LA Angels: Counting down the best walk-off wins of 2019

Last season didn’t offer a lot of great memories for LA Angels fans, but there were a few exciting moments, including four walk-off wins.

Everyone is stuck at home, there’s no baseball to watch, so why not cheer yourself up by re-living each of the LA Angels’ walk-off wins from last season? The Halos won four games in their final at-bat. Let’s countdown to their best walk-off moment.

4) September 26, 2019 – Angels delay Astros’ celebration

This one gains some added meaning after learning what the Astros have been up to over the past several seasons. Tied at three in the 12th, Andrelton Simmons sliced a liner to first, where Kyle Tucker couldn’t make the play, and the Angels won 4-3.

While the Angels had nothing to play for at this point of the season, the win delayed the Astros from clinching home field advantage throughout the American League playoffs.

3) May 25, 2019 – Jared Walsh walk-off pop up

After Hansel Robles blew a 2-1 lead in the top of the inning, the Angels came to bat in the bottom of the 9th tied against the Texas Rangers. With two outs, and a runner on second base, Jared Walsh hit a lazy pop fly to short left field that fell just out of the reach of shortstop Elvis Andrus, and the Angels won.

The walk-off win was a streak-buster, as the Angels stopped a five-game losing streak and the Rangers ended their five-game winning streak.

2) July 28, 2019 – Matt Thaiss breaks through

Entering the game in a 5-33 slump since being called up for his Major League debut only days after the death of Tyler Skaggs, Angels prospect Matt Thaiss finally broke through with a two-homer game, including a walk-off blast in the 9th.

On a day when Albert Pujols crushed his 650th home run to tie the game in the sixth inning, it was Thaiss who stole the show, leading the Halos to a 5-4 victory over Baltimore, keeping their fragile wild card hopes somewhat alive.

1) June 5, 2019 – Angels win in a marathon thriller

Remember this one? In the longest nine-inning game in the 54-year history of Angels Stadium, the Angels erased a six-run-deficit, coughed up their own lead late in the game, only to come from behind to win in walk-off fashion. This was the best game of the season for fans who like roller coasters.

With two outs in the bottom of the 9th, back-up catcher Dustin Garneau hit a fly ball that kept traveling and traveling until it found dirt on the warning track for a walk-off, ground-rule double. The Angels had tied the game the previous inning when Oakland A’s manager Bob Melvin made the surprising move to intentionally walk Mike Trout to load the bases ahead of Shohei Ohtani. Ohtani drew a walk to force in the tying run. The 10-9 win brought the Halos within two games of .500 at the time.

Thanks for reading! Here’s hoping 2020 brings many more walk-off celebrations!