I wasn’t able to get Saturday’s game in until now, so I’ll just do that one with Sunday’s game.

After putting on a absolute show in the first game of the series with The Nation, The Angels took Game 2 with some timely hitting and of course, strong pitching. Josh Beckett was incredibly tough as usual, and was backed by Kevin Youkilis’ 17th home run in the second inning. It would stay 2-0 Boston until the 7th, and that’s when things would get dramatic. Vladimir Guerrero crushed a Beckett fastball into the bullpen in left field to put the Angels on the board. This would cut the Sox lead in half. The Angels were wearing Beckett out, and the next two hitters, Torii Hunter and Garret Anderson singled. After Reggie Willits bunted the runners over, Beckett intentionally walked Howie Kendrick. Then on a 1-0 count, pinch-hitter Erick Aybar tripled down the right field line to clear the bases and send Angel Stadium into a frenzy. They had gotten to Josh Beckett, and he would be done after he finished the 8th inning. A relief for Joe Saunders, who had pitched so well and was on his way to a loss. For Beckett, his hitters couldn’t bail him out against a tough Angels bullpen, and he was charged with his 6th loss of the season. K-Rod earned his 39th save. Halos win 4-2. 

Saunders: 6.2 IP, 6 H, 2 ER, 3 BB, SO

Guerrero: HR (16)

Beckett: 8 IP, 9 H, 4 ER, BB, 6 SO   

 Now for Game 2.

The Angels, as you probably just read, took the first two over the Red Sox in the series. The Clutch hitting would continue for the Halos as America would watch them beat Boston for the second straight night on National TV as they took the game 5-3. The Angels took the lead early, when Vladimir Guerrero and Torii Hunter hit back to back home runs against knuckleballer Tim Wakefield in the 2nd. The Red Sox would tie it with 2 of their own the next half inning. From that point, Jon Garland dueled with Tim Wakefield to keep the game tied, and it was–until the 7th inning. With Coco Crisp on second base, Vlad Guerrero dropped Jacoby Ellsbury’s line drive, allowing the go-ahead run to score. The Halos were not ready to give up. Knocking Wakefield out of the game, they scored 3 runs in the 8th inning. Howie Kendrick’s run-scoring single against Wakefield would tie the score, and Casey Kotchman’s game winning two-bagger down the right field line against Manny Delcarmen would almost guarentee a win. Yeah, that’s how GOOD Francisco Rodriguez has been this year, and he showed it. Coming into the game in the top of the 9th, K-Rod struck out the side for his 40th save of the season. Nobody has been better.

At the end of the year, we may be calling Rodriguez the all-time saves holder for a single season. Better than Mariano Rivera, better than Trevor Hoffman. And he’s only 26. …..Okay I’m rambling, but this guy at least needs some Cy Young consideration, especially if the Angels go deep into October. If they take care of business against the Red Sox in October like they this weekend, then this team just might.

Angels Blog

The Los Angels Angels lost a heartbreaking game on Wednesday night as closer Francisco Rodriguez gave up a rbi single and a walk off two run home run as the Angles lost to the Texas Rangers 5-4.  K-Rod first gave up a rbi single to Michael Young, and then Josh Hamilton went deep for a two run home run to win the game for the Rangers.

Angels starting pitcher Jered Weaver tossed six innings while giving up seven hits and two runs.  Weaver was only charged with one run however and he struck out five batters.  Weaver didn’t pitch to badly, he worked out of some jams which really helped out.  Jose Arredondo and Scot Shields both pitched scoreless innings for the bullpen.

Juan Rivera had three rbi for the Angles as he had a rbi sac fly and then a two run home run to lead the team at the plate.  The Angels also got one run when Torii Hunter grounded into a double play.  The offense did enough in the game to win, the bullpen just didn’t hold on this one time.  Tough loss for the team overall.

Angels Blog

The Los Angeles Angels struggled at the plate and only scored two runs as they lost 3-2 to the Texas Rangers on Tuesday evening.  The Angles offense was the reason they lost the game as they only had six hits and left 12 runners on base.

Garret Anderson had both rbi for the Halos as he had a two run rbi single in the fifth inning.  Torii Hunter and Howie Kendrick both scored on the play.  The first three hitters in the lineup went a combined 0-12 in the game as they just didn’t get the job done.

Joe Saunders pitched a pretty good game as the tossed all eight innings.  Saunders gave up six hits and three runs in the game as he took the loss to fall to 12-5.  Saunders gave up a sac fly to Josh Hamilton in the first inning, then a solo home run to Chris Davis in the fifth, and then a rbi single to Hamilton in the sixth inning.

The Halos and Rangers will now play game three of the four game series on Wednesday night.  The series is tied at 1-1 and the Angels will be hoping to take a 2-1 lead in the series.

Angels Blog

The Los Angeles Angels pitching struggled on Monday night as three different pitchers allowed runs to cross the plate.  The New York Mets were able to push across six runs in the game and defeat the Angels 9-6 to take the first game in the series.

Jered Weaver pitched 6 1/3 innings but gave up eight hits and six runs.  Two home runs were hit off of Weaver but they were both solo home runs by Carlos Beltran.  Things could have been a lot worse for Weaver had there been some runners on base when Beltran was batting.  Weaver is now 6-7 on the season after taking the loss.

Jose Arredondo gave up two hits and two runs while only recording two outs.  Arredondo came into the game after Weaver exited and he did a terrible job.  Darren Oliver then came in to the game and threw 1 1/3 innings while allowing one more run to cross the plate.  Justin Speier finally got the final two outs to finsih up the poor night of pitching.

Garrett Anderson led the Angels with two rbi as he went 2-4 in the game.  A sac fly in the first inning and then a rbi single in the seventh inning accounted for both of Anderson’s rbi’s.  Chone Figgins, Torii Hunter, Howie Kendrick, and Jeff Mathis all had one rbi in the game as well.

Good output by the offense, the pitching just didn’t keep them in the game.  The Angels will try to get back on track Tuesday as they take on the Mets once again.

Angels Blog

The Los Angeles Angels lost a one run ballgame to the Boston Red Sox on Tuesday night by the score of 8-7.  With the loss, the Angels dropped their season record to 12-9.

Jered Weaver only lasted five innings as he gave up ten hits and five earned runs.  Weaver was lucky that the team bailed him out of a loss.  Darren Oliver took the loss as he gave up the run to the Red Sox in the eigth inning.

At the plate for the Angels, Jeff Mathis and Casey Kotchman both hit home runs.  Mathis finished the game with three RBI, Garrett Anderson had two RBI, while Kotchman had one RBI.  Torii Hunter and Vladimir Guerrero finished a combined 0-9 and left ten guys on base.

Angels Blog

Torii Hunter provided fireworks for the Los Angeles Angels on Monday night as he hit a go ahead homerun in the 8th inning, and then a walkoff grandslam in the 9th inning as the Los Angeles Angeles defeated the Cleveland Indians 6-4.

Scot Shields picked up the win for the Angels after closer Francisco Rodriguez gave up three runs in the top of the 9th inning and then left the game with an ankle injury.  Right now, we are not sure how serious the ankle injury is, but it has bothered K-Rod for quite a while.

Joe Saunders had pitched eight great innings and was in line for the win before K-Rod messed things up.  Saunders only allowed four hits and one earned runs in his eight innings.  Good job my Mr. Saunders!

Angels Blog

The Los Angeles Angels started off the 2008 season with a nice 3-1 record.  The Angels defeated the Minnesota Twins once again and started off great, especially playing on the road to begin the season.

Torii Hunter hit a homerun against his former team in the 7th inning, and Ervin Santana pitched six innings while picking up the victory.  Francisco Rodriguez picked up his second save of the season as well.

I really like how the Angels batteled back and won the last three games of the four game series.   That is what great teams have to do on the road.  Battle back, and pick up those road victories!  The Angels will now play the Texas Rangers back at home.  Make sure you get out there and support the Angels!

Angels Blog