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Second in a series on WPA (an explanation LINK to what this stat represents) as a stat to measure awesomeness in franchise history (here is the FIRST INSTALLMENT LINK). The series continues today with one of the greatest walk-offs in club legend...
#8 ...Win Probability Added of .878 by DICK SCHOFIELD on August 29, 1986 at home against the Tigers.
This might be the most famous Walk Off homerun in club history - it is certainly the greatest team comeback as the Angels scored 8 runs in the bottom of the ninth inning to win 13-12 over the Tigers.
Dick Schofield went 3 for 4 with two runs scored and his 4 RBI were from the walkoff grand slam. In the bottom of the ninth with the score 5-12, Schofield got the whole thing started with a single and the statistical probability of winning the game went form less than one percent to still less than one percent. Eight batters later the bases were loaded and it was Tigers 12 Angels 9, there were two outs and Dick was up again facing Detroit's Willie Hernandez. The likelihood of victory had increased to 4%. I guess that means Detroit cried 96 tears because Schofield planted one inside the foulpole into the Left Field seats.
#7 ...WPA of .887 by SCOTT SPIEZIO on July 31, 2000 at home against the Tigers
When Speez hit his more famous three-run homer, did it ring a distant bell to you like he had come up big before? This is the highest ranking pinch hit calculated by WPA in franchise history. Down 4-1 in the bottom of the ninth, Tim Salmon hit a solo homerun to begin the inning. With two out, Garret Anderson was on 3B and Matt Walbeck was on 1B thanks to a takeout slide by Ron Gant at 2B on Walbeck's fielder's choice. Scott Spiezio batted for Benji Gil against closer Todd Jones and planted an 0-1 pitch into the seats a three-run walkoff homer.
#6 ...WPA of .894 by TORII HUNTER on April 7, 2008 at home against the Cleveland Indians
In the bottom of the 8th, score tied 1-1, Torii Hunter hit a solo homerun to put the Halos up by one run. Frankie Rodriguez took over for Joe Saunders to get the Save... but the Tribe sent eight men to the plate, Scot Shields mopping up for Frankie in a now 4-2 ballgame. With one out in the bottom of the ninth, closer Joe Borowski walked a man, allowed a single and walked another Angel. There was Torii Hunter again. And oops, he did it again. Walk Off Grand Slam.
#5 ...WPA of .945 by JOSE GUILLEN on July 31, 2004 at home against the Seattle Mariners
The hated or misunderstood Jose Guillen went 5 for 6 with two runs scored and 4 RBI in this rollercoaster game. This is a great example of WPA being something accrued with a few clutch Plate Appearances, although a walkoff in extras helps!
Down 5-0 early, the Angels scored three runs ins the fourth inning - Guillen singled and scored to make it 5-2. With the score 6-3 in the fifth, Guillen hit a bases loaded single that scored one run. It was 6-5 in the seventh when Guillen tied it with a single to score Garret Anderson. The Angels were up 7-6 when Troy Percival gave up a solo homer to Ichiro Suzuki. Guillen hit a single in the bottom of the ninth but was stranded.
In the eleventh inning the Mariners went up 8-7. Eddie Guardado came in to close it out. He gave up a single to Curtis Pride and Jose Guillen hit a two-run walkoff homer.