Angels hand loss to Justin Verlander as Heaney and Simmons shine

Angels 5 Astros 2

It’s been, well, a long time since the Angels last handed Justin Verlander a loss. That day was May 14th, 2017 and since then, Verlander had won 6 straight games against the Halsos. But not tonight.

This game was quite the pitcher’s duel with both Heaney and Verlander keeping bats quiet into the 6th inning. But the Angels offense had Verlander’s number and the inning that started with a Kole Calhoun double went downhill fast for the Astros.

With Trout on first and Calhoun on second, the other Justin (Upton) knocked a 2-2 pitch into right field, breaking out the scoring and knocking Verlander out of the game. The Angels weren’t done scoring and the real damage came with Andrelton Simmons knocked a based loaded double to score Trout, Upton, and Ohtani who had walked.

It was an amazing game that most probably never would have predicted. Just check out the lines by tonight’s starting pitchers:

Justin Verlander: 5.1 IP, 5 hits, 3 runs, 1 walk, 11 Ks
Andrew Heaney: 6 IP, 5 hits, 0 runs, 1 walk, 6 Ks

I guess strikeouts aren’t everything - amirite JV??

Tyler White tried to help spoil the night with a 2 run homer in the bottom of the 9th but it was too little too late. Blake Parker finished the game and the Angels start off this set in Houston with a very, very, fun victory.