The LA Angels Win Last Night Was Exactly What This Team Was Supposed to Be in 2019

Maybe I’m crazy, but the LA Angels win last night felt…different?

It took a while to figure out, but last night’s win felt bigger than usual, and it’s because, from start to finish, the LA Angels played exactly like the team we had hoped to see much more of this season.

The Angels had a textbook on how to win games in 2019. Billy Eppler and Brad Ausmus had a team that, if they stuck to this guide, would contend for a playoff spot this year. It’s not an overly complicated on the surface, and has three simple steps.

1.) Be Great At the Plate

2.) Good Enough Starting Pitching

3.) Elite Pitching Out of the Bullpen

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The Angels filled every single check mark last night, and it felt phenomenal to watch. Each step is more complicated than it reads, so we’ll dive into just how they performed so adequately last night.

Also, it goes without saying defense is important to this team. That showed last night, as there were three separate line drives towards second base that were all gloved, two by Luis Rengifo and one by Andrelton ending potentially costly innings. Mike Trout also made a beautiful running play in centerfield to help hold the Rangers lead to one run at the time.

2.) Good Enough Starting Pitching

If there’s one thing that derailed the Angels season, it was employing one of the worst rotations in the history of the MLB. It goes without saying that is not what the Angels were hoping for from their starters.

However, they knew what they had. With Shohei Ohtani restricted to hitting this year, their rotation lacked a true ace. All the Halos were hoping for from their starters was five or so innings every night so they could turn the game over to their bullpen (more on them later).

Last night was exactly what the team had in mind. Andrew Heaney went six innings deep, had ten strikeouts, and allowed one run. This was a huge start for Heaney, and just added more fire to the hot streak he’s been on since the end of June.

These are the kinds of starts the Halos had in mind when putting the team together. Even if Heaney had only gone five innings, that’s enough to keep the bullpen’s workload intact and prevent them from degrading as the season progresses. If the team had more starts of this nature throughout the year, they may still be contending for a Wild Card spot.

3.) Elite Pitching Out of the Bullpen

Last night, the Angels bullpen entered the game down 1-0. Andrew Heaney had done his job, but the offense hadn’t been able to string together any hits to that point.

Then, the bullpen did exactly what it was supposed to do.

Noe Ramirez got the first two outs of the seventh inning seamlessly. Miguel Del Pozo, the eventual winning pitcher, came in and retired the final out of the inning.

As noted earlier, the Angels offense then picked apart Mike Minor and gained a lead.

Cam Bedrosian, who is having a phenomenal bounce back season, did allow a solo home run in his inning of work. However, he worked through the inning well besides that one pitch. He held the lead, and handed the ball to Hansel Robles for the ninth.

And El Blanco did what El Blanco does. He shut down the Rangers to secure the win, and end the Angels’ five game skid.

The Angels, for the first time in a week, won a baseball game. And this time around, they won it just how they drew it up at the start of the season.