LA Angels Recap – Angels 6, Rockies 5

The LA Angels have played very well all Spring and Wednesday was no different. However, the Angels had to work more for this one. Trailing 3-2 in the 8th scored 4 runs to take a 6-3 lead and held on to win 6-5.

The big blow for the LA Angels was a tie-breaking double by Torii Hunter Jr.  The pitching was just good enough after that as Matt Ramsey pitched a scoreless ninth to get the save.  Matt Harvey made his Spring debut in an “A” going 3.2 innings allowing two hits and one run.

Daniel Hudson pitched his second straight scoreless inning followed by lefty Dan Jennings going one scoreless inning as well.  Hudson and Jennings both have major league experience, but are non-roster invitees to Spring Training trying to make the roster.

Jennings is an interesting case as he could be the Angels answer to a lefty-specialist.  The others in the race are Williams Jerez, Dillon Peters, and possibly Greg Mahle.  We will see how it continues to play out over the next three weeks in this race.

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

Cam Bedrosian was next up and he gave up two unearned runs in his one inning of work.  Justin Anderson took the mound in the seventh inning and pitched a scoreless inning of relief.  The Angels then had a four-run uprising to take a 6-3 lead with the key blow coming from an unlikely, but somewhat familiar source in Torii Hunter Jr.  Hunter Jr hit a two-run opposite field double to take a 5-3 lead.  Hunter Jr’s father of course is former Angel Torii Hunter Sr.

The Angels were up 6-3 going into the bottom of the 8th and Forrest Snow gave up two runs to cut the Angels lead to 6-5 as the Rockies cut the lead down to one.  Matt Ramsey pitched a perfect ninth to close out the Angels ninth victory this Spring.

Notes –

Justin Anderson kept his scoreless streak alive in the Spring pitching his third scoreless inning with four strikeouts.

Matt Harvey looked good in his Spring debut going three innings allowing only one run with one strikeout and his fastball was clocked in the low-to-mid 90’s and his other pitches were working well too.

Torii Hunter Jr who ended the season at Single-A Inland Empire took advantage of his 6th at-bat of the Spring breaking the 3-3 tie to take a 5-3 lead.  Cesar Puello also drove in a run during the four-run 8th inning.  Puello is hitting .286 with three RBIs in 21 at-bats.

The Angels will have a split-squad game Thursday.  Jaime Barria will pitch against Kansas City and Felix Pena will pitch against the Dodgers.  It is interesting that both Pena and Barria the two leading candidates for the 5th starter spot will be pitching on the same day.  It is still too early to call this race, but Thursday may be the first of a few key outings for the pair.

The Angels will then host the White Sox on Friday and then another split-squad game on Saturday as they will host the Milwaukee Brewers and play at the Chicago Cubs Spring Training site.