Leaving Seattle Without a Win

The Angels were forced into leaving Seattle without a win even though they played decent baseball. Well, Trout didn’t hit a home run Wednesday but the offense decided to show up regardless. The Angels actually scored 6 runs and were leading as late as the 8th inning at Safeco Field, but they still came away from Seattle without a win.

Injuries and Comebacks

The Angels played pretty well Wednesday and actually came back from a 2 run deficit in the 2nd inning and were winning the game as late as the 8th, 6–5. But they could not hold on. And while the bullpen has been pitching fairly decently lately, they are just overworked.

Garrett Richards started the game and looked good for 4 batters then gave up 4 hits in a row. Seattle jumped out to a 2–0 lead and it looked like a replay of the previous 2 games. But then not only did the Angels start to come back in the 3rd, but Richards didn’t come out to the mound. Apparently Garrett had some kind of hamstring tightness in his left leg and will be re-evaluated today, but he left the game and it was scary. The Angels certainly don’t need another injury to anyone, much less their opening day starter.

Zack Cozart also left the game after making a diving play in the 3rd. His shoulder popped when he landed on it and he’ll be checked out today as well. These injuries are adding up. 3 pitchers down for Tommy John surgery, Ohtani out for who knows how long, and it’s just getting depressing. Sure, the season is long and injuries are always a factor but it still seems like every pitcher on the Angels has spent at least a season sitting on the DL watching rather than playing.

In any case, Seattle figured out how to stop Trout from getting home runs – they walked him…twice. Ok, he still got 2 hits and went 2 for 3 but they stopped his home run streak. Other teammates stepped up though – Chris Young had a good day going 3 for 4 with a HR, an RBI, and 3 runs scored. Nolan Fontana who came in for Cozart also put up a go ahead home run in the 7th which really made me think the Angels might win this one. But the bullpen couldn’t hold on. After so much overwork, they collapsed and gave up runs in the 7th, 8th, and the winning 2 run home run in the 9th. Such a heart break after the team worked to comeback.

Even with Young’s 3 hit day I have to give my Player of the Game to David Fletcher who made his major league debut for the Angels going 3 for 4 with 2 RBIs and a triple – what an introduction.

So with today as a much needed off day, the team flies to Oakland to continue the road trip. Hopefully Oakland will be a more friendly venue where the team can break out of their current skid. Hopefully this day off will also give the team time to assess how they were on a 6 game win streak and now have lost 4 in a row.

Daily Ramble 244.2 | Sports – Angels – Leaving Seattle Without a Win