I'm not sure what else they could have done to make it one hell of a game. The Angels scored double digit runs, had GMJ rob a run on a straight steal of home, and got more magic from a sub-par Matt Palmer outing to complete the sweep of Arizona with a 12-8 victory. What a game!
Matt "Palm Tree" Palmer made need to change his nickname to "The Magic Man." He always seems to come out and have an average/kind of weak outing and he always seems to walk away with a win. The Palm Reader went just 5 innings of 6 run ball, striking out none and allowing 12 to reach base (10 hits and 2 walks). Indeed, not a very good outing, but with the offensive outburst that the Red Hats put on, it was good enough. He left with a big lead, and good thing thanks to the absolute sucking of Kevin Jepsen. The anaheim native went 1 inning (finishing Palmer's sixth) allowing 2 runs on 4 hits, but Palmer's 6 earned runs has a lot to do with the hit parade allowed by Jepsen. After Jeps squeaked out of the inning, it was the combo of Bulger/Speier/Fuentes shutting the Diamondbacks out to hold the lead and win the game. As I said, somehow Matt Palmer continues to work his magic on the field. Despite allowing 6 runs in just 5 innings, Palm Tree has somehow climbed to 7-1 with a 5.16 ERA. He continues to get a ridiculous amount of run support in his games, and continues to work toward one of the best (not the best, that belongs to Jered Weaver) rookie pitching years in Angels history.
The offense exploded against these guys again, earning 12 runs on 11 hits in the sweep sealing game, and it was led (oddly enough by Gary Matthews). GMJ may have only gone 1 for 4, but it was a bases loaded "triple" (a double with a throwing error) that earned him three RBI and set up what was possibly the most exciting moment of the season. The Most Valuable Junior took a large lead on Scherzer and broke for the plate. He beat the pitch and tag, scaring the at-bat Aybar in the process, and earned an Angels' stolen base for the first time since OC a couple of years ago. What a play! The Angels VIP club in this offensive burst of energy included Mighty Maicer Izturis (2 for 3 with 2 walks, 2 RBI, and 3 runs) and Kendry "I Told You So" Morales (2 for 4 with a walk and a run). Wow, how about Izzy? Let's not overlook Juan Rivera blasted a two run bomb in the fifth for his 12th of the year or Jeff "Mathis-Matician" and his second jack of the year (a solo bomb). Back to Ma$e; did you see his jack. He ripped a ball over the right center fence with a style usually reserved for the hitter formerly known as Vladimir Guerrero. Very nice.
With the sweep, the Halos have turned the AL West upside down. At 41-32, the Red Hats now lead the AL West by 1.5 games over the Rangers. We're back on top, baby! With a +19 run differential now, I'm not sure how those idiot fans can talk about needing anything (other than a bullpen worker) to make a run to the playoffs. The Angels have the #1 batting average in the AL, the #5 OPS in the AL, and the #2 SB in the AL. This offense is so much better than you thought. Meanwhile, the Mariners are 3 games back of the division leading Angels, and the A's are now a large 10.5 away from the top mark. This afternoon my boys get back to business in a huge series against the Texas Rangers. With a three game series, my boys have a huge opportunity to make some serious distance between the AL West's first and second. In game one it will be Sean "Woot Dawg" O'Sullivan (1-0, 3.00) going head to head with Vincente Padilla (6-3, 4.48). The 10 year veteran is #8 in the AL in walks with 36, but the Rangers have found a way to win in 6 of his last 8 starts, and he only allowed 1 run in 7 innings the last time out (of course, that was against the D-Backs). He has only allowed 4 runs in his last 18 innings, and may be somewhat dangerous to face. Meanwhile, the Angels have never lost in a SOS start. Sully has only allowed 4 runs in 12 innings of mound work, and holds a nice and tidy 1.29 road ERA (in one start). Can the rookie and San Diego native pitch the game of his life against our top of the AL West rivals? I believe he can.
In other news, I suck at "Streak for the ca$h."
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