Archive for Thursday, July 24, 2008
Angels’ bats loom large in victory over Indians
Normally tepid offense produces season highs in runs and hits (19). Jeff Mathis, Howie Kendrick and Casey Kotchman combine for 13 hits, Francisco Rodriguez gets 42nd save and team ups lead to 10 games.
What big bat?
The Angels hit and hit and hit some more this afternoon, setting all kinds of records in a 14-11 victory over the Cleveland Indians. The Angels might still be vulnerable in October without another big bat, but their bats appeared awfully large today at Angel Stadium.
Jeff Mathis hit a grand slam and drove in six runs, with Casey Kotchman collecting five hits and Mathis and Howie Kendrick four apiece. For the first time in club history, three players had at least four hits in a nine-inning game.
The Angels’ lead in the American League West jumped to 10 games, their largest since they led the division by 10 1/2 games on Aug. 16, 1995. The club record is 11 games, set seven times in 1995.
Other than 1995, the Angels previously have had a double-digit lead only once – a 10-game lead on Sept. 26, 1986. The Angels won the AL West in 1986 and lost a one-game playoff for the division title in 1995.
Angels starter John Lackey (8-2) won despite giving up six runs in five innings. The Angels got him off the hook in the bottom of the fifth, with Mathis’ slam highlighting a five-run inning that put them up, 10-6.
Kendrick tied a club record with three doubles. The Angels set season highs with 14 runs and 19 hits.
But, even with all that offense, the Angels needed to use closer Francisco Rodriguez, for the fourth time in five days. After the Indians scored five runs in the last three innings off Darren O’Day and Jose Arredondo, Rodriguez threw one pitch to get the final out, for his 42nd save.
He is on pace for 67 saves. The major league record is 57, set by Bobby Thigpen of the Chicago White Sox in 1990.
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