Los Angeles Angels rally for fourth consecutive Spring win over World Champs.
The Los Angeles Angels found themselves down 5-2 in the sixth inning, but a four-run sixth inning and a strong relief effort by Greg Mahle who recorded the save pitching a scoreless ninth to preserve the victory over the Chicago Cubs.
The Los Angeles Angels have been getting good pitching thus far since the start of Spring Training. However, on Tuesday afternoon against the World Champion Chicago Cubs the pitching was not a strength despite a great start by Manny Banuelos. Banuelos pitched two scoreless innings despite three walks.
Banuelos was relieved by Vincente Campos and he did not fare as well giving up three runs to give Chicago a 3-1 lead.in the third inning. The Cubs didn’t stop there scoring two more runs in the fourth inning to take a 5-1 lead.
More from Halo Hangout
- New York Post columnist has LA Angels bringing veteran starter back to LA
- Dodgers make wild mistake signing failed LA Angels starter
- Why LA Angels’ Qualifying Offer to Raisel Iglesias could become historical
- Both Gold Glove finalists for LA Angels getting snubbed is a complete joke
- Marcus Stroman definitely appears to be interested in the LA Angels
The lone Angels run game on a C.J. Cron home run the first of the Spring for the Angels. The Angels started their rally as Ben Revere scored on an error in the 5th inning after he had earlier singled. The Angels kept their rally going as David Fletcher singled and stole two bases and scored on a Ramon Flores single to cut the lead to 5-3.
After a wild pitch by Maikel Cleto allowed Ramon Flores scored to make it 5-4. Jefry Marte capped the rally with a two-run single scoring Sherman Johnson and Nolan Fontana to take the lead 6-5. In the ninth the Angels got a big insurance run on a homer by Michael Hermosillo, the second home run of the game for the Angels.
In the bottom of the ninth Greg Mahle, who is trying to work his way back after a horrid 2016, pitched a strong ninth inning giving up a lead-off walk recording a pop-up and then inducing Chesny Young to ground into a game-ending double play to pick up his first save of the Spring.
Want your voice heard? Join the Halo Hangout team!
Jose Alvarez got the win with a perfect inning of work. Kirby Yates, Cody Ege, and Abel De Los Santos also pitched scoreless innings. Deolis Guerra and Vicente Campos were the only two pitchers who were not effective Tuesday.
On the hitting side Ramon Flores were 2 for 2 with a run scored and an RBI in his hopes of f making the team as a utility outfielder. Angels #1 draft pick Matt Thaiss continues to hit going 1 for 2. However the most impressive prospect so far has been middle infielder David Fletcher.
Fletcher went 1 for 2 in the game scoring a run and also driving in a run. Fletcher also stole three bases in the game and has been a catalyst so far this Spring. Fletcher, an LMU graduate, is hitting .400 this Spring Training with three runs scored and he also has a .625 OBP. If Fletcher continues to excel he will make Angels manager Mike Scioscia have a tough decision on who to keep as an utility middle infielder.
.All in all it was a good day for the Angels lets see what happens today when Jesse Chavez takes the mound against the AL West Champion Texas Rangers at 12:10 PST.