Final Score in Anaheim: San Diego Padres 4, L.A. Angels 5
The Angels finished Spring training like they finished the 2008 season: with the best record of any team but little else to show for it. Their final Spring record: 26-8-1
PITCHING: With a beat-up pitching staff, minor leaguer Sean O'Sullivan started the contest, pitching 3+ innings with 7 hits, but only allowing 1 ER. He was followed by 20-year old Eddie McKiernan. Of the expected regular season bullpen help, Darren Oliver, Scot Shields and Jose Arredondo each pitched a scoreless inning. Kevin Jepsen allowed a run in his lone frame and, leading 3-2 in the 9th, closer Brian Fuentes' debut in front of the home crowd was forgettable as he gascanned up two runs in a pathetic display of mid-80s fastballs. He finally got two Padres to strike out in a somewhat professional manner, but it was a night to pause and remember the easy saves that Francisco Rodriguez routinely delivered.
BATTING: Robb Quinlan hit a foulpole HR (off a righty pitcher to boot!) and Kendry Morales had a ringing RBI double. Vladimir Guerrero, in his 12th Spring training game, drove in Howie Kendrick with an infield single that showed his Spring legs are fresh after that offseason knee surgery (props to Kobe's Colorado doctor).
LATE INNING ANTICS: After Fuentes choked up a save, Reggie Willits led off the bottom of the 9th with a basehit, Sean Rodriguez walked and Maicer Izturis hit a slow dribbler down the First base line. This allowed Willits to run home for a close play at the plate. Backup catcher Bobby Wilson then hit a simple single to score S-Rod and the Angels earned their Sunday day off before Monday night's season opener.
0 recs | 21 comments
Reggie started the rally on a clutch single.
Then did some more of his patented “score from second on an infield ground ball” routine.
Zu Long - April 4, 2009
Also, 26 wins ties us with the '97 Marlins with the best recorded spring training win total.
Zu Long - April 4, 2009
Nice stat
Thanks
vladtheimpaler - April 5, 2009
Reggie for Panther!
Mathis rocks a Hunter jersey in the off season.
Funke5ive - April 4, 2009
I voted for Wilson. Probably his only chance 'till September for a Panther.
sothball - April 4, 2009
BTW, I hope fENOMINAL doesn't see the photo above of O'Sullivan...
…might bring back some bad memories.
sothball - April 4, 2009
Did Fuentes really throw in the mid-80's?
That is the headline here.
What happened to his velocity? This could be a huge problem. A $30 million problem.
jimmuscomp - April 4, 2009
He K'd the last 2 batters rather efficiently, but I didn't see his speed for those 2.
He really just dug a hole for himself…2 errors (a throw to 1B and a pick-off attempt at 2B). Without the errors, he would have allowed only 1 run (1st batter HR).
Chalk it up to nervousness…first appearance at the Big A.
sothball - April 4, 2009
Oh
Frankie
Funke5ive - April 4, 2009
Wasn't quite mid-80s.
Gameday pegged his average for the night at 88.2.
Zu Long - April 4, 2009
Results are up!
scottnak - April 4, 2009
great way to finish off the spring
nice job halos!
AnaheimHalos61 - April 4, 2009
The Big Q for Panther
1. Ha, I knew Q wouldn’t get Panther from you guys
2. Fuentes got his first win with the Angels! ;)
vladtheimpaler - April 5, 2009
And the big "LOSE"???
Angels Stadium, for continuing to play the “loser” song during the 7th inning stretch. Even showed it on the broadcast.
red floyd - April 5, 2009
YOU GOTTA BE KIDDING ME?????
@ Angels: PLEASE, PLEASE STOP THIS MADNESS!!!
Downing Rules - April 5, 2009
Frankie
Don’t mean to be argumentative, Rev, but my recollection of 2008 was that there were quite a few nights when the words “routine” and “Frankie” weren’t used in the same sentence. He had many 1-2-3-4-5 9th inning saves, which was remarkable when one considered he almost always entered the game with the bases empty.
I am looking forward to Fuentes getting his bearings over the next couple of weeks, but I don’t have the misty, watercolored memories of Frankie being automatic from the bullpen last season. I think the Mets fans will be reaching for the Tums before the All Star break.
George Kaplan - April 5, 2009
If Fuentes fails...
…I vote Eddie “Leave it to Beav” McKiernan for closer.
sothball - April 5, 2009
I don't know if I agree with "easy" saves
ladybug - April 5, 2009
Eh? You talkin' ta me? Or was meant for...ya know...the...uh... Kaplan dude above?
sothball - April 5, 2009
agreed..............
just gonna post something to this effect.
norcaliangelsfan - April 5, 2009
i will take 1-2-3-4-5 of Frankie
over 1-run to tie, 2 runs to gank the lead Fuentes
Rev Halofan - April 5, 2009
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