Sleepy Angels nearly caught by Astros

By OC Tribune Staff on April 20, 2018 • ( Leave a comment )

MIKE SCIOSCIA didn’t have much to smile about as the Angels were swept by the Red Sox (Flickr/Keith Allison).

While you were sleeping ….

The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim held a comfortable – but early – lead in the American League West until they ran into the Boston Red Sox in a three-game series.

When the smoke had cleared at the Big A, the Bosox had won all three games and the second place Houston Astros had nearly caught up in the ALW race.

After the Angels lost 8-2 on Thursday, their record is 13-6, a half-game ahead of Houston (13-7). So it’s back to reality after a nice run of fantasy.

The Orange County team was outhit 14-4 by Boston (16-2) had no home runs and only one extra base hit. Overall in the series, the Angels were outscored 27-3. On Thursday, starter Nick Tropeano (1-1) lasted 5.1 innings and was tagged for seven hits, five runs and struck out three batters and walked two before giving way to five relievers.

Five Red Sox players had two or more hits while the Angels had none. Eduardo Rodriguez (2-0) pitched for six innings, giving up three hits and two home runs. He struck out five batters and walked three.

But enough dwelling on that. The Angels will get a chance to wake up on Friday when they host the San Francisco Giants (7-11) in a three-game series through Sunday. Andrew Heaney (0-0) is expected to start for the Halos.