Opening Day (April 1, 2013) is 90 days away. We are counting down the 100 Walk Off Home Runs in Angels franchise history. Today we look at #90...
September 5, 2006 - the 2006 Angels were a star-crossed 89-win that had all the pieces but suffered a stinging slow start. The remnants of the 2002 club were synched with the first big signings of the Moreno regime for the last time and gave it one hell of a push in September to stay close to the Athletics until late in the season.Like a few other greats, It would be Adam Kennedy's final season as an Angel.
On this Tuesday night game against the Orioles John Lackey handed a 2-1 lead to Scot Shields who gave up a run in the eighth. In the bottom of the eighth inning Adam Kennedy came to the plate with two on and two out and grounded out. Frankie let two on but got out of it. When Darin Erstad led off the bottom of the ninth with a double, the Orioles brought in closer Chris Ray. Jose Molina bunted him over to 3B. Chone Figgins and Maicer Izturis both walked. But Orlando Cabrera and Vladimir Guerrero could not get it done and the game went into extra innings.
Brendan Donnelly got a great final out in the tenth when Figgy threw out David Newhan at home plate. Since Ray had thrown so many pitches in the ninth, Julio Manon entered the game. He promptly gave up singles to Reggie Willits and Garret Anderson. Now this was a game where many an inning had two baserunners early who never scored so nothing was guaranteed. Adam Kennedy hit a 0-1 pitch into the seats. Read the GAME THREAD from that evening and the POSTGAME THREAD reveals a deep desire to see the cast of 2002 do it one more time.
The 90th walkoff in club history allowed us all a chance to believe for a few more weeks. In 90 days, we can start believing for real again.