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The Reds were in town for the first time since 2002, and the Angels sure didn't go to any great lengths to show them some friendly hospitality. Instead, Cincinnati had to deal with an Angels team that's doing weird things, like winning back-to-back road series, and actually giving Matt Shoemaker run support. Tonight, we saw more of that weird sorcery, with the Angels winning in smashing fashion, and giving tons of run support to The Cobbler in the process.
First off, let's get Matt Shoemaker's start out of the way. He had yet another great night on the mound, pitching 7.0 innings, giving up seven hits but just two runs, and adding in seven Ks. That's a burly night from The Bearded One, but it was his second start in a row where he actually had the offense pick him up, allowing him some breathing room. He just responded by being his typically awesome self.
Now, the offense. There were homers and extra base hits aplenty in this game. Like, a lot. Five home runs total for the Angels, which actually ties the franchise record (they've tied that record 13 times). In the beginning of the game, we saw Mike Trout and Albert Pujols homer in the same inning. Later on, we saw blasts from C.J. Cron, Jefry Marte and Kole Calhoun.
Marte, Calhoun, Mike Trout and C.J. Cron were all a triple away from a cycle, and then you also had a good night from Pujols( 2-4 with a homer that tied him with Frank Robinson on the all-time list). The hits were coming often, and they were going for multiple bases, and the runs just kept pouring in. Nine of them, to be exact.
Awesome pitching, amazing hitting, some nifty plays from the likes of Andrelton Simmons and Kaleb Cowart, and you have yourself a pretty good Angels game on a warm, late-August night. They're still fighting, still trying, and we're still watching.