Chicago Cubs dominate Los Angeles Angels in two-game sweep

In two days all the excitement that the last two weeks of Spring Training that saw the Angels had created were a distant memory.  In two days all the wonderful offensive numbers from a Spring that saw all but one person in the Los Angeles Angels opening day line-up batting over .300 were forgotten.  In two days the Angels bullpen that was so stellar over the last couple of weeks totally imploded making a tough situation much worse.

The Los Angeles Angels lost to the Chicago Cubs for the second day in a row this time by the score of 6-1.  So in the two games the Cubs outscored the Angels 15-1 in two days and out hit them 20-7 in a total domination of Angels.  Jon Lester led the way for the Cubs pitching 7 strong innings giving up only one run on four hits with four strikeouts. This was after Jake Arrieta totally dominated the Angels blanking them on two hits over seven innings.

So what happened to the Angels the last two days.  Both Tuesday’s starting pitcher Andrew Heaney and Monday’s starter Garrett Richards were not super sharp, but both gutted through their starts.  Richards left trailing 3-0 on Monday having given up three runs in five innings while striking out seven batters. A day later Heaney lasted six innings giving up four runs on seven hits with seven strikeouts and left trailing 4-1.

Just like on Monday the Angels bullpen did not provide any relief as Mike Morin gave up a two-run homer to Angel-killer Dexter Fowler.  Fowler went five for eight in the two games scoring four runs and driving two with two doubles and a homer. On Monday the Angels bullpen gave up six runs in four innings so in two games the bullpen gave up eight runs in seven innings.

So the question is what happened?  In my opinion the Angels ran into a buzz-saw who was eager to show that they are one of the majors elite teams.  So the Angels now need to regroup on their Wednesday off day and come back strong against their division rivals the Texas Rangers in a four game series.

One solace for the Angels in the game was that at least they did not get shutout.  The Angels got their first run of the season as Yunel Escobar hit a looper down the right field line and hustled to second for a double.  Craig Gentry comes through hitting a solid single to left to plate Escobar to make the scored 4-1 but that was the only highlight for the Angels.  The key number is the number is that Mike Trout, Albert Pujols, and Kole Calhoun went a combined 1-13 in the series. The Angels will need all three to get it going quickly in order for them to have any success.

Next: Picking up where they left off

Let’s hope for the Angels bats get going and the pitching falls in line especially the bullpen.  We will see.  `