Final Score in Los Angeles of Anaheim: Angels 5, Rays 4 ... After closer Brian Fuentes blew a three-run cushion, the Angels won in the bottom of the 11th on a sacrifice fly by Juan Rivera. Prior to the 9th inning the story of the game was Joel Piñeiro striking out 7 Rays in 7+ innings. Fernando Rodney ruined the possible shutout in the 8th by allowing a run in an inning of baserunners. Fuentes was a massacre.
In the middle innings, Torii Hunter hit a solo HR and Mike Napoli had a two run bomb. It seemed like Angels baseball had been revived with the home cookin'.
TURNING POINT: In the top of the 11th, Tampa infielder Jason Bartlett drove a shot to centerfield that Torii Hunter dove for. He made a catch at the grass with the webbing of his glove. It was a huge risk for Hunter to take but it seemed at that split second, after the demoralizing blown save on top of a terrible road trip in a season of dashed expectations... it seemed like Hunter had to risk more than giving up an almost certain double or run or the game. It seemed like Hunter just had to take the leap and gamble the entire season on a catch. And thus the Angels season was saved.
An out and a baserunner later, enter Trevor Bell, recalled this morning from AAA Salt Lake. He faces Evan Longoria, the Fuentes-killer, and strikes him out swinging. Suddenly, in the bottom of the eleventh inning after 32+ games into the 2010 season, Angels Baseball makes its appearance: a leadoff single by Kendry Morales brings a perfect sacrifice from Reggie Willits to bunt him over to 2B, adept baserunning on a Passed Ball puts K-Mo in position to score on the Rivera Walkoff Sac Fly.
The energy in Los Angeles of Anaheim from tonight forward seems to be about pushing out the deadweight and demanding risk and commitment from all Angels. We had 2,500+ comments in our Game Threads tonight, Game Thread Roll Call is posted after the poll...
Roll Call: 44FAN, firebird81, halofan4life, Slasher52, Balls and Strikes, Raaddad, Fred Fredrix, halofolife, RexTookMyStash, Rev Halofan, ~MMP~, angelsfan7, angelfan1954, Epic Dean, cath619, tolbs1010, salmonforever, rmhalofan, pendletonmike, Hough, hbhalofan, TheKingfish, Angelsrthebest101, red floyd, SCHalo, joeyz34, blochead, Suboptimal, wumbug, Caseys Kiss of Death, Slyintine, clover_black, teopeht, BigBangRobbDawgg, daze, OC Awhole1, ladybug, MH252525, jr714, TheQuestforMerlin, vlad IS my man, princeton11loveshalos, Halowood, 101halo, RED SOX are #1 in my heart, HalosFanInNorCal, scottnak, Dono Romantico, DAD OF VLAD, Angel Hawker, TheAngelsColts, angels_rally_mom, AngelKeith, ryanfea, b0rd3rline, moosemastr, Robviously, lightupthehalo29, LAASurfin, HoustonHaloFan, angelskid2210, BrownLunchSack, uclahy, linkbruin, Commander_Nate, eyespy, aldo H, killa3312, haloduck, phoenix15, bc56274, Quinlan's Goofy Swing, hobbit_86, desecrator09, lightupthehalo, chikmagnet_565, infant, poguemahone, Zach (maestro876), muddybox, Carl Johnson, The Gooch, lololol, chairmanofthebar, Quad Fin Rider, TheAntiSox, Wally's World, greenbean, robi s, RallyWookie, UCIHalo, Anaheim71420, Ericppk, Clutch, big0lbad, adirondackangelfan, blast21dave, LiteUpThatHalo, pescado555, acuda27, yeswecan, anaheim angels, 3eyes, LittleCupcakes, Figgi4life, agent_99, Northwest, SoCalWine, ReggieBullits
Total Users: 109
Total Posts: 2562
Total Threads: 4
0 recs | 75 comments
Juancho = POTG
blast21dave - May 10, 2010
2 misplayed balls in the outfield... going 0-fer whatever...
gotta give it to pinata.
clover_black - May 10, 2010
It's not pantheresque
If the team blows it for you in the end.
blast21dave - May 10, 2010
absolutely NOT...
Guy can’t catch a cold…
K3YEROUT - May 10, 2010 via mobile
Except that gapper in the 10th
And he kind of won the game…I dunno what more you could expect.
Commander_Nate - May 11, 2010
Torii had some brain moveage
ryanfea - May 10, 2010
Best quote of the year?
I think so.
Neekohlai - May 10, 2010
Pineiro
For being nails other than Fuentes f’ing him in the a.
linkbruin - May 10, 2010
My thoughts exactly
Epic Dean - May 10, 2010
All of the above.
Fuentes has some SERIOUS ass kissing to do after that meltdown
halofan4life - May 10, 2010
I don't vote for any of those 4
Bulger stepped up huge after Fuentes crapped the bed, the Rays had all the momentum and he shut them down so he’s my Panther!
MH252525 - May 10, 2010
Not a bad thought.
Bell gets props, too, for the HUMONGOUS K on Longoria
red floyd - May 10, 2010
GREAT suggestion
I added Bulger.
Rev Halofan - May 10, 2010
If the Angels lost this game I think I know who would have been the blame of the game.
Fuentes mustache.
Neekohlai - May 10, 2010
I just woke up. What'd I miss?
RexTookMyStash - May 10, 2010
(Almost) BOTG = Chef Boyar-brian
100% Pure Fuentes Meatballs
Quad Fin Rider - May 10, 2010
It wasn't pretty, but
WE WON! At least I got to spend more quality time with all my wonderful friends here on HH. Can’t wait ’til Saturday!
b0rd3rline - May 10, 2010
44FAN - May 10, 2010
Naps hit him where it hurts.
ReggieBullits - May 10, 2010
ROFL
acuda27 - May 10, 2010
he's gettin hot! Look out pitchers!
Wally's World - May 10, 2010
Bulger and Napoli are tied, with an honorable mention to Trevor Bell
The first batter he faces after just being called up is Longoria, and he does what Fuentes couldn’t do.
~MMP~ - May 10, 2010
Hula gets my vote
For the defense on Bartlett’s liner in the 11th.
ReggieBullits - May 10, 2010
Rivera
Totally blew off the lady requesting a post-game interview.
Jerk
blochead - May 10, 2010
i disagree
guys have postgame rituals plus Juan is the shyest most introverted social anxiety major leaguer in baseball. Add in that he has been mistakenly accused of being a thief because of a player named Ruben Rivera in the past and that English is not his first language and I do not begrudge him one bit.
Rev Halofan - May 10, 2010
Agree with Rev
I’ve lived across the street from Rivera for 1 year (2008) and he is a very, very shy person. No need to be, but he is anyway.
infant - May 10, 2010
Love his lettuce
Lets have no hatin’ on Juancho today, people, please? Please?
TSamn15 - May 11, 2010
Great outing by Pineiro
Atleast we have 2 stable starting pitchers in Pineiro and Weaver. The rest pretty much sucks donkey dick. That list of ERA’s on Gameday wasn’t pretty.
infant - May 10, 2010
"Rings familiar bell"
No pun intended?
Figgi4life - May 10, 2010 via mobile
So I woke up this morning only to see Fuentes blow a 3 run lead
I thought my day was ruined (I know, I’m sad) and was pissed off. Then Bulger, Kendry and Juancho saved the day. Whoohoo!
infant - May 10, 2010
So I watched on my DVR.......It cut off in the 9th inning, and I though It was a sure win.
I then jump on HH and see a new game thread, and realize its still on. So I change it to FSW and finish watching the game, and end up having a blast in the game thread. Halos Heaven ROCKS!
POTG = Juancho, it was sloppy but it got the job done!
acuda27 - May 10, 2010
POTG
Must be Naps. It was a couple of unheralded plays that make him my POTG, aside from his 2-run jack. After Fuentes shit the bed, he made two QUALITY stops on terrible pitches from Fuentes. Both with a man on third. If either of those gets by him, we lose the game. We also would’ve lost the game if he didn’t put 2 on the board. He’s my Panther for sure. Pineiro did what a starter SHOULD do. I think a lot of us have forgotten that a good quality start shouldn’t be that amazing because our pitching has blown major chunks lately.
haloduck - May 10, 2010
It was more than a quality start
he didn’t give up a single run in 6.1 innings, scattering only five hits and a walk while K-ing 7. That’s an ace performance.
Caseys Kiss of Death - May 10, 2010
I totally agree
He had a great game. I shouldn’t have said it so nonchalant. What I was trying to say is if our pitching had been anything near what it should be throughout the young season, Pineiro wouldn’t be getting POTG votes. He did awesome, but Panther is about (for me) who came in during a clutch moment and came up with a big play. Naps accounting for half of our runs up until the 11th, and saving the game with two awesome stops behind the plate make him the Panther for me.
haloduck - May 11, 2010
I don't disagree about Napoli
but regardless of how our pitching has been this season, shutting out the best team in baseball for 6 1/3 is flat-out dominant, and exactly what a “panther” is. You don’t need some kind of context to appreciate that performance…it speaks for itself. And Fangraphs agrees: http://www.fangraphs.com/livewins.aspx?date=2010-05-10&team=Angels&dh=0&season=2010
It’s not just about coming up in a big spot that matters…it’s putting your team in a position for those big spots to exist, and that’s what Joel did.
Caseys Kiss of Death - May 11, 2010
He pissed us off, with his mediocre D,
But POTG has to be Johnny Rivers. If he didn’t get K-Mo home, we’d still be playing. Still, an ugly, ugly win. But i’ll take it.
halofolife - May 10, 2010
Hopefully Sosh wakes up to what we all know . . . .
FUENTES SUCKS!
Wally's World - May 10, 2010
So I was all set to
comment in the game thread with one out in the 9th inning about how much fun I was having watching this game. I was loving Victor’s zingers tonight. When Garza got a bit wild “Just a bit outside…” the chia pet goatee. Also loved seeing pineiro deal, got to see Torii bat toss. And then there’s Fuentes… I initially thought his new mustache would be the extra stank he needed. Then I noticed he was not breaking 90 mph. He found new ways to suck tonight. Anyways all’s good with a win. BTW Naps SAVED Fuentes’ ASS with that pick out of the dirt.
NW angels Fan - May 10, 2010
Panter has to go to Fuentes
For only giving up the tying run this time, instead of the go-ahead run like he did against Detroit.
I hope he falls asleep tonight with the satisfaction of a day’s work well done.
Suboptimal - May 10, 2010
man
you got a wicked dry sense of humor … that is brutal.
Rev Halofan - May 10, 2010
Suboptimal, you could give Phil Jackson a lesson on a zen approach.
halofolife - May 10, 2010
Maybe it's my fault
Those are the only two games I’ve been to all season. Consequently, I knew both games were over as soon as Fuentes entered to pitch.
turs12 - May 11, 2010
You're not allowed to go to the game this Saturday. Sell your tickets... NOW!!!
[grin]
red floyd - May 11, 2010
BTW, ladies and gentlemen,
I’ve been MIA recently, it isn’t because we’ve sucked, but, I had to cover for a friend of mine at work, and take 3rd shift. Graveyard truly does suck, but luckily for me, i’m back amongst the living, and able to watch my Halos. I did however, Tivo all the games, and lets face it, there wasn’t much of a reason to post. Now were going to turn this around, and start kicking ass!
halofolife - May 10, 2010
Great to see them squeeze out the win here.
I’d have been super PO’d if they’d lost this one.
(And not to be a nitpicking douche, but Pineiro pitched 6 1/3, not 7+.)
Tom Servo 93 - May 10, 2010
1100 f-bombs exactly
in 72 minutes from Rev’s lifting of the rule until 11:40pm.
That’s 15.28 per minute, or about one every 3.93 seconds.
I was personally responsible for 118 of those, or 10.73%
Well done everyone. Well F***ing done.
Caseys Kiss of Death - May 10, 2010
We f@cking rock.
’Nuff said.
halofolife - May 10, 2010
All Angels fan member turn to Devil with snap of Rev Halofan finger.
44FAN - May 10, 2010
You noticed that too 44?
Well, I gotta get up in 4 hours for work, i’m out. Light it up.
halofolife - May 11, 2010
Luminous resistance power fan of 44!
b0rd3rline - May 11, 2010
It was fun.
But Rev, if you lift the ban again in similar circumstances, may I suggest making it one “free” F-bomb, instead of the LL-ish F-bomb orgy we had?
red floyd - May 11, 2010
can't believe i didn't stay up for that
cath619 - May 11, 2010
it would have ruined your femine ideals
DAD OF VLAD - May 11, 2010
I don't see it anymore,
but in response to the Felix Hernandez and Jered Weaver post, why do you think i made the bet? (look at siggy)
Figgi4life - May 11, 2010
that was one interesting game thread to review
wow! :)
SCHalo - May 11, 2010
and the floodgates
opened… whoosh,,,,
Rev Halofan - May 11, 2010
Rev, will this simply be called the "Fuentes Act?"
or maybe you allow the unlimited f-bomb fest until we are over .500? LOL!!!
SCHalo - May 11, 2010
might be a once in a lifetime occurance.
hope you all enjoyed it!
Rev Halofan - May 11, 2010
I picked a fine week
to give up swearing!
rspencer - May 11, 2010
I did enjoy it thanks
I haven’t laughed so hard in so ef-ing long
Raaddad - May 11, 2010
Yeah, Mrs. red floyd was sleeping, and I nearly choked trying to keep from laughing out loud and waking her up.
red floyd - May 11, 2010
44FAN - May 11, 2010
almost as bad
as the impalement picture you posted last year.
Figgi4life - May 11, 2010
This was me as Fuentes blew the save...
44FAN - May 11, 2010
Final thought:
Crawford made a hell of a catch
Figgi4life - May 11, 2010 via mobile
I hope Scioscia doesnt try to spin this. We should have won this game in the 9th.
Fuentes should only be used to get leftys out. Rodney needs to be the closer.
big0lbad - May 11, 2010
Apparently Sosh hasn't seen enough to move Fuentes/Rodney/Jepsen
How many more saves does Fuentes need to blow?
SportsChicken - May 11, 2010
Enough of Fuentes
Two blown saves out of six chances- Also given up homers in the last two games Rodney is 5 for 5- isn’t it obvious? How many more will it take
xavier c - May 11, 2010
Probably quite a few more
blown saves before anything changes
Raaddad - May 11, 2010
Pregame Picks?
DAD OF VLAD - May 11, 2010
Yes, there were pregame picks.
Downing Rules - May 11, 2010
I fell asleep at the bottom of the third but Joel stuck out the last batter in the top of the first
and the first batter in the top of the second so the “yes” bet should have been a winner.
Halo84653 - May 11, 2010
Rev said it was a Yes, and supposedly updated the spreadsheet during the game.
red floyd - May 11, 2010
I went to the game last night and it was ugly....
More than half of the stadium left before the 9th inning (when we were winning). People booed Fuentes before he even stepped on the mound. Bobby Abreu threw a ball into the right field pavilion for a souvenir, and some jackass threw it right back onto the field.
I don’t know if it was just a bad case of “the Monday’s” for Angels fans, but last night made me really disappointed in our fan base. It felt like bandwagon city to no end. And it saddens me that when we start winning again people will stop acting like that. I’m just glad this blog is here to remind me that there are true Angel fans out there, people who watched through 50 years of suffering before our moments of greatness.
UpStream15 - May 11, 2010
As for the statement about boo-ing Fuentes before he stepped on the mound....
I was one of them. That action was justified.
UpStream15 - May 11, 2010
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