Recap
The Angels’ offense went absolutely bonkers on Thursday, putting up 20 hits, hitting back-to-back-to-back homers and totaling nine runs in two innings (the second and fourth) to win a slugfest.
The good
Let’s see, where do I begin. Oh, the offense. Well, basically everybody did well.
Erick Aybar (3-for-4 with two runs scored), Howie Kendrick (2-for-3 with a walk), Albert Pujols (4-for-4 with three RBIs), Vernon Wells (2-for-3 with an RBI), Kendrys Morales (2-for-3 with a homer) and Hank Conger (2-for-5 with a homer) all had multi-hit games from the starting lineup.
Morales, Conger (both from the right side of the plate, which is their weaker sides) and Mark Trumbo (to right-center field, which he’s done a very good job of this spring) went back-to-back-to-back off Royals lefty Everett Teaford.
Morales is now batting .625 (10-for-16) with two homers in Cactus League play and is one of several everyday players off to good starts. Aybar (.411), Kendrick (.404), Pujols (.388) and Trumbo (.341) are also swinging the bat well.
Jordan Walden recorded two strikeouts in a clean ninth inning on Thursday, and has now posted three straight scoreless appearances — giving up one hit, walking none and striking out five.
Jason Isringhausen recorded his second straight clean inning, which is good considering the Angels must decide by 9 a.m. PT if they want to pay an extra $100K to keep him on the roster.
The bad
Not much, besides the fact Eric Hurley gave up seven runs on eight hits and three homers in three innings. But he had already been sent down.
Best quote
Mike Scioscia, on Teaford hitting Peter Bourjos on his first pitch after giving up three straight homers: “I don’t think any of us liked that. Our guy was getting knocked around in the first inning, and we didn’t throw at anybody. You try to make better pitches. It was something that was uncalled for.”
– Alden
