The Los Angeles Angels played their 2nd game of the Spring against Oakland on Sunday & just like in their 1st game the Angels got good pitching from most of the 7 hurlers who took the mound.The hitters came through as well.
So who looked good for the Los Angeles Angels on the mound on Sunday.
Non-roster invitee Bud Norris, who is an eight-year veteran, made his first appearance for the Los Angeles Angels Sunday afternoon. Norris was effectively wild making 41 pitches and lasting 1.2 innings. Norris though wild left unscathed giving up no hits and no runs walking one batter and hitting another while striking out two batters. Overall, despite his wildness Norris looked good.
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This was the first step for Norris in his hopes to resurrect his career and maybe win the 5th spot in the rotation for the Angels.
Norris was relieved by 2016 Spring Training surprise Greg Mahle who struck out Andrew Lambo looking to end the second inning with the score tied at 0. This was encouraging for Mahle although it was only one batter. Mahle was a left-handed specialist who was very effective last April for the Angels, but then struggled in May and was sent down for the remainder of the season. Mahle hopes to again gain a spot on the Angels roster.
Daniel Wright and newcomer Austin Adams both struggled and each gave up a run. Wright pitched a very shaky third giving up three hits in the third which plated Oakland’s first run, but pitched better in the fourth giving up no hits and striking out two batters. Adams only gave up one hit, but still gave up the run to give Oakland a 2-1 lead.
Adams gave up the go-ahead run in the sixth inning. Adams gave way to Justin Miller who pitched a scoreless fifth. The Angels made Miller a winner scoring three runs in the top of the seventh.
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Blake Parker gave up a run on two hits to give Oakland the lead back. However, Kenyan Middleton and Jose Valdez pitched scoreless innings allowing no base runners.
All in all the Angels pitching gave up three earned runs in nine innings.
This is an encouraging sign for the Angels as pitching was an issue last season.
At the plate there were a few players who stood out. Ben Revere went 1 for 3 with an RBI double which drove in the Angels first run in the third inning. Luis Valbuena also showed opposite-field power hitting a double that one-hopped the wall in left-center which drove in the second Angels run.
However, the most impressive player I saw was outfielder Ryan LaMarre who gave the Angels the lead in the 7th inning single up the middle that plated two runs. However, La Marre did not stop there as he stole second base and then later stole third base and scored on a sacrifice fly by Tony Sanchez which was the Angels final run in the game.
Next: Angels win game one in Spring
LaMarre was signed in late November to provide outfield depth. If he continues to make an impact he will make the roster as a 5th outfielder/utility player. We will keep you updated and on LaMarre, Bud Norris, and all the Angels throughout the Spring.