Feast or Famine

The Angels are in a bit of a cycle these days with the offense either scoring double digit runs or none at all. Wednesday featured the former and it was good to see the team hitting like they know what they’re doing. 4 home runs, 14 hits, and 11 runs might not be what’s expected every day but it’s nice to get every once in a while. And these days it seems every 3rd game they get one of these offensive outbursts.

Trout, Pujols, and Ohtani Go Yard

Trout started things out with a home run in the first. Pujols added to the score with a home run in the 2nd. Ohtani in the 5th and Trout again in the 6th and the Angels didn’t need more that home runs to win yesterday. They got more though in 3 doubles and a total of 14 hits. It was a fun game to watch for a change from the depression that went along with the two losses at the start of the Chicago series.

Tyler Skaggs was the recipient of all the support and he made the runs count as he held the White Sox to 2 runs – only one earned – through 6 innings. His 9 strike outs paced the team as they try to crawl back to the .500 mark. Hopefully the team can provide some support for the other pitchers they put up on the mound each night.

Mike Trout gets my Player of the Game as he hit 2 home runs. He also picked up a double and drove in 4 runs in his 3 for 4 night. I figure Chicago will go back to walking him in the series finale today since when they pitch to him, he smacks the ball all over the place.

Again on the offensive side of things, Pujols passed Ken Griffey Jr. for 6th place on the all time home run list with 631. He’s currently sitting 29 behind Willie Mays (660) but has hit 5 HRs in the past 7 games so look out…

Sadly, even after the great game last night, reality has set in for the Angels’ front office and they have become sellers before the trade deadline. Sitting at a game below .500 with 59 left, the Angels dealt catcher Martin Maldonado to division rival and leader Houston and I have to say I’m really saddened to hear this. I’ve enjoyed watching Maldonado behind the plate and think he’s been great at gunning down base runners all season long. He very well could be the first of many pre-deadline trades as the Angels have shown that they have some decent relievers and they need non-injured depth for next season.

Good Luck Martin at least you will be making the post season.

Daily Ramble 306.1 | Sports – Angels – Feast or Famine