Richards’ Complete Game Goes for Naught as Angels Bats go Quiet Against Kuroda

Well, that didn’t go according to plan. But the more important and pressing question is: Does anyone else feel like the first part of this clip with regards to the 2013 season?

I know I do. Just push the blade into my heart and get it over with.

Poor Garrett Richards. Throws his first career complete game, and loses. Sounds like a “Bad Luck Brain” meme. All in all he threw eight innings, allowed two runs and struck out three Yankees in his start. Someone remind me why he was in the bullpen while Joe Blanton was being all kinds of terrible as a starter this season. I may not be as high on Richards as some are, but his last few starts are starting to turn me into a supporter. And I’m finding no plausible reason for him to have wasted more than half a season away pitching one or two innings at a time.

The offense tonight was, well, offensive. I would say that there was no offense, but there was. A little. Josh Hamilton who went 2-4 tonight and raised his batting average to a Vernon Wells-esque .223, drove in the only Angels run with an RBI double in the ninth. Which actually put the Angels in prime position to not only tie the game, but take the lead as it put runners on second and third with only one out. But then, after an intentional walk to Erick Aybar…After an intentional walk to Erick Aybar…

Seriously, I am finding no logic to that decision.

Oh. Now I see. The slipping and sliding Mark Trumbo was up next. And he promptly struck out. As did the next hitter, Chris Nelson. Thus ending both the threat and the game. Joe Girardi, you sly fox you.

A home run by Curtis Granderson, and an RBI single by Brett Gardener where the only kinks in Richards’ armor tonight. Which is OK. Neither of them are Alex Rodriguez. And there stands a good chance I would have broken my phone had that happened. But it wasn’t OK in that it was all that Hiroki Kuroda needed as far as support went. Over his eight innings of work, Kuroda allowed no runs while striking out seven Angels. At least, Mike Trout continued his on-base streak tonight.

After the game, the Angels optioned Tommy Hanson to AAA Salt Lake. Further guaranteeing that he will almost assuredly be non-tendered after the season is over. When asked why the Angels sent the struggling right-hander down, Mike Scioscia explained that the Angels were simply over their ginger quota with both Hanson and Kole Calhoun on the 25-man roster. Apparently, two red-heads that close in proximity will counteract the ginger-magic they are born with.

The party in the Bronx carries on tomorrow when the Angels welcome back Jason Vargas with a start against C.C. Sabathia. Game time is at 4:05 PM PST. Light up the fail-o. Pitcher’s duels can be fun, just not when the Angels are on the losing end of them.