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Whoa.
That just happened.
Desperately needing a starter to eat up innings, Dylan Bundy did just that for the Angels on Thursday afternoon. He threw a nine-inning complete game, allowing only one run as the Angels defeated the Mariners, 6-1.
If it seems like it’s been a while since an Angels starter went all nine innings, well, it’s because it has been a while.
Dylan Bundy takes the mound and becomes the first #Angels starter to work into the 9th inning since Andrew Heaney's birthday shutout on June 5, 2018
— Matt Birch (@MattBirch12) August 6, 2020
Bundy’s 2020 season has already been off to an impressive start, but this was by far his best outing of the year. He allowed one run in nine innings on only four hits. Even better, Bundy had 10 strikeouts with zero walks. Over the last 20 years, only four other Angels starters have posted those numbers in a game: John Lackey, Ervin Santana, Dan Haren and Jhoulys Chacin.
The lone run of the day from the Mariners came on a Daniel Vogelbach homer in the fourth.
Bundy strikes out Moore on three straight sliders pic.twitter.com/qvPdBWYQxd
— Alex Fast (@AlexFast8) August 6, 2020
Bundy is now 2-1 on the season with an ERA of 2.08. Let’s not get ahead of ourselves, but with the season nearly being 1⁄4 over, it’s safe to say we can put Bundy in the Cy Young conversation. Who would have thought.
The offense
The Angels got on the board first in the top half of the second inning. Shohei Ohtani, who looks like he’ll be a full-time DH this season, hit his third homer of the season, going to the opposite field for a solo shot.
Good to have you back Sho pic.twitter.com/VSmzEHYEt2
— Los Angeles Angels (@Angels) August 6, 2020
The Angels put up three more on the board in the fourth. Tommy La Stella singled in a run, loading the bases for Justin Upton. Then, on the first pitch of the at bat, Upton took one for the team and got hit by a pitch. Max Stassi then brought in a run with a sacrifice fly.
Speaking of Stassi, he stayed hot with his bat as he hit his fourth homer of the season in the eighth inning.
MAXimum power. pic.twitter.com/UKupKGwtn4
— Los Angeles Angels (@Angels) August 6, 2020
Last year with the Angels, Stassi had three hits with the Angels and hit .071 with them. He already has four homers for them this season and is currently hitting .333 with an OPS of 1.305.
Thursday particulars
WP: Dylan Bundy (2-1) 9 IP, 1 ER, 10 SO, 0 BB
LP: Taijuan Walker (1-2) 3 2⁄3 IP, 4 ER, 3 SO, 3 BB
Home runs: Shohei Ohtani (3), Max Stassi (4) Daniel Vogelbach (1)
Up next
The Angels travel to Texas to take on the Rangers in their brand new ballpark. Griffin Canning takes the mound for the Angels tomorrow night. First pitch is at 6:05 p.m. PT.