clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile

Filed under:

1979 Angels Week 4: The offense cools off

Halos drop four of six games to Orioles and Red Sox

By Eric Stephen
Angels Photo by Focus On Sport/Getty Images

The 1979 Angels offense led baseball in runs scored through the week ending April 29, but Week 4 was quite a downturn, losing four of six games at home to the Orioles and Red Sox, including a three-game sweep by Baltimore.

The good

Dave Frost scattered six hits and four walks to blank the Red Sox on Saturday, the second shutout by an Angels pitcher this season.

The bullpen had a strong week with a 2.59 ERA, and was pressed into duty thanks to a series of short starts by the rotation. Relief highlights included Mark Clear finishing up Friday’s win by allowing only one unearned run in 5⅓ innings. and Jim Barr keeping the Angels in Thursday’s game against Baltimore with five innings, allowing a run.

Willie Aikens stayed hot, going 6-for-16 (.375) in five games, including four starts, extending his hitting streak to 11 games.

Carney Lansford tripled, doubled, and singled in Friday night’s win against the Red Sox, but was 1-for-18 the rest of the week, emblematic of the Angels scuffling offense last week.

The bad

Angels starting pitchers struggled, especially against the Orioles, allowing 10 runs in 10 innings in a three-game sweep. But much of it was out of the pitchers’ control. Nolan Ryan left his Thursday start after two innings with a groin injury, and Chris Knapp left the next night after recording only five outs thanks to getting hit by a line drive by Jerry Remy.

Don Aase had the worst start of the week, allowing six runs in two innings on Tuesday. He was redeemed somewhat on Sunday against Boston with a complete game, allowing only two runs (one earned), but got hung with a second loss of the week thanks to the Angels getting shut out.

The Halos offense stalled most of the week, scoring two or fewer runs in all four losses, including all three against Baltimore. Meanwhile, Orioles first baseman Eddie Murray had two hits in all three games, while Ken Singleton homered twice in the opener, matching the Angels power output for the week.

Don Baylor homered Wednesday against the Orioles, and Bobby Grich homered Saturday against Boston, as the Angels hit just .239/.329/.315 for the week.

Weekly summary

2-4 record
19 runs scored (3.17 per game)
24 runs allowed (4.00 per game)
.395 pythagorean record

Year-to-date summary

14-8 record
136 runs scored (6.18 per game)
90 runs allowed (4.09 per game)
.680 pythagorean record

AL West standing: 1st place, ½ game up on Minnesota)

Game results

Up next

The Angels finish up their homestand with three games against the three-time defending AL pennant-winning Yankees — including their first Monday game of the season — followed by starting a road trip next weekend in Baltimore.

More From Halos Heaven