May 19, 2017

Jacob DeGrom pitched a 4-hit shutout in 7 innings of work, as the Mets blanked the Angels 3-0 on Friday night.  The Angels’ loss snapped their four-game winning streak.

Ricky Nolasco (2-3) took the loss, despite giving up just 2 runs (1 earned) on 4 hits in 6 innings of work.

The Mets got an RBI double from Curtis Granderson in the 1st inning to take a quick 1-0 lead.  It was an unearned run, resulting from a throwing error by C.J. Cron earlier in the inning.

T.J. Rivera delivered an RBI single in the 6th inning, and that made it 2-0 New York.

The other Mets’ run came in the 7th inning on a solo home run by Michael Conforto, which came off of Jose Alvarez.

DeGrom (3-1) got the win, and ended a 17-game stretch in which no Mets’ starters got an out in the seventh inning, tying a club record set in 2002.

“All night, we didn’t get too many good looks at him,” Angels’ manager Mike Scioscia said about DeGrom. “He pitched a good game for those guys, but when we did get a couple of looks, he made some pitches and got out of it.”

DeGrom also retired 13 straight before Kole Calhoun’s two-out single in the sixth. He gave up four hits, struck out nine and walked three.

Mike Trout singled twice on the evening, but the Halos couldn’t generate a whole lot of offense.  Albert Pujols was not available to play because of a sore right hamstring. Scioscia said Pujols had an MRI, which showed tendinitis in the hamstring.

Game 2 of the series is on Saturday night at Citi Field.  Alex Meyer (2-1, 5.59) will try to get another win for the Halos.  He’ll be opposed by Mets righty Zack Wheeler (2-2, 3.76).

May 17, 2017

Mike Trout homered for the 5th time in 6 games, as the Angels rallied from a 4-run deficit to beat the White Sox 12-8.  The Halos completed a 3-game sweep with the win, and moved one game over .500.

The Sox jumped out to a quick lead on a 2-run homer by Jose Abreu, and by the 2nd inning they held what appeared to be a comfortable 4-0 lead.

The Halos got the four runs right back in the bottom half of the 2nd, capped off by a 2-run single by Albert Pujols.

in the 6th, the Angels would get four more runs.  Martin Maldonado delivered an RBI single, followed by Trout’s 3-run homer.

Another four-run Angel explosion took place in the 7th.  RBI singles by CJ Cron, Danny Espinosa, and Maldonado accounted for 3 of the runs.

Matt Shoemaker (3-2) picked up the win after pitching 6 1/3 innings.  He gave up 4 runs (3 of them earned) on 9 hits.  He struck out 9 and walked 1.

The Sox got 3 runs in the 8th against Jose Alvarez, and 1 in the 9th against Keynan Middleton, but it wasn’t enough.

Miguel Gonzales (3-4) took the loss for the Sox.  He pitched 5 2/3 innings, giving up 5 runs on 5 hits.

The Angels will now travel to New York for a 3-game series with the Mets beginning Friday.  Ricky Nolasco (2-2; 4.34 ERA) takes the mound for the Halos in game 1, and Jacob DeGrom (2-1; 4.07 ERA) goes for New York.

May 16, 2017

Albert Pujols singled in the 11th inning, scoring Ben Revere, and the Angels beat the White Sox 7-6 on Tuesday night.

Pujols had a pair of hits and had 3 RBI on the night.  The win moved the Angels back to .500 on the season at 21-21.

The Halos trailed 6-5 after Tim Anderson hit a solo home run in the 11th inning.  However, Cameron Maybin delivered an RBI double, scoring Danny Espinosa to tie the game.  After Mike Trout was intentionally walked, Pujols came through with the walk-off winner.

Yusmeiro Petit (1-0) got credit for the win, despite giving up the home run to Anderson.  David Robertson (2-1) took the loss for the White Sox.

It was a rough night for the Angels bullpen, which had been fairly effective thus far this season.  Bud Norris was unavailable to pitch after pitching for 3 straight days.  The Angels took a 5-2 lead into the 9th inning and that’s when the collapse began.

David Hernandez came into the game, trying to close it out, but he gave up an RBI double to Leury Garcia, scoring Melky Cabrera.  That made it 5-3.  Todd Frazier’s infield single scored Jose Abreu and Garcia, and the game was tied 5-5.

Hernandez was charged with was charged with 3 earned runs, giving up 4 hits.  He did not record an out, and was replaced by Petit.

JC Ramirez started for the Angels, and pitched well.  He went 7 innings, giving just 2 earned runs on 5 hits.

White Sox starter Derek Holland also fared well.  He went 6 innings, giving up 3 runs on 7 hits.  He was removed from the game trailing 3-2.

The Angels and White Sox will do it again on Wednesday, with the Halos going for the sweep.  Matt Shoemaker (2-2; 4.50 ERA) is on the mound for the Angels.  Miguel Gonzales (3-3; 3.83 ERA) will get the ball for the Sox.

May 15, 2017

Mike Trout homered for the 4th straight game, and the Angels rallied to beat the White Sox 5-3 on Monday night in Anaheim.

The Halos trailed 3-0 in the 5th inning, but Kole Calhoun connected on a 3-run homer to tie the game.  The next batter was Mike Trout, who drilled a solo blast over the left field wall, and the Angels suddenly had a 4-3 lead.  Martin Maldonado added another solo homer in the 7th inning for the Angels.

Jesse Chavez (3-5) picked up the win for the Angels.  He pitched 7 strong innings, giving up 3 runs on 5 hits.  Bud Norris got the final four outs for his 8th save of the season.

The White Sox got on the board in the 4th inning on a 2-run homer from Jose Abreu.  An RBI triple from Tyler Saladino made it 3-0. in the 5th.

Mike Pelfrey (0-4) took the loss for the Sox.  He gave up 4 earned runs on 3 hits.

The White Sox put runners on first and second with two out in the ninth, but Kevan Smith struck out looking to end the game.

Game 2 of the 3-game set will be on Tuesday night at the Big A.   JC Ramirez (3-3, 4.20 ERA) will be on the mound for the Halos, while the White Sox counter with Derek Holland (3-3, 2.43 ERA).

May 14, 2017

Alex Meyer pitched 6 1/3 innings strong innings and picked up his 2nd win of the season, as the Angels beat the Tigers 4-1 at the Big A on Sunday afternoon.  The win salvaged a split of the four-game series between the Tigers and Angels.

Meyer (2-1) was once a reliever that the Angels are using as a starting pitcher since being acquired late last season, and is starting fulfill some of his potential.  The 6+ innings were a career-high for Meyer, who made 96 pitches, and gave up just 1 run on 3 hits.  He struck out 7 Tigers and threw his fastball as hard as 98 MPH consistently.  Bud Norris pitched the 9th for his 7th save of the season.

The Angels got a solo home run from Mike Trout in the 1st inning, tying the game at 1-1.  It was the third straight game Trout went deep.  Danny Espinosa hit a solo shot of his own in the 4th inning, giving the Halos the lead.

In the 7th, the Angels added a pair of insurance runs.  Andrelton Simmons delivered an RBI single, scoring Juan Graterol.  Trout added a sacrifice fly later in the inning, making it 4-1.

The Tigers only run of the game came on an RBI single from Nicholas Castellanos in the 1st inning.  Ian Kinsler lead off the game with a double, followed by the Castellanos hit.  After that Meyer did not allow a hit until the 7th.

Justin Verlander (3-3) took the loss for the Tigers.  He pitched into the 7th inning, giving up all four runs, striking out 7 and walking 5.  He passed Tommy John and pulled even with Eddie Plank for 53rd place in baseball history with 2,246 career strikeouts.

The Tigers haven’t won a series in Anaheim since 2009.  They have played 8 series at the Big A during that stretch.

Trout also stole two bases, joining Alex Rodriguez as the only players to get 175 homers and 150 steals before their age-26 season.  Cameron Maybin stole second base three times for the Angels, matching his career high in steals.

Albert Pujols got the day off for the Halos.  He was replaced in the lineup by C.J. Cron at first base, who returned from the disabled list.

The Angels will now host the White Sox in Anaheim for a 3-game set beginning on Monday night.  Jesse Chavez (2-5, 4.29 ERA) gets the ball for the Halos, while the Sox go with Mike Pelfrey (0-3; 5.21 ERA).

May 13, 2017

J.D. Martinez hit a pair of home runs, including a solo shot in the 9th, giving the Tigers a 4-3 win over the Angels on Saturday night in Anaheim.

Martinez came off the disabled list on Friday after missing the first 33 games with a foot injury.  His 9th inning homer came off of Halos reliever Bud Norris (1-2), who took the loss.

Alex Wilson (1-1) pitched the 8th to get credit for the win.  Justin Wilson struck out the side in the 9th for his 2nd save.

The Angels tied the game at 3-3 in the 7th inning on Mike Trout’s 10th homer of the season, which came off of Tigers’ reliever Shane Greene.

Detroit took a 3-2 lead in the 6th inning when Justin Upton connected on his 8th homer of the season.

Ricky Nolasco pitched 6 innings for the Angels.  He gave up 3 runs on 5 hits and struck out 4.

Albert Pujols had a 2-run single in the 5th to tie the game at 2-2.  That gave Pujols 1,844 RBIs, tying Carl Yastrzemski for 11th on baseball’s career list.

The Halos fell behind 2-0 in the 2nd on Martinez’ first homer of the game, a 2-run shot off Nolasco.

Daniel Norris started for Detroit, pitching into the 6th.  He gave up 2 runs on 7 hits.

The Halos will try to salvage a split of the four game series on Sunday at the Big A.  Alex Meyer (1-1, 7.62 ERA) on the mound for the Angels.  Justin Verlander (3-2, 4.25 ERA) goes for Detroit.

May 12, 2017

Matt Shoemaker threw six shutout innings of 3-hit baseball, and Mike Trout hit a 2-run homer as the Angels hammered the Tigers 7-0 at the Big A on Friday night.

Shoemaker (2-2)  made 94 pitches, striking out 7 batters and walking just 1.  He departed with a 5-0 lead.

The Halos jumped in front 2-0 in the 2nd inning on a solo homer from Luis Valbuena and an infield single from Cliff Pennington, which scored Kole Calhoun.

An RBI double from Martin Maldonado in the 4th, a Valbuena RBI single in the 5th, and another Pennington RBI single in the 6th made it 5-0.

Blake Parker, David Hernandez, and Keynan Middleton combined to pitch 3 innings of scoreless relief for the Angels.

Jordan Zimmerman (3-2) took the loss for Detroit.  He gave up 5 runs (4 of them earned) on 10 hits in 5 1/3 innings of work.

Trout’s homer in the 8th inning came off of Anibal Sanchez.  It was his 9th homer of the season, and his first hit since returning from the disabled list after injuring his hamstring.

The Halos put together 14 hits on the night, including 3 apiece from Valbuena and Pennington, and two apiece from Calhoun and Andrelton Simmons.

Game 3 of the series will be on Saturday night.  Ricky Nolasco (2-2; 4.31 ERA) is on the mound for the Halos, while the Tigers will give the ball to Daniel Norris (2-2; 4.55 ERA).

May 11, 2017

Justin Upton and former Angel Andrew Romine homered in the first two innings, as the Tigers dominated the Angels 7-1 on Thursday night at the Big A.

Upton hit a 3-run homer in the 1st inning off of JC Ramirez, giving the Tigers a quick lead they would never relinquish.

“The first inning has been huge for me in all the games I’ve been starting,” Ramirez said. “I don’t know why. Then I bounce back. Maybe I need to be more focused, be more mentally prepared for that first inning.”

Romine made it 5-0 in the 2nd with a 2-run blast, his 2nd long ball of the season.  Ramirez did settle down after that, retiring 10 straight batters at one point.

Ramirez (3-3) took the loss, giving up 5 runs on 8 hits in 7 innings of work.  He managed to spare the bullpen a long evening, but the Halos couldn’t give him any run support.

The only Angel run came on an RBI double from Yunel Escobar in the 5th inning.  It was also 1 of only 4 hits on the night for the Halos.

In 11 of their last 17 games, the Angels have been held to three runs or fewer.  Mike Trout did return to the lineup and started as the teams Designated Hitter, but he was 0-4 on the night.

Michael Fulmer (4-1) picked up the win, pitching 7 strong innings for the Tigers.  He allowed just 1 run on 3 hits, while striking out 7.

“We have probably a handful of guys in our lineup right now struggling to find their rhythm,” manager Mike Scioscia said. “They’re not seeing the ball as well as they can. We have some guys just fighting themselves who need to just exhale and take a step back, and that’s what we’re working on.

The Angels and Tigers will do it again on Friday night in Anaheim.  It will be Matt Shoemaker (1-2; 5.21 ERA) for the Halos and Jordan Zimmermann (3-1; 6.21 ERA) for Detroit.

May 10, 2017

Andrew Triggs pitched 6 strong innings and Chad Pinder hit a 2-run shot, as the A’s knocked off the Angels 3-1 on Wednesday afternoon in the rubber game of their three-game set.

Triggs (5-2) threw 105 pitches, giving up just 1 run on 3 hits.  He struck out 4, walked 3, and managed to escape trouble on numerous occasions.

Triggs began the game by walking three straight batters to load the bases.  However, all the Angels could generate was an RBI fielders’ choice by Jefry Marte.  The Angels were 0-8 with runners in scoring position on the day.  Triggs found a way to pitch out of trouble repeatedly.

Liam Hendriks, Ryan Madsen, and Santiago Casilla gave up only 1 hit over the final 3 innings of play.

Jesse Chaves (2-5) took the loss for the Halos.  He went 5 2/3 innings, giving up 2 runs on 3 hits, striking out 5 and walking 2.

“Jesse really pitched a strong game,” Los Angeles manager Mike Scioscia said. “A broken-bat base hit, and then Pinder launched one that got up in the jet stream. I think at night time no way would that ball going to carry. He pitched really well for us.”

Pinder’s home run came on an 0-1 pitch after Mark Canha lead off the 5th inning with a single to right.

The A’s would an an insurance run in the bottom of the 8th inning when Khris Davis singled in Ryon Healy.  That came against Angels reliever Yusmeiro Petit.

The Angels played the game without sluggers Mike Trout and Albert Pujols.  Trout missed his 5th consecutive game with a hamstring injury, and Pujols was given the day off.

The Halos will now open a 7-game homestand starting Thursday night against Detroit.  JC Ramirez (3-2, 3.74 ERA) will get the start in the first of a four game series.  The Tigers will counter with Michael Fulmer (3-1; 2.77 ERA).

May 9, 2017

Yunel Escobar hit a 3-run homer and drove in 4 runs, and the Angels took down the A’s 7-3 on Tuesday night in Oakland.

Albert Pujols and Ben Revere also hit solo home runs for the Halos, who found some offense after Mike Trout sat out his 4th straight game with a hamstring injury.

Alex Meyer (1-1) picked up the win, pitching 5 1/3 innings, giving up 3 runs on 4 hits while striking out 7 and walking 5.  Bud Norris pitched the 9th to pick up his 6th save of the season.

Pujols solo blast put the Angels up 1-0.  The A’s responded with a 2-run blast form Yonder Alonso, which was his first of two homers on the evening.  He added a solo shot in the 6th inning as well.

The Angels would put up four runs in the 2nd inning on the home runs by Revere and Escobar, suddenly giving them a 5-2 lead.

In the 4th, the Halos would add two more, off a Cliff Pennington run-scoring single, and an RBI groundout from Escobar.

Jharel Cotton (3-4) took the loss.  He went 5 innings, giving up all 7 runs on 8 hits.  Not even having Kevin Durant in the house could help the A’s on this night.

The Angels are now 6-0 this year on Tuesday night.  Both teams will go at it in the rubber game on Wednesday afternoon.  Jesse Chavez (2-4; 4.46 ERA) gets the ball for the Halos, and the A’s will go with Andrew Triggs (4-2, 2.34 ERA).