Angels Win Battle of Aces

(Photo Credit: Yardbarker.com)

Going into last night’s game, I was afraid the score would end up 8-0, and that the Angels record in the previous eight games would end up 0-8. A half inning after the start of the game, I began to wonder who kidnapped the Angels team we’ve been watching for the last week, and replaced them with a team that can hit.

In what seemed most likely to be the best pitcher’s duel of this series with Seattle, the Angels wasted no time in jumping out to a 4-run lead, and they never even hinted at giving it up once they had it, putting away Seattle 8-0 and shelling M’s ace Felix Hernandez in the process. Almost every starter in the lineup reached base at least once, and Ryan Budde hit his first career HR, with Rivera and Kendrick adding their own.

The true star of the game, though, was Halos ace Jered Weaver, who didn’t give up a hit until he was into the 7th inning. He finished the night with 7.1 scoreless innings, giving up two hits, walking three, and striking out seven. In what has been a very good beginning to Weaver’s 2010 campaign, it was easily his best start, and exactly what the Angels needed after losing their last seven games in a row.

Can they turn their losing streak into a winning streak? If ever there was a time to do it, it’d be now while Seattle is struggling, and after easily handling the best pitcher in their rotation.

(Nate Proctor is the lead writer for Halo Hangout.  You can stay up to date on all of Nate’s work by following him on Twitter, Facebook, or by way of the Halo Hangout RSS feed.)