Los Angeles Angels Looking for Series Win in Atlanta

Jun 14, 2014; Atlanta, GA, USA; Los Angeles Angels right fielder Kole Calhoun (56) makes a diving catch against the Atlanta Braves in the tenth inning at Turner Field. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

Five hours after Garrett Richards’ stellar night began, the Los Angeles Angels pulled out a 13-inning 11-6 victory in Atlanta. All it took was seven relievers, two blown leads, and a pinch-hit appearance by C.J. Wilson.

Richards tossed six shutout innings and struck out a career-high 10 batters, but fell victim to Ernesto Frieri’s inconsistency. Trailing 5-1 entering the ninth, Atlanta’s first three hitters reached on singles before B.J. Upton tripled in two runs. Freddie Freeman’s ground-rule double scored Upton and tied things up. Frieri’s four-run outings follows three scoreless innings; all in successful saves.

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Josh Hamilton’s 10^th inning RBI single briefly gave the Halos a lead. Briefly. Jason Heyward shallow fly ball to right landed in front of Kole Calhoun, scoring the runner from second.

Then the Angels exploded.

Erick Aybar led off the 13^th with a single, Wilson walked, and Chris Iannetta reached on a hit-by-pitch. Calhoun’s single to center scored Aybar, and Mike Trout’s double down the left field line brought the lead runners home. Pujols two-run single-his third hit of a four-RBI night- capped the Angels’ five-run outburst.

The victory snaps a two-game losing streak and give the Halos their fourth extra-inning win in seven tries.

Pitching Matchup: Hector Santiago (0-6, 4.15 ERA) vs. Mike Minor (2-4, 4.31 ERA)

A confident, more composed Hector Santiago stared for the Angels last Tuesday. After going 0=6 through his previous 10 outings, Santiago shut Oakland out through six innings, scattering three hits and one walk while striking out eight.

The left-hander’s struggles are well documented. He notched losses in six of his first seven appearances in Anaheim and was demoted to the bullpen in early May. Santiago spent time with Triple-A Salt Lake before Tyler Skaggs’ hamstring injury opened a slot in the team’s five-man rotation.

Santiago is the third straight Angels starter to be making his Turner Field debut. He hasn’t won since August 18, 2013 as a member of the White Sox.

Braves left-hander Mike Minor looks to bounce back from an eight-run performance at Colorado last Tuesday. The left-hander’s shortest outing of the season-four innings- raised his ERA over a full point and kicked his WHIP up to 1.42.

Walk offs:

1. Frieri’s 5.46 ERA is the highest among Angels pitchers with over 20 innings.
2. Last night, Pujols and Trout each record three hits in a game for the first time since July 17, 2012.
3. The Angels are 7-3 in interleague play.

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