5 straight and just 0.5 back.

Another weekend of baseball, another huge series win from the Angels. 3 straight wins over the 2010 AL West Champion Seattle Mariners (per ESPN) by a combined score of 27-7. Wow. Let's take a stroll through the last 3 days of hardball.

Friday: Joey Joe Joe hurled another solid effort, going 6 innings of 1 run ball. He didn't look great, allowing 10 baserunners (8 hits, 2 walks) while only punching out 1, but he pitched out of jams. 3 double plays is exactly what you need to keep the opposition from advancing into the danger zone, and that's what Saundo got. Francisco Rodriguez (no, not that Francisco Rodriguez) and Bozo Bell finished the game with 3 innings of 1 hit shutout ball. Meanwhile, the offense was busting Snell and company open. Matsui went yard in his 3 for 3, 3 RBI night, and was joined by Ma$e (2 runs scored as the leadoff man), and Howie (2 RBI) in the solid night category. 7-1 was a great way to start the weekend.

Saturday: Seeing the Angels rock their 1995 California Angel jerseys on "Turn Back the Clock Night" was so rad. They played like freaking studs in their old school threads. An 11-2 blowout win backed up by an amazing outing from Young Gun Ervin Santana (6 innings of 1 run ball) was just what we needed. Did I mention how much I enjored Mark Langston over Marc Gubicza this weekend. Makes me think we need a staffing change. Bulger backed up Erv with 2 shutout innings, and Gas Can Shields gave up 1 run in his inning of work (ugh). The offense was incredible, with Big Game leading the charge. The Hunt Dog went 3 for 4 with 3 RBI, including three massive doubles to silence the coffee addicted crowd. Maicer Izturis again proved this blog right by doing a great job in his second game at the top of the order (2 for 3 with 2 RBI, 2 runs, and a walk), Howie made me proud with a 2 for 5 2 RBI night, and Naps continued to be hot with a 2 for 5 and RBI kind of game. The M's were truly crushed, and even thoug FSW showed the game on tape delay, I was enjoying the huss out of it.

Sunday: Ah, nothing like a baseball game after church to enjoy with your wife and child. The Halos continued to abuse their Northwest rivals, and man was it a thing of magic. This time, it was a series sweeping 9-4 victory that kept our win streak rolling (now at 5 games). While J Balls Piñata may have had a bumpy ride (6 innings of 4 run ball, 9 hits, 3 BB, 5 K), he did well enough to keep us in the game. Jeps, Rodney, and San Francisco Rodriguez did shutout work in the final 3. Can we annoint Fernando Rodney as the new Scot Shields of old yet? I'm starting to think so. Mr. 8th inning shut down set up guy for sure. Of course, Michaelangelo Fusili Napolini was the hero of the game. He powered the O with a 4 for 5, 2 RBI, 3 run afternoon, including a dagger to the heart home run in the 7th that broke the tie game for good. EA Sports also thrilled us with a 4 for 5 effort in the 1 hole (wait, was that Maicer with fake teeth?), and Robbbbbbbbbbbbb played the role of the unsung hero, going 3 for 5 with a rib eye steak sandwich hold the au jus. 

38 hits, 27 runs, and a series sweep, and Mike Scioscia was nowhere near Seattle? Hm. I think we found our magic formula. Way to go, R Squared.

Also, it's nice to play Seattle, because it makes you realize we don't really miss Figgy or Kotch whatsoever. They're hitting .220 and .194 respectively.

Now we're 31-28. We lead the AL West in wins and trail the division leading Rangers by just a half of a game. I told that stupid punk, Mark Saxon, that we were turning it around. If only this blog was linked to ESPN, people would see how real fans actually know what we're talking about more than the talking heads employed by the networks. 

The road trip continues for night in beautiful Northern California as the Angels match up with their Magneto, the Oakland A's. This is going to be one heck of a 2/3 battle. Scott "You're better than this" Kazmir (4-5, 5.86) is going against Benny & The Jets Sheets (2-4, 5 flat). I wanted Sheets to sign with the Angels in the offseason and instead he went to my most bitter rivals. Sheets gave up 3 in 6 last time out against Los Halos in a LAA victory, but his home ERA is a clean and tidy 2.50 in 6 outing this year. Meanwhile, Kaz got wildly overrated after his last start, allowing 1 run over 5.67 against KC. Only we had the guts (or nards, if you will) to knock him back down to size. However, his 2.66 ERA at the A's park is his second lowest at any park in the bigs (I'm guessing Angel stadium isn't number one). Should be a wild one, and if I was a betting man (outside of my all you can eat/drink at Silky's NBA Finals bet with Chris), I'd put my money on a one run game.

Rub on some Vick's and pick up consecutive win #6!

-- Sent from my Palm Prē