Los Angeles Angels Begin Series in Chicago’s South Side

Jun 25, 2014; Anaheim, CA, USA; Los Angeles Angels starting pitcher Garretdt Richards (43) in the first inning of the game against the Minnesota Twins at Angel Stadium of Anaheim. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

The Los Angeles Angels followed their most productive home stand of the year by letting two get away in Kansas City.

Los Angeles nearly erased a six-run deficit Friday night in scoring four in the top the seventh. Royals relievers ensure the rally would end there, striking out 7-of-10 batters faced without allowing a hit.

After a rain delayed contest ended in with an Angels victory Saturday night, a ninth-inning miscue Sunday ensure Kansas City’s series win.

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Alex Gordon was hit by a Jason Grilli pitch in the top of the ninth. Salvador Perez followed with a grounder to Erick Aybar whose toss glanced off Howie Kendrick’s glove. Gordon advanced to third and scored the game-winner one play later.

The Halos hold Major League Baseball’s best home record but can’t find similar success on the road. They drop to 19-21 away from Angel Stadium and begin a three-game series in Chicago looking for their first road series win since May 14.

Pitching Matchup – Garrett Richards (8-2, 2.76 ERA) vs. Hector Noesi (2-5, 4.18 ERA)

Garrett Richards continued his All-Star campaign with a 8-2 win over Minnesota last Wednesday; his fourth straight victory dating back to June 4. He surrendered two runs on four hits while walking a season-high five and gave up his first home runs since May 30.

The right-hander’s AL-best 1.05 ERA in June highlighted a 4-0 month in which he never allowed more than two runs in an outing. Richards’ started the month by shutting out Houston through eight innings before being pulled with a high pitch count.

Hector Noesi makes his 12^th start of the season for Chicago after brief stops in Seattle and Texas. A reliever with the AL West ball clubs, Noesi’s transition well into a starter has been a rollercoaster of a ride.

Noesi followed every June start of two runs or less with four-run performances. He followed a four-run, seven-inning performance in Minnesota on June 20 with a solid seven in Baltimore, yielding two runs without walking a batter.

The 27-year-old holds a 7.65 career ERA in six appearances against the Halos, including two starts as a Mariner.

Walk offs:

Richards’ June ERA was the lowest in a month by an Angels starter since Jered Weaver’s 0.99 mark in March and April 2011.
Grant Green is the only Angels to have homered off Noesi.
The Angels are 8-7 at U.S. Cellular field since 2010.

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