The Angels went to Rogers Centre (correct spelling), a place where they notoriously only win when Jarrod Washburn pitches with the flu, and came away with a freaking three game sweep. Most moronic Angel fans don't even realize how epic this actually was. To celebrate, I texted my dear friend Andrew with simply, "Sweep." I wanted him to be crushed with the Angels stellar sweep of his Boo Jays, failing to realize how much of a realistic fan he is. He responded with, "I could have pitches and beaten the Jays." Now that comment is either a) A slam on former Ilenia love interest Ervin Santana or b) A recognition of the fact that Toronto ain't all that and a bag of chips. Either way, Do's realistic approach to the three straight losses took the wind out of my sails when it came to gloating about the big weekend. And, while I may not be the usual flip flopping Angel fan who has gone from "trade Torri and demote Wood" to "crown these guys World Series Champs" (not to mention wearing an Ed Hardy shirt and driving a jacked up truck with a "Fox" racing sticker on the back window), I am excited about the solid turnaround our pitching staff made o'er the weekend.
Jered Weaver (7 innings of 2 run ball. 5 hits, 8 Ks, no walks): J Weav did what he does best, as he showed yet again that he is the supreme ace of this staff here in 2010. Improving to 2-0 on the year, Weav threw 108 pitches, with 68 finding the zone. He was helped out by a Kendry Morales solo bomb, and a three run eighth highlighted by a 2 out 2 run double by Mighty Maicer. The 7-5 win was quite a way to bounce back after New York.
Joe Saunders (8 innings, 2 unearned runs. 5 hits, 2 Ks, 1 walk): Not to be out done, Joe Joe had his first positive outing of the young year, in a big way with 8 strong. 73 of his 107 pitches were for strikes, and the only Jays to cross the plate with the Colonel on the mound were due to Brandon Wood's two errors (uh oh). Big Joe Saundo (in memory of Rex Hudler) was backed up by Howie Kendrick's 3 hit/3 RBI morning (with a jack), JR's bomb and 2 RBI, and a 2 for 4 outing for backup Reggie Willits. A winning streak was born.
Ervin Santana (9 innings of 1 run ball. 4 hits, 6 Ks, and no walks): It's as if each pitcher wanted to outduel the previous. Young Stud, Erv Daddy went the complete game in yesterday's brunch battle, coming one strike away from the CG/SO before Lind blasted a meaningless jack. Erv has 70 strikes on 106 pitches in the game, and got helped out by Matsui and Mathis' RBI doubles (the new bash brothers?). Math is now hitting .333 with a jack and 3 RBI, not to mention his stellar quarterbacking behind the dish (six points for the cross sports reference!). The first sweep of the season was just that easy.
Let's also point out:
Fernando Rodney getting back to back saves on Friday and Saturday.
Brandon Wood responding to being sat on Friday by going 1 for 8 in the final two games.
Erick Aybar reaching base 5 times in the series to set the table.
Torii Hunter now leads the team with his .341 BA, while Hideki's 8 RBI and 3 jacks are still #1.
No rest, though, as we booked in home for tonight's series opener against Fernando Rodney's old buds from D Town. D Town will throw the emotionally unstable D Train (0-0, 4.91) at us, in his 3rd start of the year (1st not against KC). We counter with Joel Piñiero, affectionately called La Piñata, who came around in his previous start and is now 1-1 with a nice 2.70 ERA and even-1 WHIP. Can the Halos get another amazing start now that we're back home, and improve to 7-7? We're 2.5 back of Oakland, and closing fast. Hopefully we can keep the streak alive against Los Tigres.
-- Sent from my Palm Prē
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