I wasn't able to watch the game tonight, but judging by the box score, I didn't miss too much.
Tim Hudson started for the Braves and he wasn't very good. Ervin Santana started for the Angels and he was very good. Hudson pitched just 3.2 innings and allowed 8 runs on seven hits and three walks. He unexplainably hit hit three batters, and his pitches were all over the place. Ervin Santana was the complete opposite, and he flat out dominated the Braves for all nine innings. He allowed just four hits and didn't walk a single batter.
Despite Fredi Gonzalez's "new and improved" lineup, they were shutdown all night and the only two batters to record a hit don't even start on a regular basis. Eric Hinske and Joe Mather were the only ones to reach base on Friday night, and they did so by recording two hits a piece.
The Angels scored early on often. Bobby Abreu doubled to bring in the first run of the game and Torii Hunter followed up with an RBI-single. Hank Conger brought in another run on a fielder's choice and then 1st baseman Mark Trumbo hit a 3-run blast to essentially clinch the game in the 3rd inning. The Angels added on a run in the 4th inning and two more in the 6th to make the score 9-0.
At least Jairo Asencio had a nice return to the Major Leagues. He worked two scoreless innings in mop-up duty.
It's really hard to believe this team is currently 25-22 and sits just 3.5 games out of first place in one of the more difficult divisions in baseball. We've all seen just how good this team can be when everything clicks, but unfortunately, everything has clicked about 10 times this season.
It'll be Tommy Hanson against Joel Pineiro on Saturday night. First pitch is at 10:05.