| Shane Cobb. 20th April, 2006 - 7:37 pm
 Game Recap #16. Angels 6, Twins 4
A day after blowing a save, Francisco Rodriguez closed out the Twins on Thursday picking up his 5th save of the season. That’s the good thing about baseball. You can fail one day and come back the very next day, facing the same team, and get revenge. Well, that’s what K-Rod did in a 6-4 Angels win.
The Angels offense struck first. In the top of the 1st, Darin Erstad singled in Vladimir Guerrero. Guerrero started as the DH as super-utility man, Chone Figgins, started in right field.
Filling in for the injured Bartolo Colon was Angels spot starter/reliever, Hector Carrasco. Hector had a rough first inning giving up three runs on three hits. In the inning he also walked two batters. Carrasco would only go three innings and getting the no decision. The score is now Twins 3, Angels 1.
Neither team scored until the fourth inning when the Angels scored 3 more runs. Casey Kotchman picked up his 5th RBI on a ball that was hit to second baseman Luis Castillo who threw the ball away, scoring Garrett Anderson. Jose Molina singled in Casey Kotchman who ended up on second due to Castillo’s throwing error. Adam Kennedy followed up with a sac fly, plating Edgardo Alfonzo.
The Twins last run of the game came in the 5th inning. Tony Batista singled off of Kevin Gregg scoring Luis Castillo. Kevin Gregg, who made his first appearance this season, ended up getting the win.
The ball game was tied from the 5th inning till the 8th inning. Jose Molina broke the tie with a double to deep left field, which scored Maicer Izturis. Again, Adam Kenned followed it up with an RBI, this time on a single to right.
The Angels up two runs had a chance to win the game. They brought in Brennan Donnelly for the 8th inning where he gave up a walk and a single, but he manage to get two outs. Taking no risks, Manager Mike Scioscia brought in the Angels closer Francisco Rodriguez.
Rodriguez had pitched the game before where he blew the save. Having that performance still on his mind, K-Rod wanted to get revenge. He finished off the 8th inning striking out Lew Ford. K-Rod came back in the game for the 9th inning and shut the Twins down, picking up his 5th save.
Player of the game: Jose Molina – Molina hit a go ahead RBI double, which would be enough to give the Angels the win. Jose went 2 for 4 on the day.
Disappointment – Chone Figgins/Orlando Cabrera – The two combined went 0 for 10.
Next game: April 21st, Friday vs. Oakland Athletics
On the mound: John Lackey (2-1, 4.26 ERA) vs. Rich Harden (2-0, 3.66 ERA)
Angels record: 8-8
|
