Angels pick up much-needed win over Arizona

Through the first two games of the series, the D-Backs had scored 18 runs on 22 hits against the Angels’ pitching. On Thursday, they scored only three runs and had eight hits as Griffin Canning and Co. picked up a crucial 7-3 win as the Angels fight for a final playoff spot.

Entering the game, Joe Maddon talked about needing a great outing from Griffin Canning. He definitely got that. Canning gave the Angels five strong innings. He allowed only two runs and struck out seven. If it wasn’t for his high pitch count, he could have ate up a few more innings for the Halos.

Canning was great, and the bullpen was just as good, if not better. Mike Mayers, Felix Pena combined to throw four scoreless innings in relief. They had four combined strikeouts and allowed only one hit.

After seeing what the Arizona lineup did through the first two games, the Angels wanted to replicate that offensive production. They took a 5-0 lead after only two innings, putting the D-Backs in an early hole.

They had back-to-back hits to lead off the inning, with Mike Trout putting the first run on the board with a sacrifice fly. Anthony Rendon followed, adding two with one swing, hitting his ninth homer of the season to put them up 3-0.

The Angels plated two more runs in the second, a run in the third and another in the eighth. One of their runs came courtesy of Jared Walsh, who made some MLB history on Thursday afternoon.

Thursday particulars

WP: Griffin Canning (1-3) 5 IP, 2 ER, 7 SO

LP: Alex Young (2-4) 2 ²⁄₃ IP, 6 ER, 2 SO

HR: Anthony Rendon (9)

Box score

Up next

The Angels will begin a three-game series tomorrow against the Rangers, who currently own the worst record in the American League. As of right now, the Angels are four games back of the final playoff spot. As we’ve seen in years past in this crazy game of baseball, anything can happen.