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 Such was the case Tuesday as the Angels topped the Minnesota
Twins 8-6 at Angel Stadium.
Two-run singles by left fielder Josh Hamilton and second baseman
Howie Kendrick in a five-run first inning got Los Angeles started,
but the Angels needed a two-run home run by center fielder Mike
Trout in the second inning to restore the lead before the bullpen
finished the job.
The Angels recorded their fourth win in a row and ended the Twins'
winning streak at four.
Los Angeles did most of its damage in the first two innings, failing
to score again until pushing across a run in the eighth inning. It
was enough even though Angels starter C.J. Wilson (8-6) was far from
his best.
Staked to a 5-0 lead after one inning, Wilson gave up five runs in
the second inning and another run in the fifth before calling it a
night. He allowed six runs on nine hits in five innings but still
was credited with the win.
"It was an interesting approach that (the Twins) had today," Wilson
said. "They took a lot of first pitches, like take a first pitch
right down the middle. But with two strikes, they would fight
pitches off.
"It was a Twilight Zone thing, hits with two strikes, hits on weird
counts. ... Typically if I give up a big inning, it's because I walk
a guy, plunk a guy or throw a ball away. But after the two home
runs, it was paper cuts."
Those two home runs came from left fielder Josh Willingham and
designated hitter Kendrys Morales, but the big home run of the night
came from Trout, who snapped a 5-5 tie and gave the Angels the lead
for good with his homer to right-center field off Twins starter Kyle
Gibson in the second.
"That's what Mike can do," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. "When
you have that kind of approach at the plate and drive the ball the
other way, you're going to do special things. It was only the second
inning, but it was a big hit to regain the lead after those guys put
up five in the second."
Gibson, who lasted just two innings, entered the game with a streak
of 22 consecutive scoreless innings. However, Gibson began the first
inning by walking the first two hitters he faced, and he wound up
permitting seven runs on four hits.
"He just kind of got overwhelmed early," Twins manager Ron
Gardenhire said. "He misfired, put men on base and couldn't make a
pitch after that. He didn't have command of too much. We were hoping
to run him back out there and see if he could find it a little bit
and give us a couple innings, but that didn't work out either. It
was just a rough night for him."
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Wilson, though, nearly gave it back. He gave up a sixth run on a
Morales sacrifice fly in the fifth and handed the ball over to the
Angels' relievers, asking them to hold a 7-6 lead.
And they did. Mike Morin (sixth inning), Kevin Jepsen (seventh),
Ernesto Frieri (eighth) and Joe Smith (ninth, sixth save) each
pitched a scoreless frame.
Jepsen encountered the most danger, giving up a leadoff double to
shortstop Danny Santana in the seventh, followed by a walk to second
baseman Brian Dozier. However, Jepsen got a big double-play ball
when first baseman Joe Mauer's sharp grounder was scooped up by
Kendrick, who stepped on second and made an off-balance throw to
first.
"Howie made a terrific play," Scioscia said. "That was not an easy
play, and he made it look easy."
The Twins also received good work out of the bullpen, particularly
from Samuel Deduno, who relieved Gibson and threw four scoreless
innings, allowing just one hit.
The Angels added an insurance run in the eighth on a sacrifice fly
by right fielder Kole Calhoun.
Dozier led the Twins with three hits.
NOTES: Angels hitting coach Don Baylor was cleared by doctors to
suit up and join the club on the bench for the first time this
season. Baylor fractured his right femur while catching the
ceremonial first pitch from Vladimir Guerrero on Opening Night. ...
Twins RF Oswaldo Arcia, mired in an 0-for-31 skid, did not play.
During his slump, he has reached base three times -- two walks and
one hit-by-pitch. Arcia's last hit came June 11 vs. Toronto. Chris
Parmelee started in Arcia's place and went 1-for-3 with three
strikeouts. ... Angels manager Mike Scioscia needs six wins to tie
Whitey Herzog for 34th place on the all-time list with 1,281
managerial victories.
[© 2014 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.]
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