Final Score: White Sox 4, Angels 3
Keith Law brought ESPN into the 1980s the other day (progressive thinking by Bristol standards) with this column explaining why pitching wins are dumb. It's nothing you didn't know already, and nothing that wasn't fully on display this afternoon during what eventually proved to be Jered Weaver's 12th loss of the season. Weaver was as overpowering as a pitcher could be, striking out nine White Sox (the second least strikeouting-est offense in MLB) while walking zero. But Jered Weaver could only score three runs off Tony Pena, Chicago's starter-by-committee. Jered Weaver also misplayed a blooper in left field, which ultimately cost two runs. So clearly Jered Weaver deserved to lose this game.
Okay, so maybe Bobby Abreu actually misplayed Juan Pierre's bloop triple. The Angels' offense, third worst in the AL by one measure, is clearly responsible too, especially with only four experienced hitters in the lineup. Weaver was charged with three earned runs in 6 2/3 innings on an accumulation of seeing-eye grounders and shallow outfield flares. A fourth unearned run also scored after Andrew Romine dropped a pop-up, and the subtle nicks and scratches were just too injurious for the frail Angels lineup to overcome. The loss completed a home sweep at the hands of the mediocre White Sox, who have now beaten the Angels seven times in a row.
Now some fun facts. Hank Conger went 2-for-2 with a double and walk. He has now reached base more in his 24 career plate appearances than Jeff Mathis has since since August 25. He has as many hits (5), more extra-base hits (2), and more walks (3). He also threw out a runner trying to steal second, which is just as many as Mathis has in the last month. Also, Brandon Wood took an oh-fer and is now batting .149. That hasn't been done by a batter with over 230 plate appearances since Ray Oyler hit .135 in 1967 (related fun fact: Oyler also hit .083 for the Angels in 1970). If Wood collects just 10 more plate appearances without raising his average substantially, he can surpass Oyler's mark for the worst batting average since this was the #1 hit single in America.
