Parker Bridwell’s arm & Justin Upton’s bat help Angels stave off Mariners sweep with 5-3 victory

Angels 5 Mariners 3

Okay, so we’re back in this type of headspace again; Parker Bridwell is back to cruise control and the Angels are moving towards the Wild Card, and not away from it, and they did so in dramatic, late-inning fashion. September is a roller coaster, alright, and while they really could have used a series win in Seattle this weekend, I set out today with the idea that staving off a sweep would be considered the optimal outcome.

The Halos did indeed deny the Mariners a little sweep revenge, and that’s thanks in large part to Parker Bridwell, who went 6.0 IP/ 7 H/ 2 H/ 2 ER/ 1 BB/ 2K against the hometown batters. On the offensive side of things, it was Mike Trout’s homer in the first that got them started, and they’d go quiet until the seventh and eighth innings. It was in that interim that Bridwell did his job, and kept the Angels in the game.

In the seventh inning, Luis Valbuena hit a home run that tied the game up at 2-2, and there was suddenly a little magic spilling out on to the field at Safeco, mojo clouds came rolling in, the comeback was on. Who else to crack the Seattle shield and deliver a parting blow that they’ll not soon forget, but Justin Upton, the newest Angels slugger.

Upton would hit a two-run double in the eighth, giving the Angels a 4-2 lead, but as he eventually found himself at third base later in the inning, he had his instincts on point and saw a wild pitch unfold perfectly, and he kicked into motion and scored with ease. The power and the heads up base running put the Halos up 5-2, ruining the Mariners’ day, and that right there makes Mr. Upton a new, personal hero of mine.

The M’s would put up one more run as a response to how their guests had just came back and taken the contest, but with a no prob ninth, the Angels, and Parker Bridwell, were once again in the win column. Not only did the Halos keep themselves in the Wild Card race with that win, but Bridwell joined some rare MLB company:

Amazing. Let’s hope the Halos build off of this win, and get back on the bullet train to the playoffs. It’s gonna be a wild ride...hell, it IS a wild ride already. Stay mystical.