That was until the Angels put up 12 runs and Mike Trout decided to go beast mode and hit for the cycle. Not only did Trout hit for the cycle – he is the sixth Angel to hit for the cycle and just happens to be the youngest AL player EVER to do it at age 21 (Alex Rodriguez previously held that record as a Seattle Mariner). Here is the breakdown from last night:

1st inning: Struck out
3rd inning: Infield single
4th inning: Tripled to right-center
6th inning: Double to left
8th inning: Home run to center

Bottom line: When people say Mike Trout is a “special player” I think they might be on to something here. Ya think?!? And let’s not forget that Trout is the most recent Angel to hit for the cycle since Chone Figgins “got figgy with it” and did it in 2006.

Lost in all of this may be the fact that Jerome Williams pitched a solid eight shut-out innings last night for his third consecutive quality start. Birthday boy Josh Hamilton (he turned 32) added a two-run home run and a triple while Howie Kendrick contributed by hitting a two-run home run to right-field in the fourth inning. Hamilton’s night may be the most encouraging sign that this club is going to turn things around.

Interesting fact: 12 of the Angels 27 losses have been on two runs or fewer.   Somewhere GM Jerry DiPoto is banging his head against the proverbial wall

The Halos have won three in a row and may have turned the page on their slow start. C.J. Wilson (3-3, 3.72) will take the hill against Brandon Maurer (2-5, 5.75) tonight. Game time 4:00 pm PST – Fox Sports West.

May 19, 2013; Anaheim, CA, USA; Los Angeles Angels left fielder J.B. Shuck (39) and catcher Chris Iannetta (17) celebrate with center fielder Mike Trout (27) after both running in a score off of a hit by Los Angeles Angels short stop Erick Aybar (not pictured) against the Chicago White Sox during the third inning at Angel Stadium of Anaheim. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports

The Los Angeles Angels have won two games in a row after splitting a four game series with the Chicago White Sox at home. Sunday’s 6-2 win over the Sox is precisely what GM Jerry DiPoto had envisioned in the offseason – a powerful offense producing six runs in support of Jason Vargas who threw seven scoreless innings for his third win of the season. One impressive note: Vargas has successfully lowered his ERA from 6.75 in mid-April to 3.55 today. The southern California native has refused to give up in the face of early season adversity.  The club is hoping to return to form once a number of key players return from the DL – most notably ace Jared Weaver and center fielder Peter Bourjos (who led the team in batting average before injuring his hamstring).  And that doesn’t include closer Ryan Madson who can add further depth to a notoriously unreliable “Blowpen.”

Unfortunately, the Angels have failed to make up ground in their division despite adding a few W’s to the win column. The Halos are now 17-27 (.386) and 12 games back of the division leading Texas Rangers. Not even a red-hot Miguel Cabrera and his ridiculous five RBI’s (on three home runs) could derail the Rangers on Sunday night in Arlington. Texas will need to cool off during the summer months if the Angels hope to make up any significant ground in the standings.

A new week provides a familiar opponent as the Angels start a two game series against the Seattle Mariners on Tuesday at Angel Stadium of Anaheim. The third place Mariners have posted a 20-25 record having lost their last four against manager Terry Francona and his AL Central leading Cleveland Indians.

Game One: Tuesday, May 21, 2013 at 7:05 PST, Angel Stadium of Anaeim. Aaron Harang is scheduled to take the mound for the Seattle Mariners. Harang was scratched from his Thursday start against the Yankees after complaining of lower back stiffness. He now appears ready to go after a recent bullpen session. Good news for the Angels – Harang is 1-4 with a 7.35 ERA and has yet to find a groove since being traded to Seattle from the Colorado Rockies.

The Angels are scheduled to start Jerome Williams who is 2-1 (3.05 ERA) and coming off a strong performance against the White Sox. Williams had another impressive performance, allowing only two runs in six innings but was pulled by manager Mike Scioscia in a head-scratching move after throwing just 74 pitches. Williams didn’t appear fatigued and implied as much in a post-game interview.

Game Two: Wednesday, May 22, 2013 at 7:05 p.m., Angel Stadium of Anahiem. Two local boys duel it out as lefty C.J. Wilson (3-3, 3.72) will take the mound against RHP Brandon Maurer (2-5, 5.75 ERA). C.J.’s last two losses against the White Sox are not indicative of his incredible pitching performance – he simply had the unenviable position of going up against Chris Sale (who managed to one-hit and three-hit the Angels in his last two starts). I can only imagine that Wilson is looking forward to facing this Seattle lineup with a different opposing pitcher on the mound.

Apr 28, 2013; Seattle, WA, USA; Los Angeles Angels starting pitcher Jason Vargas (60) pitches to the Seattle Mariners during the 1st inning at Safeco Field. Mandatory Credit: Steven Bisig-USA TODAY Sports

SEATTLE – The April trend continued for the Los Angeles Angels, dropping three of four games against the Seattle Mariners at Safeco Field Sunday afternoon.  Seattle’s Jason Bay and Michael Morse each hit solo home runs to edge the Halos 2-1 in the final game of the series.  Jason Vargas (0-3, 4.85) took the loss after looking sharp through seven innings.  The win vaulted Seattle to 6.0 games back in the AL West standings – a division that appears largely wide-open excluding the Texas Rangers (who lead all of baseball with an impressive 2.92 ERA).  Who says Arlington is a “hitters” park?

Halo fans are becoming increasingly frustrated with a club that is struggling to find consistency – in particular in the pitching department where the Angels have posted a horrendous 4.82 ERA – putting them 29th in all of baseball.  The Halos are now 9-15 (.375) and 6.5 games back of the division leading Texas Rangers.   And those painful 15 losses didn’t come at the hands of the red-hot Boston Red Sox (who are now 18-7 thanks to a familiar name – RBI producing Mike Napoli).  The Angels dropped key games against the Minnesota Twins, Houston Astros, and Seattle Mariners.  Not exactly teams favored in Las Vegas to win the 2013 World Series.

And if it isn’t the pitching, it’s the hitting that’s struggling.  The Big Three (Trout, Pujols, and Hamilton) combined to go 0-12 on Sunday – striking out a dismal five times.  These three will have to find their groove if the Angels have any chance of playing .500 baseball or better this season.

The Halos travel to Oakland for the first of a three game series beginning tonight.  Tommy Hanson (2-1, 4.24 ERA) is scheduled to take the hill after coming off the bereavement list.  He will face the Athletics’ Dan Straily (1-0, 2.70 ERA) at the Coliseum.  The “Moneyballers” are 14-12 (.538) and only 2.5 games back from the Rangers.  The Los Angeles Dodgers and Angels have both proven this season that a high payroll doesn’t always have a direct correlation to wins.  At least not yet.

Notes:

-MLB.com reporting the Angels traded Minor League catcher Chris Snyder to the Orioles for Minor League right-hander Rob Delaney on Sunday.

-LHP Sean Burnett placed on the 15-day DL due to forearm irritation.