The Angels finished their 2013 preseason with a 10-20-4 record after a 2-1 victory over the Dodgers in the third and final game of the Freeway Series. The Cactus League has ended and the regular season begins in about 36 hours from this writing.
Zack Greinke returned to the mound in Anaheim wearing Dodger Blue and pitched his half of a pitching duel, allowing one earned run in five Innings Pitched in three hits and one walk. The overpaid righty struck out five Halos. He finishes the Spring with a 5.54 ERA... Thankfully paid for by some other team.
Tommy Hanson served notice that he will be in the Angels rotation with a great 6.1 IP, striking out six Brooklyn batters. Like Greinke he allowed one ER on 3 Hits (but got paid a lot less to do so). This is a hopeful sign for the Angels as pitching has been the sore spot of a lackluster spring. Slated as the team's #5 starter, Mike Sciosica said that Hanson will indeed pitch the team's fifth game of the season, Saturday, April 6 in Arlington.
Hank Conger pinch hit for DH Josh Hamilton with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning and broke the 1-1 tie with a blast over the wall. Conger hit a tie-breaking solo walk off home run with two in the bottom of the ninth inning and finishes the spring with a .359 batting average. Mike Trout batted .350 this spring, Alberto Callaspo hit .339, Albert Pujols .333, Chris Iannetta .360 and even Peter Bourjos finished with a .303 batting average... but leading all men was Howie Kendrick and a .439 BA.
It is time to play ball...