Final Score in Anaheim: Angels 12, Rays 3
Dan Haren caught a glimpse today of what could be waiting for him in 2011: an offense that not only backed his fine start, but put the game so far out of reach that a shaky bullpen couldn't turn his "W" into an indecision. For one day, the Halos' offense broke through the cloud of mediocrity that has hung heavy as gasified inland scrub over Angels Stadium all season.
Mike Napoli went two for four with a grand slam and six total RBI's. Howie Kendrick racked up five hits, including his thirty-third double of the year. Even Jeff Mathis capitalized on flaccid Tampa Bay pitching, going two for five with a two run double in the fourth inning.
Haren went six solid innings, racking up eight strikeouts and limiting the Rays to just three hits and one run. He struggled to find the strikezone at times, yielding four walks, but kept the Rays at bay with his solid fastball/splitter combo.
The bullpen was a source of heartburn for Mike Scioscia - watching him throw up his hands when Jepsen went to three balls and one strike with John Jaso was a telling moment - but sloppiness did not descend to collapse.
