I know that Erv really should have earned the picture on this post, by the image of Juan Rivera was just too classic. We've been waiting for Santana to show up this season, and he finally did against the Detroit Tigers. The Halos came away with a slim 2-1 win against the Comerica sponsored team, and it was mostly thanks to the amazing hurling of Karen's most hated Angel.
Santa's (new nickname?) early season sucking has been well documented. E has allowed 15 earned runs in his last 2 starts, and going up against Justin Velander, most fans didn't give him a chance. If I told you that Verlander pitched 8 innings of 4 hit shutout ball with 7 strikeouts, you probably would have bet your life savings that the Tigers killed the Angels. What if I told you that Ervin went 8.3 innings of 1 run ball with 7 strikeouts? He did. Black Magic was just 1 out away from a complete game shutout after pitching a masterful game when he allowed an RBI base knock to Magglio Ordonez. After giving up the run, which cut the lead to 2-1, Ervin was taken out of the game, giving way to Brian Fuentes to earn his 15th save in 18 chances with a nice pop out. Props to Chone Figgins for falling into the stands with the game ending catch. So much for Ervin pitching his way out of the starting rotation. Way to go, El Rosario!
With just 2 runs on 7 hits, and none of the runs crossing the plate until the top of the ninth, there isn't much to talk about when it comes to the bats. A clutch money JR single and a Howie sac groundout in the ninth gave the Halos their 2 runs, and that was all they would need. Torii Hunter, who scored the first run on the Latino Heat RBI single was the only Angel with a multi-hit game, going 2 for 4 to raise his average to .316. Despite going 1 for 4 with the "game winning run," my main man Kendry has to get the dump award for getting 3 strikeouts in the game. I still don't really get the lineup having a 7/8/9 of Aybar/Mathis/Kendrick. Doesn't anyone else think it should go Kendrick/Mathis/Aybar? Yeah, I'm pretty sure you agree with me. By the way, Torii is the only Red Hat in the starting lineup with a +.300 average (JR and Abreu are close at .299 and .295). We're really going to need Kelv to come on strong tomorrow night in Detroit Rock City.
The best part is that the sports talk idiots on AM 830 said that the Angels would hit a lot of trouble in the next six days (3 with Detroit and 3 with Tampa) because the opposing pitching. So far, so wrong, experts. The Angels are 28-25 with the win, still 3.5 back of Texas, 2.5 up on Seattle, and 5 up on Oakland. The run differential, although some people don't think it matters, is finally down to -4! Getting better. Tomorrow afternoon is the much anticipated debut of Kelvim Escobar. Esco is hopefully primed to make his triumphant return on the road tomorrow night, as he goes up against Edwin "Even Tommy Knew It Was Dumb Of The Dodgers To Let Him Go" Jackson (5-3, 2.30). The German native (can you believe that?) has gone 4-1 over his last 5 games, but he holds a ghastly 5.40 ERA against the Angels here in 2009. He was tagged for 6 runs (3 earned) in 5 innings the last time they met, and hopefully the Reds Hats can get to him again.
This just in: I'll be at the Chivas USA/Seattle game tomorrow night. Bring it!
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