Bats Come Out as Angels Beat Twins 10-1 to Win Series
- Updated: June 16, 2016
Following a 5-4 win against the visiting Minnesota Twins in game two of the three game series, the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim defeated the Twins 10-2 to take the rubber match.
Prior to the game, Andrelton Simmons was recalled after being out for five weeks due to thumb surgery. With the two-time gold glove-winners return, the Angels designated Brendan Ryan for assignment, and kept Gregorio Petit in the team.
In the first three innings, both teams were relatively quiet offensively as Hector Santiago went to work on the mound. In the bottom of the fourth inning, the Angels got things going as Mike Trout singled and advanced to third after C.J. Cron singled.
With one out, Trout was batted home after Jefry Marte singled to left field and Cron advanced to second. Johnny Giavotella stepped up and singled to center as both batters advanced one base to load the bags.
Jett Bandy was next up. He hit a groundball to short, but the Twins could not convert the 6-4-3 double play, and Bandy was safe by fielder’s choice as the Halos added a second run. Simmons grounded out to first on the opening pitch of his at bat to end the inning with the Angels leading 2-0.
The top of the fifth featured a response from the Twins after runners advanced to corners. Santiago was pitching more balls than strikes in the inning, and Kurt Suzuki batted home the away team’s first run, but the Twins were stopped before tying the game up.
In the bottom of the inning, Yunel Escobar and Trout both got on base to set up Albert Pujols with one out. The designated hitter loaded the bases on an infield single. Cron blooped one into center as Escobar scored and reloaded the bases, forcing a pitching change for the Twins.
Marte was walked, and the Angels lead increased to 4-1 as Trout touched home plate. Brandy was up following a Giavotella strikeout, and the catcher popped up to right field, but Kepler misjudged the fly ball, and it dropped to help the Angels score two more runs. Simmons then knocked one through the gap between first and third to score one more run for the Angels as the score got up to 7-1 at the end of the fifth inning.
In the sixth inning, the Angels got on the board without getting an out after Pujols hit a grounder into left field to bring home Kole Calhoun. Cron had a shot off the left field wall and Trout and Pujols scored to give the Angels a 10-1 lead.
Santiago had an overall great outing as the right-handed pitcher threw 99 pitches and allowed one earned run over six innings pitched. He was relieved by Javy Guerra.
Defensively, the presence of Simmons was noticed after the shortstop made multiple great plays to keep the ball in play and get outs for the Angels. Even after five weeks out, Simmons did not look like he missed a step.
In the top of the eighth inning, the Twins scored a consolation run, but the ballclub could not spark a late comeback. Al Alburquerque closed the game out for the Angels, who won the game 10-2 to clinch the series.
The series win could carry some momentum for the Angels as they have a day off before taking on division rival Oakland A’s at the Oakland Coliseum in a three game series.
Stay with us at Calisportsnews.com as we will keep you up-to-date on all things Los Angeles Angels and the rest of the LA sports teams! All Cali, All the time!
Related Posts
About Shawn Medow
