Angels Win is Dan Haren First as a Halo

Final Score in Anaheim: Angels 3 ... Royals 1

Dan Haren pitched 7 strong innings of 1-run ball, threw 103 pitches and struck out 3 Royals for his first win wearing a halo. Bobby Abreu scored 2 runs, 1 on a Sac Fly by Hideki Matsui that would have been a HR in Yankee Stadium and later in the game on an Eric Aybar Triple. Peter Bourjos laid down a squeeze bunt that scored Howie Kendrick from 3B. Jason Kendall just could not field the ball, tagging the runner with an empty glove. On the next pitch Whiskey Pete tried to steal 2B and was out by less than an inch... on a pitch out. It was actually pretty awesome.

The Royals managed 5 hits off of Haren but none off of Fernando Rodney and Brian Fuentes, suddenly in a groove with the Hold-Save combo. If it is not enough to get one's hopes up about catching the Arlington Cokesnorters this season, it is at least a glimmer of hope for a waiver wire trade deal or a head start into 2011 dominance.