Final Score in Los Angeles of Anaheim: Angels 10, Rays 5
A clutch homerun by Gary Matthews Jr. broke open a tight ball game and a late bomb by Howie Kendrick made it a laugher as the Angels beat the Rays Wednesday to complete a three game sweep of one of baseball's best offenses.
Pitcher Trevor Bell, making his major league debut allowed four runs in 5 and one-third innings. After a blown call at 2B in the top of the 4th allowed Evan Longoria to remain there after he had clearly been tagged out by Erick Aybar, Carlos Peña hit a two-run homer on the very next pitch. Peña would homer later in the game off of the rookie.
But Bell's line of 5.1, 9 H, 4 ER and 4 Ks versus 1 BB looked great considering he was facing one of baseball's top offenses and was pitching on a day when the ball was flying off of the bats in the dry sunny So Cal afternoon. Manager Mike Scioscia has already indicated that Bell will remain in the rotation.
Darren Oliver inherited a tight situation from Jason Bulger in the 7th inning with a man on 2nd and nobody out. Oliver struck out Carl Crawford and Ben Zobrist (intentionally walking Longoria in between) and then got Peña to hit a long fly ball to RF. Bobby Abreu battled the high desert sun better than Carl Crawford earlier in the game - Whike Abreu made the catch after a quick pedal to his right, Crawford lost a mile high 4th inning popup by Mike Napoli that was ruled a triple.
0 recs | 64 comments
I hate you guys
but good series anyways. I guess.
killa3312 - August 12, 2009
cheer up football season is so near
HALO N BRIMSTONE - August 12, 2009
Hope you guys beat out Texas and Boston
for the wild card
blochead - August 12, 2009
+1
deejayelleseven - August 12, 2009 via mobile
Yes yes yes
Brody - August 12, 2009
I'd put Howie in that vote
mattwelch - August 12, 2009
2nd
Considering he gets the goat more times than he’s deserved.
anaheimisnotla - August 12, 2009
Agree
Brody - August 12, 2009
HE IS There now
definitely the best insurance policy hit in many games.
Rev Halofan - August 12, 2009
Damn
I already voted….
anaheimisnotla - August 12, 2009
WIN
Bell did pretty well today. I’m interested to see what he’ll have in his next start.
howiestheman - August 12, 2009
seeing him live was a pleasure
the home runs he gave up werent even all that bad if that makes any sense.
deejayelleseven - August 12, 2009 via mobile
Let's give it to HGH, just so he won't have all blames.
red floyd - August 12, 2009
GMJ
Big HR today. Give Juice some cred
hk47 - August 12, 2009
HGH for me
Throw him a bone.
Monkeyspanked - August 12, 2009
Bow down to your master Joe Maddon.
HALO N BRIMSTONE - August 12, 2009
show some love for GMJ
princeton11loveshalos - August 12, 2009
GMJ got my vote
RexTookMyStash - August 12, 2009
GMJ's HR was huge!
I give it to GMJ, but there are a lot of possibilities. I agree with Matt that Howie deserves to be in the mix. Aybar and Ollie were both great. Just a good solid game.
Brody - August 12, 2009
I'm fine with Bell's debut.
So he gave up a couple dingers to the AL’s leading HR hitter in a daytime game when the balls fly out. He’s otherwise a pitcher who doesn’t give up many, and his stuff looked good in the early innings.
Turks Teeth - August 12, 2009
+1
He gave me confidence. I think he will be very good for a long time.
Brody - August 12, 2009
+2
works quick,short memory,electric fastball that really attacks hitters ,i think he only had 1 3-0 count today if my memory serves me correct.
deejayelleseven - August 12, 2009 via mobile
yeah
I think it was right after GMJ misplayed that ball in center.
Brody - August 12, 2009
Yeah, that's to the script.
He typically gives up very few walks and very few homeruns. Control is his strength. That was tested against a really good offense today, but I’m sure he took away some good lessons.
Turks Teeth - August 12, 2009
Threw him in at the deep end, he really didn't look that bad.
TheOptimist - August 12, 2009
GMJ!
but happy Bell had a decent debut.
SCHalo - August 12, 2009
The Rays got Steve Irwin'ed
at Angel Stadium
blochead - August 12, 2009
ouch
too soon?
linkbruin - August 12, 2009
Nope
I laughed
PhiSlamma - August 12, 2009
I laughed at the South Park episode like the week after he died
I’m just wondering when is ok to laugh at something pretty sad but also equally hilarious. A year? A month? Whenever?
linkbruin - August 12, 2009
The Wacko jokes took less than 12 hours...
…that was about the appropriate period of mourning
The Limey - August 12, 2009
I think that might have been because Steve was kind of a wacko himself. .
A cheerful one, but a wacko.
opiejeanne - August 12, 2009
What do you call four guys in a band?
The Jackson 5
anaheimisnotla - August 12, 2009
Never too soon...
…I’ve been to Australia zoo in Queensland and they’ve turned it into this creepy shrine to Irwin with his very ugly daughter as poster child (ironically).
And besides, Australians have skins as thick as rhino
The Limey - August 12, 2009
How do you know which croc is his daughter?
Brody - August 12, 2009
ROFL
blochead - August 12, 2009
yesterday willits & mathis, today GMJ
Its now Q’s turn to not suck on Friday
Quad Fin Rider - August 12, 2009
My 'gut' tells me GMJ is the Panther
His HR completely turned the game around. It looked like the Angels were on their way to a loss.
Fangraphs WPA loves GMJ. He’s at .441. Cousin Oliver is next at .213
WPA has a serious weakness because it ignores defense but today it seems accurate.
Fan Since 1981 - August 12, 2009
GMJ. IMO
That 3-run shot was steak in the heart.
Howie’s 3-run was just an added kick to the balls.
(However, Morales’ single gave us the winning run though. Something to consider).
Slyintine - August 12, 2009
mmmm steak
u mean stake to the heart?
princeton11loveshalos - August 12, 2009
My stomach is taking over my speech
Slyintine - August 12, 2009
free claim jumper wings thanks to hk47
deejayelleseven - August 12, 2009 via mobile
Justin Speier
So i went to the game today and sat near the bullpen in left field, and Justin walked by to say goodbye to the bullpen, and even though, he’s put us through hell for a while, I yelled to him and thanked him for everything and he came and he came over and shook my hand. Classy guy.
Just thought that was an interesting tid-bit as he hugged Orlando Mercado and Matt Palmer and Oliver goodbye.
His persona will be missed….
SMUangelFan - August 12, 2009
Very classy
Haven’t been able to handle watching him pitch for a while, but he seems to be a good guy and teammate. Wish him all the best, just not against the Angels.
Rycat512 - August 12, 2009
nice story, thanks for sharing, see Justin's goodbye statement on the official site, classy
tanana40 - August 12, 2009
Speier is a class act
it’s too bad he wasn’t very good for us in a couple of years. I hate to see it happen to such a nice guy, but he had to go
KingF15h - August 12, 2009
That is an awesome story
I really liked Justin, and this is just further proof of what a class act he is. He was one of those guys that you wanted to do well, not just because he is an Angel but because he very much wanted to help the Angels win. I am sad to see him go even though I know that it is in the team’s best interest to move on without him.
Brody - August 12, 2009
Not that he isn't necessarily a classy guy....
but it’s pretty easy to be classy when you’re gonna make 10 million dollars to not pitch.
Nashdiesel - August 12, 2009
It's really a shame, during the 07 season Speier was one of my favorite pitchers
because so many of his innings were 1-2-3 affairs.
TheOptimist - August 12, 2009
was that today or last night?
opiejeanne - August 12, 2009
it was today…… he was wearing plain clothes and gave a huge hug to orlando mercado, and then matt palmer came over and hugged him. and he then walked away and I had to say something, and he responded with a shake of the hand
SMUangelFan - August 13, 2009
Give the Devil his due
Gary Poppins for Panther
KingF15h - August 12, 2009
I'm loving that name
The Limey - August 12, 2009
It's supercalifragilisticexpialidocious!
rspencer - August 12, 2009
Back from the game
Bell looked very good. One unearned run, shoulda been a quality start. And LOL at Napolis triple
Figgi4life - August 12, 2009 via mobile
I heard HK47 mentioned on the recap (ESPN)
Is that a universal nickname?? I thought it generated here (of course, I get most of my Angels info here, so …)
matthiasstephan - August 12, 2009
With his initials and number the nickname is just obvious.
I wouldn’t be surprised if half the team calls him that.
TheOptimist - August 12, 2009
I was just hoping that ESPN picked something up from HH
matthiasstephan - August 13, 2009
Happy with Bell's start
Did about as good as could be expected. The umps error was 1 of the runs, with the missed out call of the steal at 2nd. So with that being said 3 runs isn’t too bad.
haloak - August 12, 2009
jeez these analysts are so awful
baseball tonight:
karl ravech:“the red sox wont have youkilis”
eric young: (on the redsox) “but they have a hot matt lowell”
kr: “mike lowell”
ey: “mike lowell”
i have always wanted to be a sports analysts but with the quality of the ones out there i dont know if i have a chance
it also reminds me of when dennis eckersley calls justin masterson masturbate and quickly corrects himself
sctrojan13 - August 12, 2009
New Nickname for Trevor Bell
“Screech”
Slyintine - August 12, 2009
I would vote for Morales. That At bat was amazing
hauldog - August 13, 2009
Morales.......That At Bat changed the game and It gave us the winning run!
I would also Vote Bell, cuz he was bad ass in his MLB debut.
acuda27 - August 14, 2009
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