Angels Sweep Away Royals, Push Winning Streak to Eight Games

Go on, admit it, as the game wore on, you were getting worried that this was where the winning streak was going to end. Didn’t you? Don’t worry, I don’t blame you because I thought the same thing. Lucky for us, the Angels had other ideas, or they just felt like screwing with us. Jerome Williams continued a string of solid starting pitching performances by going six innings, striking out four and allowing only two runs. When Jered Weaver comes back later this week, you have to believe that Mike Scioscia is going back and forth on Williams and Joe Blanton with regards to the fifth starter spot. I pray that it is Williams. Blanton can’t possibly be as bad as he has been this season, but I would rather Scioscia not take that chance.

Unlike most games during this streak, the Angels did not get the scoring started. The Kansas City Royals got on the board first when David Lough hit an RBI triple in the second inning. The Royals added another run when, in the fifth inning, Williams threw wildly to Mark Trumbo on a pickoff attempt, allowing George Kottaras to score. It’s hard enough to sweep any series, but with the Royals up by two runs, and the law averages creeping into play, I honestly thought that today was not this team’s day. But that’s what I get for thinking.

Josh Hamilton led of the seventh inning hitting a line-drive home run to right field. His eighth on the season and second in as many days. I know that it’s only been two weeks, but Hamilton’s slash line during that time is .293/.396/.585. Looks like someone is heating up. later in the inning, after walks to Howie Kendrick (No way? Really?) and Chris Iannetta (Of course), Wade Davis was removed and Bruce Chen was brought in. Chen was the greeted by J.B. Shuck who slapped an RBI single to left. Erick Aybar followed up Shuck with an RBI single of his own down the left field line. An inning later, the Angels would tack on two more runs thanks to RBI single’s from Iannetta and Shuck. Side note: By a show of hands, who here has been extremely pleased with J.B. Shuck’s performance in the absence of Peter Bourjos?

Of course, this wouldn’t be the 2013 season without a little bit of injury worry. Amirite? Sean Burnett had to be removed in the seventh inning with what was reported as forearm tightness. I sent him chocolates and a get well card. Hopefully that does the trick.

Speaking of bullpen’s; the Angels relievers were shutdown artists again. Kevin Jepsen made his return when he took over for Burnett, and was part of a string of five relievers that teamed up to hold the Royals scoreless over the last three innings.

Solid pitching? Check. Timely hitting? Check. Scioscia got ejected? Wait? What? Yes, Mike Scioscia finally received his first ejection of 2013 when Jeff Francoeuur struck out swinging, and then convinced home plate umpire Marty Foster that he had gotten a piece of it. In other words, Scioscia got ejected because Marty Foster spent an entire series not bothering to remove his head from his anal cavity.

The Angels come back “home” tomorrow when they kick off the annual Freeway Series with Los Angeles Dodgers. C.J. Wilson will be on the bump opposite Zack Greinke in the first game of the Battle for Los Angeles. Game time is at 5:10 PM PST at Dodger Stadium. Light up the halo for another halo victory. Let’s keep it rolling.