud Norris, Mike Morin, and Middleton combined for 5 1/3 innings of shutout relief.

The Angels took a 1-0 lead in the 4th inning on an RBI single from CJ Cron.  The Yankees would tie the game in the 5th on a run-scoring single by Brett Gardner.

CC Sabathia started for the Yankees.  He only lasted four innings giving up 1 run on 3 hits.  He departed after 64 pitches with a strained left hamstring.  Chasen Shreve (1-1) took the loss after being charged with the game-winning run.

The rubber game of the three-game set will be on Wednesday night at the Big A.  Matt Shoemaker (6-3, 4.22 ERA) goes for the Halos.  New York will counter with Michael Pineda (7-3, 3.39 ERA).

June 12, 2017

Aaron Judge hit a 2-run homer in the top of the 8th inning which proved to be the decisive blow, as the Yankees defeated the Angels 5-3 on Monday night at the Big A.

Judge’s homer came off of Bud Norris with Aaron Hicks aboard, and traveled 438 feet over the right center field wall.  It was his major league-leading 22nd homer of the season.  Judge, who grew up in Linden, Calif. — nearly 400 miles north of Anaheim — was met with “M-V-P” chants fans in the stands after rounding the bases.

The Angels trailed 3-1 after a pair of RBI singles by Didi Gregorious in the 3rd and 5th, and a run scoring single from Chase Headley in the 7th.

Kole Calhoun hit a solo home run for the Halos in the 1st to give them a 1-0 lead.  They rallied in the 7th inning behind an RBI single from Danny Espinosa and an RBI double from Cameron Maybin to tie the game at 3-3.

Jose Alvarez (0-3) took the loss after giving up a one-out double to Hicks before Juge’s two-run homer.

Alex Meyer started for the Angels, giving up 2 runs on 5 hits, while lasting on 4 2/3 innings.  He made 93 pitches.

Tyler Clippard (1-3) got credit for the win.  Dellin Betances struck out the side in the ninth for his sixth save, his first since May 27.

Masahiro Tanaka  went 6 2/3 innings while allowing just one earned run (three total) on four hits.

The Angels and Yankees will go at it again tomorrow night at the Big A.  J.C. Ramirez (6-4, 6.55 ERA) gets the ball for the Halos.  He’ll be opposed by C.C. Sabathia  (7-2, 3.66 ERA).

June 11, 2017

Eric Young had a three-run homer and drove in four runs as the Angels beat the Astros 12-6 on Sunday afternoon at Minute Maid Park.

Young”s three-run shot in the fifth broke a 6-6 tie and gave the Halos the lead for good.  The four RBI were a career-high for Young.

Albert Pujols drilled a solo homer and Kole Calhoun had two hits and three RBI as well.

After taking two out of three from Houston, the Halos are the first AL West team to win a series from the Astros this season.

Jesse Chavez had a rough outing for Angels.  He pitched 3 2/3 innings, yielding six runs on four hits.  However, the Angels used six relievers to shut down the ‘Stros the rest of the way.

Keynan Middleton (1-0) got credit for the win after pitching the 5th inning.

Michael Feliz (2-1) took the loss for the ‘Stros.  He gave up four runs on three hits in the 5th inning.

The Angels will now head back to Anaheim open a 3-game set with the Yankees on Monday night.  Alex Meyer (2-3, 4.08 ERA) gets the ball for the Halos.  Masahiro Tanaka (5-6, 6.55 ERA) goes the the Yankees.

June 10, 2017

Mike Fiers allowed just one unearned on two hits, while pitching 7 1/3 innings, as the Astros topped the Angels 3-1 on Saturday night at Minute Maid Park.

Fiers improved to 4-2 on the season, striking out eight batters and walking 2.  He made 95 pitches on the night.

“He didn’t do anything that we haven’t seen before, but he was doing it well,” Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. “He changed speeds, had a good breaking ball and change up going as well.”

Brian McCann put Houston up 1-0 with his solo shot to right field off Ricky Nolasco with one out in the second.  Nolasco fell to 2-7 on the season after giving up 2 runs on 8 hits in seven innings of work.

Yuli Gurriel added a sacrifice fly in the 5th, scoring McCann, which made it 2-0.

The Halos would cut the lead in half in the 8th, after Andrelton Simmons groundout to short scored Luis Valbuena.  Carlos Correa made a throwing error earlier in the inning, opening the door for the Halos to get on the board with an unearned run.

However, Correa made up for it with an RBI single in the 8th inning off of Yusmeiro Petit, adding an insurance run and making it 3-1.

Ken Giles pitched the 9th inning, striking out three batters in a scoreless inning for his 16th save of the season.

Sunday will be the rubber game of the three-game set.   Jesse Chavez (5-6, 4.56 ERA) will start for the Halos in the finale.   David Paulino (0-0, 4.66) is scheduled to make his third start of the season for Houston.