Will you recall where you were the night that Vernon Wells hit two homeruns for the Angels? You had already given up and he gave you a sliver of hope under the glowing moonlit night.
Dan Haren will take it, a rare victory from an unusually prolific offense. Acting quite a bit like excited congressmen showing off their wood while away from their wives, the Angels started an excruciating twelve game/eight thousand mile road trip with a solid victory over the Mariners at Safeco field in Seattle.
With Felix Hernandez having pitched yesterday for the Mariners, #2 starter Dan Haren labored through a six inning high pitch count quality start, but previously silent Angels bats came alive on his behalf. Mocked as a June cleanup hitter entering the game with a batting average below .190, Vernon Wells hit two homeruns, the second a 2-run shot to break a 3-3 tie. Jeff Mathis stretched a single into a double and dislodged a ball form the catcher on a contact play grounder fielded on a throw to the plate. The throw beat the subpar catcher, but he knew what to do with a tentative catcher glove grasp on the ball. Safe was the call, blast when the Vernon and the bullpen held their own, Bobby Abreu bought some late insurance, plating Maicer Izturis and for a lone night, the Angels looked like a good team.
Jordan Walden had his "closer-quinceañera", celebrating his 15th save of the season and Howie Kendrick was 2 for 4 with a ribby. On the day they sent Fernando Rodney to the disabled List and a day after Kevin Jepsen was sent to Salt Lake, the bullpen tossed three goose eggs, Rich Thompson and Scott Downs each leaving home plate empty on their watch.
Gotta enjoy, hopefully more of them among the next Ninety-Some contests coming our way...