Final Score in Anaheim: Angels 2 Athletics 0
Yoslan Herrera was the pitcher of record when the Angels scored two improbable runs with two out in the bottom of the fourth inning but it took eight bullpen arms to shutout the Oakland Athletics in Anaheim on an electric night where the man Billy Beane traded the future for, Jeff Samardzija, was as unhittable as any pitcher the Halos have seen all season.
The Angels got three shutout innings from reliever Cory Rasmus in his debut as a starting pitcher. Just up from the minors, Michael Roth began the fourth inning allowing two baserunners. A critical strikeout allowed Mike Scioscia to have Roth then intentionally load the bases to hopefully get a groundout, Roth would not finish what he started.
A's manager Bob Melvin pinch-hit Johnny Gomes for Josh Reddick (mind you this is in the FOURTH inning) and so Scioscia brought in Yoslan Herrera, a pitcher most Angels fans did not even know was on the team. Herrera got a grounder up the middle that turned into a double play that ended the only offensive threat the A's would muster in the game.
In the bottom of the fourth Albert Pujols got a base hit and with two out Howie Kendrick hit a grounder to the guy on Oakland with the big glasses who looks like an idiot. Well he fielded like an idiot and threw a routine toss to 1B off the field and it was 2B and 3B with two outs and Erick Aybar at the plate. Boom - base hit to Gomes in RF who couldn't dream of throwing out the runner at home. That was all the Halos would need but Samardzija would let another in on a wild pitch. Wow. The ball bounced our way tonight and gave the Halos a chance to sweep their division rival tomorrow afternoon with Shoebacca on the hill.
Thirteen straight batters were retired by Halo relievers from the Gomes double play on - Fernando Salas, Jason Grilli, Kevin Jepsen and Joe Smith each pitched 1-2-3 innings. The string would be broken when Huston Street allowed a leadoff baserunner, but the Halos closer got three straight outs to Light up the Halo.