Los Angeles Angels defeat San Diego Padres 9-2 – MLB Update
The Los Angeles Angels put in a brilliant performance as they beat the San Diego Padres 9-2 in their Cactus League match at Angel Stadium in Anaheim on Sunday, March 27.
With three days away from the regular season, Padres’ starter Clayton Richard stumbled upon his momentum and Angels’ batters Mark Trumbo and Peter Bourjos provided what manager Mike Scioscia desired.
The Angels managed a seven run victory over rivals San Diego to earn their 16th success in Cactus League.
Richard, playing his last spring game, pitched five loose innings that allowed the Angels nine runs including the game’s sole homer. The 27-year-old’s nightmare started in the second inning with Bourjos’ huge three-run fly ball to deep centre that helped
Callaspo and Mathis steal scores. He kept receiving shots from batters and permitted runs consecutively in each inning he tossed. Trumbo added insult to injury launching a grand slam in the fifth that allowed Mathis and Tyson Auer to score.
Richard acknowledged his bad form and commented on it after the game.
"Unfortunately, things didn't click quite the way we hoped they would, but there were some things accomplished," Richard said. "My arm felt good and I was in the strike zone, for the most part."
Bourjos and Trumbo’s form has impressed many, as they have managed to put in consistently good performances for the team. Both have emerged as the best prospect for the team with their good batting averages .309 for Trumbo and .373 for Bourjos.
"They've both been impressive," Scioscia said. "Mark is a guy who's steadily improved through his minor league career to put himself in this position for an opportunity with us, and he's definitely putting his best foot forward.”
The Angels’ outclassed in all aspects of the game as starter Dan Haren, making his fifth spring start, tossed a magical spell. The veteran, entering his 11th Major League season, struck-out four permitting just one run on three hits over five
innings. The only run he consumed came in the fifth inning when the Padres’ lower order hitter Everth Cabrera stole a two-out single.
Reliever Hisanori Takahashi gave a second run in the sixth inning but closer Kevin Jepsen, Jordan Walden and Rich Thompson all remained scoreless-hitless in their one inning spell each. The Angels accepted just five hits in a combined nine innings while
striking-out eight batters.
Mike will take his club to take on Los Angeles Dodgers with the hope for another confidence boosting victory on Monday. The game will be the second last for the Angels in this spring exhibition. The club will square off with The Royals on Opening Day at
Kauffman Stadium on March 31 for the fourth time in club history.
Tags: