Angels Bullpen Blows Another
Updated 9:00 AM PST, Mon, Jun 8, 2009
Another game, another blown lead by the Angels bullpen.
Clete Thomas' grand slam broke an eighth-inning tie and the Detroit Tigers took advantage of a key error by first baseman Kendry Morales in a 9-6 victory over the Los Angeles Angels on Sunday.
The Angels led 5-4 going into the bottom of the eighth, but Jose Arredondo (1-3) walked Ryan Raburn and Adam Everett with one out. Jason Bugler came on and walked Curtis Granderson, loading the bases.
Placido Polanco flied out to shallow center, and Raburn bluffed an attempt to score. Gary Matthews Jr. threw toward the plate but the ball was misplayed by the cutoff man, Morales, allowing Raburn to score the tying run.
Magglio Ordonez drew the 15th walk of the game, loading the bases again, and Thomas followed with his first career slam.
The Angels bullpen has now blown 11 saves and has been responsible for 13 Angels losses (nearly half of the team's total). Those are both Major League highs.
The Angels took the lead in the top of the eighth when Joel Zumaya (2-0) walked Howie Kendrick with the bases loaded.
Juan Rivera made it 9-6 with a two-out RBI double in the ninth, but Fernando Rodney retired Matthews to end the game.
The Angels led 3-0 after hitting two first-inning homers. Chone Figgins led off the game with his first home run of the season, and Bobby Abreu followed with a double -- the 2,000th hit of his career. Rookie Rick Porcello retired the next two batters before Rivera made it 3-0 with a drive into the left-field bullpen.
Copyright Associated Press / NBC Los Angeles
First Published: Jun 8, 2009 8:43 AM PST
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