Final Score in Toronto: Blue Jays 6, Angels 4
In the first game of a nine-game road trip, the Halos sent Joe Saunders against Toronto's ace Roy Halladay. Angel fans were hoping for Saunders to step up his game as he did against Zack Greinke when he shutout the Royals last month. However, it was Halladay who stepped it up, striking out a career high 14 batters while throwing 133 pitches.
Saunders lasted into the 6th inning before giving way to Rich Thompson, but not before giving up 6 runs on 9 hits. Saunders didn't throw as bad as his pitching line would suggest, as two of the four extra-base hits he gave up were hard groundballs that rolled all the way to the Rogers' Centre outfield wall (another being a long home run by Jose Bautista) and another run was helped out by an error by left fielder Gary Matthews.
The Angels loaded the bases with none out in the 7th and were able to score runs on a Kendry Morales single, a wild pitch and sacrifice flies by Maicer Izturis and Mike Napoli.
Although he gave up four runs, Halladay consistantly took advantage of the free-swinging Halos, striking out Torii Hunter and Gary Matthews 3 times apiece on his way to a complete game, 14 strike out performance.
One bright spot for the Angels was the hitless relief provided by Rich Thompson and Jason Bulger. The two relievers went 2.1 scoreless innings in hopefully the beginning of a much needed bullpen shot-in-the-arm.
0 recs | 43 comments
Howie needs to be sent down...
His act is tired, we need players that can count to three.
bc56274 - June 2, 2009
Are you saying he can't count to three strikes?
Because there’s plenty of evidence to suggest otherwise….
mattwelch - June 2, 2009
Oh yeah....he's got that down pat.
I just hate mental mistakes.
He needs a wakeup call.
bc56274 - June 2, 2009
That's it right there.
All the chatter about Howie at the plate MUST include the obvious brain farts that are “Howie In The Field”. What had been bone-headedness on defense, has now spread to bone-headedness on the basepaths. It’s a simple thing: knowing the situation. Currently, for whatever reason, this is too much for Howie. 27,000 people present, and only 1 who did not know how many outs.
(P.S. – per Rev’s time on AM830 Monday night, I seem to recall that the notion of Howie becoming a League batting champ originated from the Halo coaches. It did not from overly high fan expectations. The fans merely followed.)
Stirrups - June 2, 2009
No, he can't count to three outs.
red floyd - June 2, 2009
There has to be more to the story
It’s just too easy to clamor to “send the guy to SLC”, management needs to find out (if they don’t know already) what has changed with Howie. He’s been playing on the major league team since 2006. His lowest batting average during that time was .285, the lowest OBP was .314, the lowest OPS .730. His performance in 2009 is such an aberration when compared to the prior three seasons that there has to be something physically, mentally, or emotionally wrong with him.
There has to be more to the story than is publicly known. Let’s give the guy the benefit of the doubt until there’s more information.
mustard_man - June 3, 2009
The colonel was too crispy tonight.
6 runs in 5+ innings is not good enough.
Howie finally gets another hit, and to celebrate he…forgets the number of outs? Ouch.
sothball - June 2, 2009
44FAN - June 2, 2009
How about both?
Halladay made our bats look like they were riveted to our asses…we’re so screwed.
sothball - June 2, 2009
3 k's, excellent D,
and the winner is GMJ!
Stoneman must a been very hung over the day he inked that contract
Big Bad, 'Vlad'! - June 2, 2009
My pathetic attempt
vlad IS my man - June 2, 2009
Now I'm just pissed off.
This team isn’t bad, they’re just mediocre. That pisses me off more than anything.
chairmanofthebar - June 2, 2009
i didn't watch the game
but i was wondering doesn’t Halladay make everyone look mediocre
HALO_86 - June 2, 2009
25 and 25 = Mediocrity
chairmanofthebar - June 2, 2009
Lose
27up27down - June 2, 2009
what does eybar have to do with it? ;)
vlad IS my man - June 2, 2009
Everything! lol
angelskid2210 - June 2, 2009
Aybar is a bad offensive influence
27up27down - June 2, 2009
NO.
There a several other guys to chose as bad offensive influence on the Angels, right now. Dont blame Aybar.
BryanHarvey'sMoustache - June 2, 2009
Like...
Howie Kendrick
Juan Rivera
Who else?
27up27down - June 2, 2009
Johnny Rivers?
wtf? that guy has been nails lately, why would you include him?
b0rd3rline - June 3, 2009
Mathis, GMJ
BryanHarvey'sMoustache - June 4, 2009
It is kind of sad when you
turn on the radio and you hear the other team has two or three runs and you say oh well we’re losing. Why? because we can’t score unless we get 5 to 6 hits in an inning. We only hit singles and it is getting depressing.
angelskid2210 - June 2, 2009
Yes it is.
Slapstick singles are not as satisfying as bombs.
27up27down - June 2, 2009
Justin is My Favorite 'N Sync Member
If only Speier had started the game, we would’ve won.
ttsec - June 2, 2009
It was Halladay after all but damn...
I’m getting tired of this shit!
Monkeyspanked - June 2, 2009
ill assume everyone is...
mastermind565 - June 2, 2009
How we slapstick too much?
Welcome to the club.
27up27down - June 2, 2009
Tada...
Figgins is not terrible, but he has the qualifications to be head of board, if such a club exists.
27up27down - June 2, 2009
as a leadoff hitter I am fine with that...
Plus, he has speed. So he gets to 2nd more often than not.
BryanHarvey'sMoustache - June 2, 2009
True.
But he slapstick singles are his forte, so good or not, he will be head of board as of now.
27up27down - June 2, 2009
I swear...
If they gave points out for hitting a ball as close as possible to a defender, the Angels would rule this league.
Maybe Mr. Hatcher needs to think beyond the concept of merely hitting a ball, but actually placing a ball. I know hitting is not easy, but geez.
Heck, I heard the Little League coach discussing ball placement with his boys at my local park.
3rd Echelon - June 2, 2009
i think the league has figured us out
we swing at junk, we hit a bunch of singles, our BP is getting hit and the power sources are few and far between. frustrating beyond belief how many team wide offensive funks we’ve gone through.
well, texas lost i believe so there’s that. sigh….
SCHalo - June 2, 2009
The Saddest Part
is that the Angels did manage four runs off Halliday, a lot more than he usually surrenders. As dominant as he was for most of the game, the Angels should have won this one, had Saunders done his usual thing.
jjackflash - June 2, 2009
offense needs more..............
Wood
norcaliangelsfan - June 2, 2009
and Sean?
BryanHarvey'sMoustache - June 2, 2009
Yes.
27up27down - June 2, 2009
AND DON'T FORGET
Casey Kotchman and Dallas McPherson!
Rev Halofan - June 3, 2009
McPherson Kicks ASS!!!!
acuda27 - June 3, 2009
As bad as it looked with the 14K’s … the Halos managed 4 runs against Halladay. Hopefully, they can bring that positive over to today. Mental mistakes are unacceptable.
Downing Rules - June 3, 2009
I blame Sosh
Its easy to blame him any time he starts GMJr., but especially true with this game. 3 k’s, another horrible play in the field… why does this guy ever start ahead of Rivera? Cuz he’s a lefty? A lot of good that did him against Doc. There is no showcasing for a trade (no one wants him) and no keeping him fresh (he’s going to be horrible anyways). Just keep this dude out of the lineup unless its absolutely necessary.
dmhead - June 3, 2009
Apparently it's because
Juancho is 0-for-whatever against Doc.
red floyd - June 3, 2009
Silver lining of being o-fer…. you can only improve your batting average! ;)
Downing Rules - June 3, 2009
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