Gotta Break That Broom

Jaime Barria and the Angels actually lead a game against the Red Sox on Thursday but that lead was short lived. While Andrelton Simmons started the scoring for the Angels with a home run in the 4th, it was Boston who had the last laugh as they swept the Angels in the season series for the first time in Angels history. I guess the good new is no one got injured.

Six is Enough

Not only did the Sox take all 6 games from the Angels this season but they also handed the team a season high 6th straight loss. When June started I was glad to see May in the review mirror as the team played poorly in May, going 14–15. Little did I know then that the Angels would play even worse in June. At 11–14 the team has erased any momentum they had in April and are now sitting at .500 for the first time since March 30th. Hopefully the team can look at the start of the second half of the season as an opportunity to turn things around and move back into the right direction.

Since looking at the big picture doesn’t provide any good news I’ve gotta look for some small things that might give some positive signs. While Barria took the loss, he held a very potent Boston offense to 2 runs on 4 hits. This represents the 43rd time out of the past 54 games that the Angels starters have allowed 3 or less earned runs…that’s not too bad for a group that’s been devastated with injuries. They’ve actually been carrying a 3.27 ERA since May 1st which you’d think would result in a better record than 25–29 in that time, but I guess not.

But even though the Angels scored first that one run was all could eek out until Trout did his usual magic in the 8th. He walked (making it a league leading 71), moved to 3rd on a single by Upton, and then scored on a Pujols’ single. But even with no outs and 2 on, the Angels were done scoring.

So hopefully six is enough. One more loss on this streak and the team falls below .500 and things really start to look bleak…at least they’ve got a better record than Texas…but not by much – they’re closer to last place than first which is definitely not a place they want to be.

I give my Player of the Game to Barria since even though he took the loss, he pitched pretty well for his 5 1/3 innings and kept things close enough that the team had a chance to win if the offense just cooperated.

Thankfully the Angels’ are done with Boston this year as they head to Baltimore and hopefully some friendlier opposition. Felix Pena (0–0, 5.40 ERA) takes on David Hess (2–4, 5.44 ERA) in the opening game of a weekend series. The Angels swept the Orioles in Anaheim in May so hopefully they can pick up a win and stop this losing streak.

Daily Ramble 280.2 | Sports – Angels – Gotta Break That Broom