Angels Game Recap: Angels Bust out the Brooms, Sweep Blue Jays

The two teams that are most likely to be considered the biggest disappointments in 2013 are the Los Angeles Angels and the Toronto Blue Jays. So maybe it’s fitting that in the last two games against these teams, they have seemed very evenly matched. Last night, the Blue Jays took an early lead but the Angels battled back, even when the Blue Jays scored again later in game. Tonight, the two teams were once again evenly matched with a close, one-run game.

Sep 10, 2013; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Los Angeles Angels celebrate a win over the Toronto Blue Jays at the Rogers Centre. Los Angeles defeated Toronto 12-6. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports

Angels starter Garrett Richards started off shaky, putting the first two men on-base in the first inning. But Richards was able to limit the damage, getting out with only one-run allowed. The Angels answered in the second when Grant Green drove in Chris Iannetta with an RBI single.The Angels took the lead in the third when Mark Trumbo knocked in Erick Aybar on a sacrifice single.

But the Blue Jays hung tough and tied the game up after Jose Reyes took Garrett Richards deep on an inside fastball for his tenth home run of the year. This was followed up by an RBI double by Moises Sierra to give the Blue Jays the lead 3-2.

Much like last night, though, the Angels immediately answered. Blue Jays starting pitcher J.A. Happ made a mistake and left an inside fastball right in Kole Calhoun‘s wheelhouse and the ginger made him pay taking him to deep right-center field. An inning later, Mike Trout would do what he does with a ground rule double, knocking in Erick Aybar who had doubled down the left-field line in the at-bat before.

The Blue Jays made things interesting in the 7th when Jose Reyes doubled with two-outs. Michael Kohn came in and promptly walked the next batter but was able to get out of the inning unscathed by striking out Brett Lawrie. In the 8th, the Blue Jays threatened again when Moises Sierra hit his second double of the game against reliever Dane De la Rosa. But De la Rosa barred down and struck-out Rajai Davis on some heat and got Anthony Gose out on a deep fly to centerfield. De la Rosa has now given up just 1 run since August 1st.

Ernesto Frieri came in the ninth for the save and started strong getting the first two batters out. But then Jose Reyes doubled on a long fly-ball to left-centerfield. Then a 10-pitch at-bat by the light-hitting Munenori Kawasaki led to a base-on-balls which brought third-basemen Brett Lawrie up to bat with the tying run and game winning run on-base. But like the previous three innings, the Angels were able to get out of the jam when Frieri struck out Lawrie on his 35th pitch of the inning.

Angels sweep the Blue Jays! Los Angeles heads to Houston tonight to take on the Astros at 8:10 PST tomorrow.