C.J. Wilson Throws a Gem as Angels Take Second in a Row Against A’s

The Angels didn’t get a whole lot of offense tonight. But they didn’t need it with the way that C.J. Wilson was pitching. Tonight’s start was just another in a string of good starts from the Angels southpaw, with the big difference being his efficiency. Through four innings tonight, C.J. had only thrown 45 pitches. He ended up pitching 8.1 innings, throwing 119 pitches in the process. Striking out eight and walking two while allowing three hits and zero runs.

His pitching opponent, Dan Straily, was no slouch himself. He struck out four and walked none over seven innings, but the two runs that he allowed we plenty for Angels pitching tonight. A tough-luck loser if ever there was one.

The Halos got on the board early again tonight, this time doing it in get ’em on, get ’em over, get ’em in fashion. Mike Trout found himself on first base via a hit-by-pitch, and Straily found himself on my hit list. Albert Pujols followed that up with a basehit to right field, moving Trout to third in the process. Josh Hamilton then cashed in the RBI opportunity with a sacrifice fly to medium left field, giving the Angels an early 1-0 lead.

All went quiet on the western front after that. Until the seventh inning that is. Terry Smith called it the “play of the game,” I call it “Albert being Alberto.”

Leading off the seventh inning, Alberto Callaspo parked his fifth home run of the season in the right field seats above the out-of-town scoreboard. Pushing the Angels lead to 2-0, and giving Wilson more cushion than he actually needed, but enough to keep Angels fans off of heart monitor’s thanks to a shaky ninth inning.

It couldn’t be all easy, right? C.J. retired the first batter he faced, but a Jed Lowrie single signaled the end of the night for Mr. Handsome. Mike Scioscia summoned Ernesto Frieri once again to close things down, but was not as clean as he was last night. He struck out the first hitter he faced in Josh Donaldson, then walked Seth Smith to put runners on first and second. Frieri then calmed the fans by blowing fastballs by John Jaso to secure the game, and a series win.

The series comes to a close tomorrow when the Angels send Jerome Williams (ruh roh) to the mound against Bartolo Colon (“Cream” or “Clear,” Bart?). Game time is at 12:35 PM PST. Light up the Halo, Light up the shut out.