LA Angels Jesse Chavez has a good homecoming in home opener

When LA Angels pitcher Jesse Chavez took the mound Friday night he was pitching less than 30 minutes from where he grew up.  With numerous family members and friends in the crowd and Chavez didn’t disappoint.

It was almost like a Hollywood movie script Friday for LA Angels pitcher Jesse Chavez.  Journeyman pitcher who hasn’t started a game since 2015 comes back home as Chavez grew up in Fontana and went to college in Riverside.  Chavez was in control pretty much the whole night pitching 1-2-3 innings in three of the five frames he pitched.  Chavez’s only hiccup was in the 6th inning when he gave up three straight singles which allowed the Mariners to score their only run of the game.

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Jose Alvarez came in and saved Chavez as he struck out Kyle Seager to end the inning. The Angels bullpen was flawless pitching 3.1 innings giving up only one hit. Bud Norris, Andrew Bailey, and Blake Parker closed out the Angels first home victory of the season.

Chavez finished the game pitching 5.2 innings giving up four hits and only one run with a walk and six strikeouts in getting his first victory of the season. For Chavez it was a big step in solidifying his spot in the rotation and it came against a team he has not had much success against.  Chavez was previously 0-6 with a 5.62 ERA against the Mariners, but this time Chavez proved to be up to the challenge.

On the offensive side the Angels struck early against Mariners pitcher Yovani Gallardo scoring in two of the first three innings with Mike Trout and Albert Pujols driving in runs with a sacrifice fly and a fielder’s choice for a 2-0 lead.

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In the bottom of the sixth newcomer Cameron Maybin who made a spectacular diving catch in the second inning and on offense Maybin hit an opposite field homer to right center to put the Angels back up by two.  In the bottom of the seventh inning as Yunel Escobar hit a ball that Mariners pitcher Casey Fien couldn’t make  a play on and Kole Calhoun followed it with his first home run of the season to extend the lead to 5-1.

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The 43,911 fans appreciated the Angels effort and gave the team plenty of energy.  The Angels will play the Mariners again tonight as Ricky Nolasco will go up against the Mariners Felix Hernandez. Stay tuned to Halo Hangout for continued opening weekend coverage.