Los Angeles Angels’ Jordan Walden reflects on bad stint against Oakland Athletics in 5-6 loss
Jordan Walden struggled on the mound as the Los Angeles Angels lost 5-6 to Oakland Athletics at Angel Stadium in Anaheim on Sunday, September 25.
Jordan Walden has played 61 games for the Los Angeles Angels, so far and his latest game left a lot of players in the club, reeling. The star pitched one inning against the Oakland Athletics. Over the duration of his stint on the mound, he allowed the Athletics
to score four runs against him. The concession proved too costly for the Angels in the ninth as the club lost an opportunity to cut their deficit for the Wild-Card berth.
Entering the game, the Angels had a good chance to go one win closer to the leading wildcard team, Boston Red Sox. However that chance was lost and now as the club needs all contenders to lose while they win their series against the Texas Rangers with a
clean sweep.
Walden walked into the game to retire Hideki Matsui. At 5-2 up, the Angels lost four runs in the ninth, courtesy Walden. The hurler gave up a home-run to Josh Willingham and then he made the biggest error in the game when he fumbled a throw to Erick Aybar
on Adam Rosales’ force attempt at first.
The player’s throw was well off target and Scott Sizemore made it 4-5 for the A’s.
"On the mound," Walden said, "Your arm is one speed all the time, max effort. It gets tough when you know you've got to take off a little to throw it [to a base]. It's different. No excuses.”
"I knew exactly what was going on. I knew I was working with Aybar. He was coming across. It was me. The ball was hit back to me so hard, so quick."
Walden went on to concede two runs as Kurt Suzuki drove in an RBI double and Coco Crisp pushed Rosales home with a sacrifice fly off Hisanori Takahashi.
The player ended his statement by saying that he would have to get ready for Monday, in order to redeem himself.
Tags: