Stephen Dunn - Getty Images
about 2 years ago: ANAHEIM, CA - MAY 26: Bobby Abreu #53 of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim is mobbed by Mike Napoli #44, Erick Aybar #2, and Howie Kendrick #47 after Abreu's walk off RBI single with two outs in the ninth inning against the Toronto Blue Jays on May 26, 2010 at Angel Stadium in Anaheim, California. The Angels won 6-5. (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)
Final Score In Anaheim: Californians 6, Canadians 5
It looked like it was going to be a long evening for the Angels as an uncharacteristically wild Joel Pineiro gave up 3 runs when he walked three and gave up a couple singles in the second inning. However, the two Jays base hits in the inning were the only hits Pineiro allowed in his 6 innings, retiring the final 13 hitters he faced before being removed after throwing 102 pitches and leaving with a 5-3 lead.
The Angels took the lead in the sixth when Hideki Matsui blasted a center-square Rommie Lewis fastball to deep right. The two-run shot was just the second home run off the bat of Matsui in over a month, and it should have provided a large enough lead for the Angels bullpen to hold on to, but these are the 2010 Los Angeles Angels. The blown save wasn't entirely the bullpen's fault as Bobby Abreu misplayed a shallow fly ball to right into a two-base error to lead off the ninth, Abreu was able to redeem himself in the bottom half of the inning when he drove in the winning run with a two out, opposite field base hit.
0 recs | 43 comments
Iz-zy! Iz-zy! Iz-zy!
Great glovework all night, a clutch get-him-over in the 9th (setting up the IBBs) … and he’s not Brandon Wood.
mattwelch - May 26, 2010
Sometimes it takes a while,
but the cream always rises to the top……………………………………
wumbug - May 26, 2010
I'm in on that chant
Panther Of The Week. Guy’s play just leaves me grinning and shaking my head. Comes off the DL and produces from plate appearance #1. No "he’s gonna need a while to get his timing back" excuses, just 2 clean hits in 6 at bats with 3 runs scored, 2 walks and a sacrifice that moves the winning run over.
Welcome back, Maicer.
LAASurfin - May 26, 2010
Mr. clutch!
It’s good to see mighty mouse back!
firebird81 - May 27, 2010
It'll be interesting to see
if placing 3Wood on the DL is the equivalent of Phil Linz playing the harmonica at the back of the bus.
At the time, the Yanks were in 3rd place in the American League, 4.5 games behind the White Sox. In later weeks and years, “the incident” was generally credited with causing the team to focus, propelling them toward first place, and the AL pennant.
wumbug - May 27, 2010
We defeated our bullpen and the Toronto Blue Jays
that should count as two wins.
44FAN - May 26, 2010
for some reason the Jays only made us pay a 2 runs bullpen tax
Maybe because we obliged them with a 4pm start?
MH252525 - May 26, 2010
remember...
they’re canadian. It’s the Exchange rate minus the PST and GST (note poster is also canuck)
The OC Sports Geek - May 27, 2010
Those Wacky Canadians....
red floyd - May 27, 2010
Got to give it up for the much-maligned Matsui
Let’s hope it’s a sign of what’s to come
Raaddad - May 26, 2010
yeah I hope tonights was his slump buster
RexTookMyStash - May 26, 2010
It sounds like it may depend on the soundness of his legs
They looked pretty sound tonight, if I may be permitted to sound-off a little
Raaddad - May 26, 2010
It pisses me off that Fuentes gets the win.
But it’s a team win and for that I am happy.
Anaheim71420 - May 26, 2010 via mobile
yea Joel deserved the win
but Fuentes basically gave up 1 double and got 4 outs. That would be a 200 OBP and a 400 SLG which is a 600 OPS. That most definitely is NOT a problem.
MH252525 - May 26, 2010
In addition to the win, isn't this another game finished?
This puts him one step closer to ensuring that our pen sucks balls again next year.
snowhor - May 26, 2010 via mobile
The odds of his option vesting are pretty slim anyways
~MMP~ - May 26, 2010
True, but why let him blow a save and stay in the game helping him get one step closer?
snowhor - May 26, 2010 via mobile
Because
You’ve already used Rodney and Jepsen. Bobble Abreu blew the lead, but you still had a tie game. You want to get out of the 9th still tied and give your offense a chance to win. Who else is there to go to?
What, you want to bring in Shields?
RallyMonkey5 - May 26, 2010
You're right. Our pen is full of only shitty options.
snowhor - May 27, 2010 via mobile
Yea Joel deserved the win however I can't really blame Fuentes for this one.
Yea it would have been great to get 3 outs in a row after having someone on 2nd however with what bobby gave him with the error off of a good pitch by fuentes he did his best. A run scored but it is more on Abreu than on fuentes this time.
TheAngelsColts - May 26, 2010
An actual blown save that wasn’t Fuentes’ fault. But it’s all good, guy who screwed it up fixed it.
Tony Hui - May 26, 2010
whew
just got home from the game. thankful abroooo made up for his error. love the 4:05 start times… traffic is easy to get there and easier getting back!
daze - May 26, 2010
If there was a such thing as BOTG in a win it would go to Abrew, but sure as hell NOT PANTHER!
K3YEROUT - May 26, 2010
Hands
down it has to be abreu, yea i know he made a mistake in the 9th that could of won the game for piniero, but he came back and gave us a much needed win. Now bring these slow slugging mariners and figgy. Lets have a sweep . Go HALOSSSSSS
Drizzy23 - May 26, 2010
logic fail.
correct answer is matsui.
clover_black - May 26, 2010
Logic fail.
people can choose whomever they want for panther. However, I do agree it is Matsui.
Downing Rules - May 26, 2010
They can choose whomever they want.
Doesn’t make them right.
clover_black - May 26, 2010
error in write-up?
If he did go opposite field, I am sure Rojas said “oppo taco.”
Downing Rules - May 26, 2010
It wasn't off of Morrow, either.
It was off of that lefty reliever…Lewis, I think.
jimmuscomp - May 26, 2010
had to go to the doctor before the game ended today ...
and after the appointment I noticed that the Halos won in sayonara fashion. After that my son, and I, went to Sports Authority to by him some sliders. I started to sing with the BGM. And before I knew it, I was singing the title of the song, Ballroom Blitz, Ballroom Blitz.
eyespy - May 26, 2010
I am starting to think that the correct move is not to put Willits into LF as a defensive replacement
Rather put him in RF late in games for Abrew…
K3YEROUT - May 26, 2010
The only problem is then you lose Abreu's bat later on
~MMP~ - May 26, 2010
Watching some replay action when I got home
Once again, I am impressed with Torii Hunter’s attitude in the dug-out;
even when he’s not having a great game, he is so full of enthusiasm, humor, and B.S. as he razes and encourages all the other guys. This—and good play of course—is what really can help build a great team leader in any sport and builds confidence, exuberance and a great vibe throughout the team. It is one of those intangibles we discussed in a couple of our posts this winter, and can’t really be factored into satistics and awesome Suboptimal-like graphic displays.
Baseball is not a totally graphical entity, and unknowns like “team chemistry,” spirit, and momentum are always a huge inspirational and inestimable factor in charting any successful team’s performance.
Raaddad - May 26, 2010
Razes or razzes Raaddad.
because if Torii is destroying, burning, and pillaging in the dugout, i’m not sure that is a positive brotha. :)
halofolife - May 26, 2010
RAISING (or, "razing") HELL!!!!!!!
Stop razing me, damn you
lol
Raaddad - May 27, 2010
I never thought of "Raising" hell.
Forgive me Raaddad. It’s late, I was up early, and i’m 10 beers into a 12 pack after a few shots of Johnny Walker. But i’m off work tomorrow, so in the immortal words of Voodoo, “F%ck, it, lets drink”. ;)
halofolife - May 27, 2010
Here's to you!!!!
and Good nite!
Raaddad - May 27, 2010
Rivera is a dumbass.
Juan Rivera should have been doubled up on the Gonzales play, which would have ended the ninth inning. What the heck was he doing running back to second on an obvious ground ball to the shortstop in that situation? If Molina has a little more awareness of the field (not saying it would have been easy in the situation, but still it was possible) then Juan Rivera runs us out of the inning with that boneheaded mistake. I hope someone got on his case about that.
http://losangeles.angels.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?content_id=8385893
Watch: When Molina catches the ball, Rivera is practically standing on second base. He had his third baseman covering the bag, and far more than enough time to throw out Rivera. Heck, he could have run halfway and underhanded the ball and still beat Rivera.
AlanFalcon - May 27, 2010
I really think he was trying to draw the throw
and essentially geek out Gonzales.
But he may have just been being a dumbass
Raaddad - May 27, 2010
Just watched the clip, looks like it was 100% dumbass to me.
It’s like he just froze. I don’t think there was a whole lot of thinking going on by him during that play. If there was, he should get a refund for whatever he paid for his brain.
snowhor - May 27, 2010 via mobile
He forgot that there was a runner behind him.
Terrible blunder, we got lucky.
Downing Rules - May 27, 2010
That's Angels baseball!!
We always need a little luck
Raaddad - May 27, 2010
They always try to give us a heart attack. One. Massive. Heart. Attack.
opiejeanne - May 27, 2010
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