Angels Take the Series on the Back of Superb Pitching

The last time the Angels walked off, they lost the next game. And they lost it in a very ugly way. Last night the Angels walked off against the Red Sox. Tonight, pitching ruled the day. And it all started with new daddy, Jered Weaver wading through 6.2 innings with a pitch count that reached 91 though five innings. Backing up Weaver were Dane De La Rosa, Scott Downs. Both of whom shut down a Red Sox team that has one of the best records in the American League. And at the end of the day, it was Ernesto Frieri. Slamming the door shut emphatically by striking out the side in the ninth.

Opposing the Angels was former ace John Lackey. And a very svelte looking John Lackey to boot. I seem to remember Horse Face Big John having a fastball that generally sat in the 91-93 MPH range. Tonight, he was 94-96. In the first inning however, Mike Trout, did not care. Lackey grooved a 1-1 fastball that Trout rocketed into the seats in right-center field. Giving the Angels the early 1-0. lead.

Lots of nothing ensued. Well, not nothing. J.B. Shuck stole a base. Some hitters got hits. Some walkers got walked. Some strikeoutters ™ got striked out. And then came the fifth. In the fifth inning, all-or-nothing swinger, Hank Conger, let ‘er rip and hit his own booming shot to right field. Lackey was not happy as the camera caught him saying things to himself. My amateur lip reading skills deciphered it as this:

Grumble grumble.

(expletive)

/gnaws on carrot

Grumble grumble.

Lackey was sent back to his stable after seven innings. New Red Sox pitcher Junichi Tazawa was greeted by Erick Aybar who tripled to center field. The next hitter was defensive replacement, Mark Trumbo…Let’s try that again. The next hitter was defensive replacement Mark Trumbo…Yeah, I can’t even type that with a straight face. Anyway. Trumbo just missed putting the Angels up 4-0 when he sent a shot to center field that sent Jacoby Ellsbury to the base of the outfield wall. But it was plenty deep enough to score Aybar from third base giving the Angels a 3-0 lead.

The extent of the Red Sox offense on this night: *crickets*

The sound from the Red Sox fans in attendance taking up all the good seats: *crickets*

Music to my ears.

With the win, the Angels record improves to 43-45. It’s the first time since the first week of the season that the team finds themselves two games under .500. And the Angels look to get even closer on Tuesday when they send Joe Blanton to the mound at Wrigley Field against Travis Wood and the Chicago Cubs. Game time is at 5:05 PM PST. Light up the halo, because winning is, like, better than losing…man.