First Loss

The third game of the First Timer League season is once again between the Angels and the cheating Houston Astros. It features a matchup between newly acquired Julio Teheran for the Angels against 27-year-old Josh James for the ‘Stros, and honestly, I’m not sure how this one is gonna turn out since I’m not too familiar with either pitcher. But after scoring 20 runs in the first two games, I pretty much left the Angels’ lineup the same.

Game Three

Things got off to a rocky start with a walk to Alex Bregman, followed by an HR to Yordan Alvarez. Teheran wasn’t able to even get outta the first inning without trouble. But at least 2 runs were all he gave up. Anthony Rendon cut that in half with a home run in the 4th, but the Angels still trailed 2 to 1.

But then the wheels came off for the Angel pitcher as he gave up a walk, a double, and a home run to Bregman, Alvarez, and Yuli Gurriel, respectively, in the 4th. Michael Brantly smacked a double as well, but at least he didn’t score. At the end of 4, it was 5–1 Astros.

The top of the 5th saw the Angels begin to work their way back into the game as Jason Castro drew a 2 out walk from James, and Brian Goodwin knocked him in with a run-scoring double. David Fletcher followed up with a single that scored Goodwin, and it was 3 to 5. A passed ball gave Fletcher the chance to take second base, and then Justin Upton smashed a 2-run shot to left-center, and we were tied up at 5.

Now I started getting nervous. I knew Teheran wasn’t pitching too well, but he had thrown less than 60 pitches in 4 innings, so I left him in which turned out to be good and bad. Good because he made it through the 5th inning without giving up another run, but bad because he felt pain in his right elbow. Just what the Angels needed…an injury to their shaky at best starting rotation.

We’ll have to get the doctor to see what happened, but in the meantime, Teheran is outta the game, and I need to bring in a new pitcher for the 6th, so I started warming up Kenyan Middleton.

He made it through the 6th and 7th without a scratch, and I started Noe Ramirez in the 8th. He started well by getting Bregman on a grounder to short, but the next batter was Alvarez, who was already 2 for 3 with a home run. I probably should have brought in a lefty to face Yordan or maybe even pitched around him since he was hot, but I had Ramirez challenge him. The bottom line was a line drive over the center-field wall to give Houston the lead. Noe got through the rest of the inning without any trouble, but the damage was done, Houston was ahead 6 to 5.

Houston brought in their closer Roberto Osuna as soon as the inning turned over, and Ohtani was ready to get that run back, but he struck out swinging on a 3–2 pitch. Then I was stuck in a dilemma. Albert Pujols came to the plate, and I was sorely tempted to put in a pinch hitter. He hadn’t gotten a hit in 12 plate appearances, and I wasn’t too happy to think that I’d be one out away from losing my first game if he didn’t do anything. He surprised me, though, and placed a line drive into left field to get on base. He was gonna be my tying run, and I needed to get him around the bases.

But I wasn’t gonna rely on his old legs; instead, I substituted Michael Hermosillo as a pinch-runner. This is so cool that I can do that!

Andrelton Simmons almost made my day on the next pitch. Now, for some reason, I did not realize it was the 9th inning…I thought it was only the 8th, but Simmons smacked the longest fly ball to right field I’ve seen in the game…at least the longest fly ball that did not go outta the park. I really thought he gave me the go-ahead run. It was not to be, though.

So then I pinch hit for Castro and put in Tommy La Stella to see if he could perform a miracle. Nope. A ground ball to second, and the game was over. 6 to 5 was the final score with the cheating Astros taking their first win of the season.

It’s a Wrap

In all, even though I lost, it was a fun game. I enjoyed making the player changes to try to score the tying run, and even though I am pissed off that my starting pitcher got injured, it was interesting having to deal with that unexpected event. I’ll see when I simulate the next game what the result of the injury is, I think, but for now, I’m starting to think about how I’m gonna fill a hole in my rotation. Luckily, after tomorrow’s game, I have an off day.

Ramble 2020.02.23 | First Loss