Angels squeak out a victory in DC and split the series against the Nationals thanks to Kole Calhoun heroics

Angels 3 Nationals 2

This game started out ugly. In typical Ricky Nolasco fashion, it took him 31 pitches to get out of the first inning in which he gave up yet another home run. In this case, it was a 2-run shot that would ultimately prove to be the only runs the Nats would score all day.

Tanner Roark was dealing, and a Luis Valbuena double would be the ONLY hit the Angels would manage over the first 4 innings as this game was cruising right along. Nolasco, who escaped a bases loaded jam in the 4th was thankful to Luis Valbuena (again), when he launched a solo home run to center field in the 5th.

Nolasco mowed down the lineup in order in the bottom of the 5th, and Mike Trout set the stage for Kole Calhoun in the 6th with a single in his 7 pitch at bat. Kole only needed 3 pitches to plant a ball into the right field upper deck and put the Angels on top for good.

Jesse Chavez and Ricky Nolasco both pitched in the same game. Woah! Chavez held it down after Nolasco left the game early with an apparent injury (because of course he did). Middleton came in to shut down the 8th inning and Bedrosian closed out the game for his 6th save of the year - but not before making everyone nervous after putting on the tying run and speedy Michael Taylor with a walk to start the frame.

This game had a total of 10 hits between both teams with the Angels pulling off a victory on only 4 hits Total duration of this almost snoozer was pretty short at 2 hours and 51 minutes but it was not without excitement:

1. Kaleb Cowart made a couple of spectacular plays
2. The home plate umpire forgot the count on Howie Kendrick and tried to call him out on strike 2.
3. Michael Taylor fouled a ball off his face! He stayed in the game.
4. Ricky Nolasco locked things down after his rough start, only to leave early after an injury in the 6th inning.
5. Good ole Joe Blanton came on in the 9th inning and managed to strike out CJ Cron