Angels Pitching Blows Three Leads in Slugfest. Lose 14-11

Well wasn’t that special? And it only took just short of five hours. Three times the Angels had the lead tonight. Three times. And each time, the pitching staff felt like giving it up. At least, that’s what it felt like. Just laugh, shrug and move on to the next one. Accept that this team is in free-fall, and temper your expectations accordingly.

The Angels offensive explosion rundown

Mark Trumbo hit his 23rd home run of the season, and hasn’t had his name thrown around as trade bait. Mike Trout went 4-4 tonight with two walks an RBI and has now reached base safely in 10 straight plate appearances. He’s really good, y’all. Like really really good. Collin Cowgill hit his first home run. Ever. (insert joke about the Ballpark At Arlington being a bandbox). Josh Hamilton had four RBI’s, three of which came on a bases clearing double in the seventh. A double that he hit to left-center field. Off a lefty. So this is what it looks like when you go down the rabbit hole.

And Howie Kendrick. You know, I’m going to miss his smile if he gets dealt by the 1 PM deadline tomorrow. Howie plated two runs with an RBI single in the eighth inning. It was his 1,000th career hit as an Angel. He became the ninth Angel to reach 1,000 hits as an Angel, and it quite possibly was his last as an Angel.

The Angels epic pitching meltdown

/inhales

The Angels used eight pitchers tonight. C.J. Wilson pitched four innings giving up six runs on 11(!) hits. J.C. Gutierrez and Michael Kohn each threw scoreless innings and, along with Nick Maronde, were the only Angels pitchers to have scoreless outings tonight. Kevin Jepsen gave up one run. Dane De La Rosa gave up three runs in two-thirds of an inning, with all three runs coming in after he had recorded the two outs to make up the two/thirds of an inning. Ernesto Frieri blew his second save in as many days. And this time he did it without having to pitch a full inning. And then new comer Daniel Stange gave up a three-run walk off home run to Leonys Martin in the 10th. Because, dingers, man.

/exhales

The leverage chart (below) reflects exactly the kind of roller coaster ride that tonight’s game was. And since I have never been a huge fan of slugfests, I don’t really appreciate it. But this is what happens in Texas, I suppose.

Not one single loop in the coaster. What a rip off.

The series comes to an end tomorrow when the Angels send Jerome Williams to the mound against Martin Perez at 5:05 PM PST. The goal for Jerome is to get more than 15 outs. The goal for Angels fans is to not overdose on Maalox. Light up the fail-o, may as well just leave the damned thing on.