Halo Highlights- Angels Win Slugfest; Sweep the Sox

When the San Francisco Giants won the World Series in 2009, their announcers dubbed their style of play torture ball. Last night, the Angels played their own style of torture ball, blowing leads and coming back, and finally winning 14-13 in 10 innings against the Boston Red Sox and getting the sweep.

Aug 23, 2012; Boston, MA, USA; Los Angeles Angels center fielder Mike Trout (27) scores a run against the Boston Red Sox as Boston Red Sox catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia (39) catches the ball during the ninth inning at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Mark L. Baer-US PRESSWIRE

We begin our odyssey through the scoring plays with the bottom of the first when Dustin Pedroia singled and Adrian Gonzalez brought him home with a double. Then the fun began with a five run second for the Red Sox. With one out, Mauro Gomez doubled and scored on Scott Podsednik’s single. Pedro Ciriaco singled and Jacoby Ellsbury then drove in Gomez with a single. Pedroia then brought everyone home with his 11^th homer of the year.

The Angels could have just laid down and accepted it. They didn’t which to me is a good sign about this team. Chris Iannetta started the inning with a single but got erased when Mike Trout grounded into a force out. After moving to second on Torii Hunter’s single, Trout then became the youngest person since Ty Cobb in 1907 to steal 40 bases in a year. Howard Kendrick scored Trout with a single. After Mark Trumbo struck out here’s what happened next; walk, walk, error, walk, single, single, groundout. After three it was 8-5.

In the fifth, Cody Ross’ single made it 8-7. Then the bullpen came in and continued its downward trend, like it has since the All-Star Break. Jason Isringhausen came in the sixth and gave up a homer to Mike Aviles to tie the game. After a walk it was Jordan Walden’s turn. After a caught stealing, back to back doubles by Ciriaco and Ellsbury plated another run. The Angels got that run back in the seventh when Trout singled home a run. The tie evaporated in the eighth when four singles netted two runs to tie the game nine.

The Angels again fought back. After a strikeout, Vernon Wells hit his seventh homer of the year. After an out, Trout reached again and got to second on the Ross misplay. Hunter brought him home with a single. Kendrick walked and Trumbo brought in Hunter with a single. Ernesto Frieri was brought on to get the save. This used to be lockdown. Not on this night. Ross led off the inning with a homer to tie the game at 12. Kendrys Morales then led off the 10^th with his 16^th of the year. After Aybar singled, Wells brought him home for some extra insurance on a double. The Red Sox of course rallied and got a run back when Pedroia brought home another run with a single. However, Frieri got Adrian Gonzalez to strike out and that was that.

The Angels now head to Motown to take on the Tigers in a huge series. The Angels are now 2.5 out of a wild card spot. Zack Greinke and Rick Porcello will duel at 7:05ET/4:05PT.