Final Score in Arlington: Angels 2, Rangers
It took Scott Kazmir 3 weeks and 4 starts as an Angel to get his first win with a Halo. His first W lowered the Angels' Magic Number to 9 to win the American League West.
The 6 hits the Angels managed on Friday night were enough. One was a solo HR by Vladimir Guerrero to lead off the 3rd inning. The other was a bloop single by Torii Hunter in the 1st inning that scored Maicer Izturis. Guerrero was in the middle of that, having extended the 1st inning by striking out but reaching first base on a Wild Pitch.
Kazmir allowed 6 hits in 6 IP, striking out 5 Rangers. If there was one blemish, his pitch count of 104 was a little high. Jason Bulger pitched a hitless inning of relief, Kevin Jepsen got into some trouble, lowlighted by a rare Torii Hunter throwing error, but an Andruw Jones fly to the warning track with the bases loaded was pretty much the end of the Rangers' season. Brian Fuentes got his 43rd Save of the season, the 5th most single season in Franchise History.
If there was one bright spot for the Rangers, the phenomenal Neftali Feliz Pwnaged the Angels and should give Texas fans a glimmer of hope for their future after an impressive job of hanging on during a season where they could have easily folded in June, July or August. The almost full house in Arlington served as a reminder that Dallas is the 5th largest media market in the nation and with an owner who has not robbed the team's coffers in place in a few seasons, the Rangers could be more than a late season hold on the Los Angeles champagne of Anaheim.
0 recs | 50 comments
Congrats to Scott on his first victory as a Halo.
He should really have had one a lot sooner with the way he’s pitched.
TheOptimist - September 18, 2009
^ Truth ^
Brody - September 18, 2009
44FAN - September 18, 2009
Awesome!
Brody - September 18, 2009
ACK! This photo of Rev is giving me a "Phantom of the Paradise" flashback.
Fan Since 1981 - September 18, 2009
Rev vs Paul Williams: passing resemblance?
Turks Teeth - September 18, 2009
Terrible English
Or perfect rhythm?
ReggieBullits - September 19, 2009
MAGIC NUMBER 9
GO HALOS!!!
Brody - September 18, 2009
Wooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!
Clutch - September 18, 2009
Way to go, Kaz!
Can’t wait until he kicks the crap out of the Skanks next week at home!
B.A. Baracus - September 18, 2009
Brian is back from the dead!
and Kaz Money is finally vindicated
HALO N BRIMSTONE - September 18, 2009
By the way, I voted Vlad
Kaz was totally awesome tonight, but the Rangers couldn’t score off a teeball team right now. Vlad’s bomb and his base hit through the shift were luminous!
Brody - September 18, 2009
Good win
Bullpen getting it done 3* nights in a row.
Hope the back end gets a rest tomorrow though.
Quinlan's Goofy Swing - September 18, 2009
Kaz-Mirrors!
Scotty G - September 18, 2009
Kaz is the man.
but some love to Jepsen getting out of that 2nd and 3rd 1 out situation…….
Thats the kind of pitching that’s gonna take us where we need to go…….hopefully the bats will come around soon.
norcaliangelsfan - September 18, 2009
Good Pitching Then, Good Hitting
Now that the Angels pitchers seem to be coming around, all that is needed is for the hitters to hit their stride! If the Angels keep this up, then, they will go far into the playoffs.
JimmyBlue - September 18, 2009
Kazmir is an ace, plain and simple
like I said when we acquired him.
And someone needs to contact Elias to find out when the last time a team had a baserunner reach base in three straight games by a strike-three wild pitch/passed ball. Even further, when the last time a team ended up scoring runs in an inning because of a strike-three wild pitch/passed ball in three straight games.
Caseys Kiss of Death - September 18, 2009
I think with 2 outs every time?
Brody - September 18, 2009
The reach on strikeout
Is no longer a fluke, it’s a repeatable skill!
RallyMonkey5 - September 18, 2009
Keep that kind of thing quite around here
Mr. Boras might try and use such a powerful stat/skill in his next negotiations
eyespy - September 18, 2009
Awesome game
Easily Kaz’s best so far, but he’s pitched well enough that he could be 4-0 as an Angel. He often runs up high pitch counts, but tonight it wasn’t lack of control, just Rangers fouling off a ridiculous number of 2 strike pitches. I was impressed with Scott’s ability to keep coming back with another strike until he got the job done.
RallyMonkey5 - September 18, 2009
Bout damn time Kazmir got some love from the offense
TEXAS FAIL
princeton11loveshalos - September 18, 2009
2 runs is hardly LOVE
but it was enough tonight
norcaliangelsfan - September 18, 2009
When you deal like Kazmir deals
2 runs is double the love necessary.
Caseys Kiss of Death - September 18, 2009
But we need the extra run
to make sure we compensate for officiating errors, don’t forget.
rspencer - September 18, 2009
With 2 runs
I was never worried, not even when the Rangers had runners on 2nd & 3rd with one out. I figured the Angels would give up 1 but keep the lead. I was pleasantly surprised.
Andruw Jones up with the bases loaded? No problem. Remember his 3 homer game against the Angels in July? Since then he’s hit .163 with 3 homers in 29 games, 98 at bats.
RallyMonkey5 - September 18, 2009
Up
scottnak - September 18, 2009
Which pitcher do you want?
Pitcher #1 IP 25.1 H 19 ER 4 K 20 BB 6 ERA 1.43 WHIP .996
Pitcher #2 IP 24 H 35 ER 16 K 21 BB 3 ERA 6.00 WHIP 1.125
Pitcher #3 IP 30 H 28 ER 10 K 30 BB 6 ERA 3.00 WHIP 1.200
Vladd#27 - September 18, 2009
Pitcher #1
Is it Kaz? Then Santana Lackey?
angelskid2210 - September 18, 2009 via mobile
Nope
Kaz then Lee then Halladay. Top pitchers at the deadline, last 4 starts, looks like we made the right choice
Vladd#27 - September 18, 2009
I think Halladay's number are more because he doesnt give a crap anymore
he’s playing on a team that doesnt care, so he stopped caring after the deadline.
JMO though
norcaliangelsfan - September 18, 2009
One problem with Halladay
He has bent over twice since the trade deadline for the Red Sox. We don’t need that kind of pitcher here. Kazmir is a Red Sox killer. Can’t wait until he eliminates them in October.
RallyMonkey5 - September 18, 2009
the difference being playing for the Jays who arent going anywhere....
and playing for us going to the playoffs.
I would think with as good as Halladay is…….he woulda pitched differently against them.
I honestly think he doesnt care, he sure is acting like he doesnt right now, and if he was pitching for a contender….I bet he would care.
norcaliangelsfan - September 18, 2009
Was Expecting A Trade
Halladay was expecting a trade and was looking forward to playing in the playoffs but, it never happened and I am sure he was very disappointed! His talents are wasted in Toronto. He should ask for a trade next season.
JimmyBlue - September 19, 2009
And Lee is in the NL
I think we got the right guy!
angelskid2210 - September 18, 2009
Anyone watching the Boise St. game
Ridiculous game
princeton11loveshalos - September 18, 2009
SCREW THAT
I’m watching the LA Temptation take on the Denver Dream on Channel 56
www.lflus.com
they are hitting hard
Dono Romantico - September 18, 2009
Where does the LA Dream play
I would be so down to go watch a game
angelskid2210 - September 18, 2009
according to the website
LA Sports Arena
Dono Romantico - September 18, 2009
Whip It
ReggieBullits - September 19, 2009
watched the whole game
big BSU fan here.
holy crap… that was ridiculous. our defense is WAY better than that. missed tackles ruined that game for us. the offense looked good though? hahaha
howiestheman - September 18, 2009
they were hitting tonight
nice win for your team.
SCHalo - September 18, 2009
that kid Venable
had it going on tonight.
we have a couple of big hitters on defense, but Venable broke out tonight. always nice to see. :)
howiestheman - September 18, 2009
Kellen Moore is a BAMF
that guy is so cool, calm and collected out there.
You would think he’s been playing QB for 25 years.
Awesome guy
norcaliangelsfan - September 18, 2009
totally agree
but they’re not letting him do his thing as much this year. he was stupidly accurate last year, and he started to do it again tonight, but then they went with the run.
granted, the run worked well tonight, but i wish they’d let him loose like they did last year.
if their running game is decent and they let Moore pass more often, look out.
howiestheman - September 18, 2009
Kaz has shown to be a perfect fit for this Angels team. And it looks like we’ve been good for him. Who would have thought that at the end of this season our biggest problem would be narrowing it down to 3 starters for the playoffs? Best rotation in the MLB. I will say it again. BEST ROTATION IN THE MLB!!!! This has been a whirlwind of a season, a true emotional rollercoaster. I for one will never take for granted again our position in the AL west. But more importantly……I’m gonna bring a tear to your eye right now:
It’s game 7 of the World Series, the Angels take it. They win aand amidst all the shouting and fireworks….Jered Weaver aanf John Lackey walk out quietly holding the #34 Jersey……..DO. We. Dare. Dream? This year is for NIck, for all that could have been, for all that never was. I am more proud of this team than I have been in 25 years of loving this organization. I’m gonna say it now, This ha sbeen in so many ways at the same time, the worst and best season I have ever experienced as a lifetime Angel Fan. The had me at hello.
firebird81 - September 18, 2009
Sweet Jerry Maguire reference.
Also, I got a little emotional just picturing the walking out with Adenhart Jersey. Tht in itself isone reason to win it all and to also keep my rants and raves in check and just love this team for being THIS team.
angelskid2210 - September 18, 2009
Rec'd
for pure awesomeness.
norcaliangelsfan - September 18, 2009
Sorry for the typos…
firebird81 - September 18, 2009
Mariano Rivera
gives up a 2 out double to sweeney, and then a 1st pitch walk off homer to Ichiro.
BS DOESN’T JUST HAPPEN TO US, at least not when it means blown save.
Quinlan's Goofy Swing - September 18, 2009
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