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Angels rally to stay alive, 7-6
October 22nd, 2009, 8:31 pm · 63 Comments · posted by BILL PLUNKETT, OCREGISTER.COM
ANAHEIM
It’s merely a flesh wound.
Like the Black Knight in Monty Python’s ‘Holy Grail,’ the Angels shook off the Yankees’ near-fatal blows with more conviction than circumstances warrant but lived to fight another day with a 7-6 victory in Game 5 of the American League Championship Series Thursday night at Angel Stadium.
The win forces a Game 6 at Yankee Stadium Saturday night (start time 4:57 p.m. PDT).
But it took a three-run rally in the bottom of the seventh inning to shake off a six-run blow by the Yankees in the top of the inning.
Angels starter John Lackey cruised into the seventh inning with a 4-0 lead only to run into the kind of moment that would have been debated for months to come.
The second-guessing began even as Scioscia was approaching the pitcher’s mound to replace Lackey. TV cameras clearly caught Lackey saying, “This is mine, Sosh. This is mine. Are you (kidding) me? This is mine.”
Lackey’s swan song began with a one-out double by Melky Cabrera. When home-plate umpire Fieldin Culbreth called his low-and-inside fastball on full count to Jorge Posada a ball, Lackey reacted angrily.
The call seemed to stick with Lackey who walked Derek Jeter on four pitches to load the bases. When Johnny Damon flew out and Cabrera scampered back to third base, Lackey used the opportunity to discuss the call some more with Culbreth as the pitcher backed up home plate.
Lackey had thrown only 104 pitches but Scioscia had seen enough and came out to get Lackey, much to Lackey’s consternation.
Scioscia brought in left-hander Darren Oliver to face switch-hitter Mark Teixeira. It was a matchup that had recent history on the Angels’ side – Oliver had not given up a run in his first six innings this post-season while Teixeira was 3 for 21 without an RBI in this series.
But Teixeira ripped Oliver’s first pitch, a curveball, to the wall in left-center field for a three-run double. After an intentional walk to Rodriguez, Yankees DH Hideki Matsui singled to center, scoring Teixeira with the tying run.
Scioscia brought in right-hander Kevin Jepsen to face left-handed hitting Robinson Cano and Cano tripled to center field, driving in Rodriguez and Matsui with the go-ahead runs.
But the Angels had an answer in the bottom of the inning.
Held in check by Yankees starter A.J. Burnett after scoring four times in the first inning, the Angels started their rally from the bottom up – No. 8 hitter Jeff Mathis singled (his club-record sixth consecutive post-season at-bat with a hit) and Burnett walked No. 9 hitter Erick Aybar before giving way to the bullpen.
Chone Figgins bunted both runners over and Mathis scored on Bobby Abreu’s ground out to first, cutting the Yankees’ lead in half.
With two outs, Yankees reliever Phil Hughes walked Torii Hunter and gave up an RBI single to Vladimir Guerrero that tied the game. Kendry Morales followed with a ground-ball single through the right side of the infield, driving in Hunter with the go-ahead run.
Oliver and Jepsen having cracked in the seventh inning, Scioscia turned to Jered Weaver in the eighth and the right-hander retired the Yankees in order, striking out two.
But in the ninth he went with closer Brian Fuentes who retired Damon and Teixeira quickly – then intentionally walked Rodriguez, putting the tying run on base with two outs.
When Fuentes also walked Hideki Matsui, the tying run moved into scoring postion. When he hit Robinson Cano with an 0-and-1 curveball, the bases were loaded with the tying run at third and the go-ahead run in scoring position.
Fuentes got ahead of Nick Swisher, 0-and-2, but Swisher worked the count full before getting him to pop out to shortstop.
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The Angels won despite Scioscia and his dumb decisions. Pulling Lackey (probably assuring Lackey will leave after the season is over).
Also bringing Fuentes in (why not leave Weaver in after a perfect eighth ?) I really don’t know what Scioscia is thinking about)
No bloody kidding. Pulling Lackey was surprising but I can see the reason behind that. But then pulling Weaver when he was flawless? come on.
Chuckster- My Exact Thoughts !!!
YES!
I have to say that this series with the Yankees is truly an epic and definitely lived up to all the hooplas leading to it. With more action than a Jerry Bruckheimer film and more twist and turns than a roller coaster ride. Can’t wait for what is in store for game 6.
Can we please get a new set of umpires?
Pulling Lackey a dumb decision? After having thrown over 100 pitches and giving up 3 runs… I’d call that as good a reason as any to pull him. As far as Fuentes, he is unfortunately the closer and despite failing 8 times, he’s now saved what 50 or so this season.
you obviously didn’t watch the game. lackey didn’t give up 3 runs, he gave up no runs.
He loaded the bases. Those were runners he was responsible for. Oliver may have been the one pitching on the ensuing hit that scored them, but it was Lackey who put them in position to score. He gave up the runs. Check the box score, it says Lackey 3ER. He also was losing his cool on the mound as well, another reason to take him out the game. Surprised an otherwise solid and stable Oliver though had such struggles in the inning.
You said “After having thrown over 100 pitches and giving up 3 runs”
He didn’t give up 3 runs, period. An earned run is not the same thing as giving up the run.
You get what I mean. I was also in a hurry in typing what I typed. I do have a life outside of these blogs ya know. In any case, the Angels won, they’re going to game 6 so let’s all celebrate. Lackey loaded the bases and threw over 100 pitches, a sign of struggle, he was showing his frustrations and when Scioscia pulled him definitely showed it. Oliver is a usually steady solid pitcher and crap happens. Scioscia made the right move with the wrong result. Any other day, Oliver pulls through that inning, gets the 3rd out and spares Lackey the responsibility of the 3 on base. Let’s leave it at that.
I think most knowledgeable baseball people would disagree with your assessment of both Scioscia’s pitching change (with or without Oliver’s cough-up) and what giving up a run means.
And you’re entitled to your “thought”, and whatever weight it may carry. I’m sure most knowledgeable would say otherwise and the box score reflects as such. But at 100 plus pitches and loading up the bases, it’s natural for a starter to be pulled. Thought’s about command and fatigue come to mind at that point. It’s typical and it’s commonplace.
It carries the weight of the rules of baseball. An earned run is not the same as a run given up. Apparently you can’t admit you didn’t know what you were talking about.
“But at 100 plus pitches and loading up the bases, it’s natural for a starter to be pulled. ”
Under normal circumstances, yes.
But not in a playoff elimination game. You throw pitch counts out the window in these games and consider other aspects of the performance.
Other aspects? As if loading up the bases after a high pitch count isn’t another circumstance? If a pitcher is putting himself into that circumstance under a high pitch count then obviously something is potentially not right and a change is needed. As far as admitting what I do and don’t know, I’ve been following baseball for over 20 years. I’m a hardcore Angel fan as well. I have a personal perspective obviously as far as earned runs and runs given up and you have yours. It doesn’t mean I don’t know what I’m talking about, it just means that i put more weight on the fact that Lackey put himself in such a position where he created a pressure filled circumstance and he wasn’t hitting his pitches, had to get himself pulled from the game, and unfortunately a usually solid pitcher managed to give up the hit, scoring the runs that Lackey was ultimately responsible for. Are you really this bored, or does debating this soo hard really mean that much to you? Is there some moral victory here that you’re trying to achieve?
“Other aspects? As if loading up the bases after a high pitch count isn’t another circumstance? If a pitcher is putting himself into that circumstance under a high pitch count then obviously something is potentially not right and a change is needed.”
Posada should’ve been struck out, and Lackey had every right to be pissed about that blown call. Walking Jeter didn’t help his cause.
But… John Lackey is the best pitcher on the staff, and Tex had not exactly been on fire in the postseason. There’s no reason to take your best pitcher out of the game in that situation. His pitch count was not obscene (120+) and he had gotten Damon (a lefty) to fly out. Additionally, Tex has good career numbers against Darren Oliver.
I assume the rest of your response was to Steve, and not me.
Scioscia is a great manager. Period. Not every move pans out. It was the right decision to bring on Oliver. Lackey had just walked two batters in a row, the latter on 4 pitches. Oliver is the best reliever in the pen and has had a great post season. Plus, his history against Teixeira was very favorable. Good move by Scioscia, bad result.
“Scioscia is a great manager. Period.”
Highly debatable.
“Not every move pans out. It was the right decision to bring on Oliver.”
Not at that point it wasn’t.
“Lackey had just walked two batters in a row, the latter on 4 pitches.”
And then gotten LEFTY Johnny Damon to fly out for out #2. And Posada was struck out if not for the home plate umpire seemingly changing his mind about the strike zone he had called all night.
“Plus, his history against Teixeira was very favorable. ”
Wrong.
2 for 3 against Oliver with a BB, in 4 PA.
Didn’t watch the game, did you?
Scoscia escaped death only because the Yankees’ bullpen was just slightly worse than the Halos’.
No worries, it ain’t over yet, that’s for sure! We’re happy to bring it back home!! I always said it would be Yankees in 6 out of the 7! But I’m betting on the 5th game at home ~ Yankees home of course ~ that we’ll end the Angels/Orange County’s misery!!!!
Sassy,the 5th game of the series took place tonight at Angel stadium.
Guessing that you’re a blonde?
Dizzle,the score was 4 to nothing when Lackey was pulled.
Did you watch the game or at least read the article before you posted.
4-0 with the bases loaded. 3 people he put there. Despite the fact that Oliver gave up the hit that allowed them to score, Lackey was still responsible for those who were on base. 3ER is what reads up on the box score. I did watch it btw. But my perspective is that when you put runners on the base and you’re the reason they are there and they score, you gave them up. That’s why he gets charged with 3 earned runs and not Oliver.
Fuentes is unreliable!
On a two a strick pitch to Jeter he threw him a gift down the midlle. Then tonight he absolutely had no control of the pitch placement. The pitches were either obvious balls or strikes. no pitches just off the zone or on it.
It starting to look like Fuentes American league saves are more of account of coming in to pitch when the other teams have their back against the walls. Also, has his speed slowed down?
Weaver was excellent though! Move him to the closing position.
Absolutely. And then, if there’s a Game 7, start….uh….Fuentes?
How bout this, we keep Weaver as the game 7 starter and we move Jepsen to the closer role. We then use Fuentes in situations where the Angels need a reliever to bridge the gap and have some semblance of a lead where if Fuentes begins to and likely will struggle, he can immediate be pulled from the game for someone who can actually lock down and get the job done.
Chuckster,you’re right on about Weaver,I said the same thing to my son.
Fuentes is anything but a sure thing and I hope his deal was not longterm,
A win is a win and the series continues!GO ANGELS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I think if they are behind, they leave Weaver in for the 9th, because ther might not be a game 6 or 7 to save him for.
Scioscia is actually a dimwit at times. His success is that he is an ex-player, can relate to the guys and they love playing for him, he’s really a good guy, most of the time it works.
Taking out Weaver and bringing Fuentes almost lost it for them, Hell I almost had a heart attack!!!! Make Santana your closer for the rest of the series if you want to win it Mike.
One other thing.. Eat Shit Yankees!!!!!
Oh you pathetic angel fans…….
Kiss My Ass!!!
Exactly. These are the “fans” who left their stadium in droves during Game 4 in the 7th and 8th inning because their team was behind. They will get what they deserve this weekend.. :):)
I don’t care about those mf’ers, I didn’t leave!
Angelssuck huh? A bit of a simplistic argument wouldn’t you say? I guess getting the ALCS is a matter of luck and has nothing to do with playing well. For your own sake, why don’t you save your posts until you have something substantial and relevant to say? Otherwise you are just putting your ignorance on display for all to read.
I can think of one guy who probably doesn’t love playing for him… John Lackey.
John “Give me 5 years $100 Million even if i’m not worth it” Lackey?
Like all managers decisions, you’re only as good as your players clutch play.The umps have made me realize in this down economy-i have a job waiting for me once i finish umpiring school.If we can get hits like this from our lineup, i love our chances.We can bat around as good as anyone.
I yearn for the days of Arrendondo, Shields & Krod closing games.Maybe we can afford some relief pitchers next year!!
Of course Weaver had to be pulled after an inning with the lead. He is still slated to pitch game 7.
The lackey pull is harder to explain. There is no game if angels lost this one, and with bullpen not greatest, giving Lackey a few more pitches wouldn’t have hurt. But hey guys… if Lackey was so great why was the bases loaded?
It does seem like the Yankees are figuring out the Angles bullpen more and more as they see them more often. With that in mind, I think using Santana more and possibly bringing in a new arm would be a good idea.
This pennant will be sweeter when we get it at home! Tonight was the last game Rally Monkey/Plastic Stick Stadium sees in 2009. Maybe Lackey can find a new home down the freeway with Manny.
Here’s the plan:
A little more fun with the Angels at Yankee Stadium, then Philadelphia, then World Championship #27!
Down the freeway?
ZZZZZZZZZ
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, orange, Irvine, San Juan Capistrano, Lakeforest, tustin,etc……will never win a world Series its over in the Bronx
Why are there Yankee fans on this blog ? Go F*** yourselves. If you win it will only be because you bought it. How many players are your team were brought up through your own system?
Bought with money that loyal fans spend. You know- the kind who support their team by staying in their seats until the final out. The kind who don’t need plastic sticks, toy monkeys, or signs telling them to “make noise” in order to support their team.
I’ve been to plenty of games at Yankee Stadium and you’re full of sh**.
You mean loyal fans like you who moved out of New York to California. Tell you what, why don’t you take your loyalty back to New York? I guess your loyalty isn’t strong enough to live in that crime ridden city and its unbelievably horrible weather.
My family and I would much rather be here (31 years- me), happy to buy tickets from “loyal” Angels season-ticket holders when the Yankees are in town. And I grew up in Jersey, Buckwheat.
My point exactly. You love New York… so long as you don’t have to live in it. Perhaps that’s too complicated for you to understand. Buckwheat? That’s pretty clever.
Isn’t New Jersey just the garbage dump for New York anyway? I think you’re the first person to ever brag about being from “Jersey” so if that’s your measure of pride then don’t bother posting anything else.
One doesn’t have to live near a team to be its fan. I know this whole internet/cell phone/cable thing is a stretch from you playing banjo on the porch, but do try to keep up. ;>
You just proved his point.
Hey… not only are they buying their way… but don’t forget the roids too! Pettitte and A-Fraud.
One more thing guys, while there are “loyal Angel season ticket holders”, sometimes the family can’t afford to pay for the parking and the other amenities OR they have events with which they have to attend and can’t go to the Angels game. Does that make them any less loyal? No… It makes them either busy or broke, and rather then blowing the tickets, they instead get the money back on them. I call that being smart.
The problem is that fans in general are too forgiving of their own players and too willing to give their hard earned money to support teams/players who betray the game. So long as fans continue to incentivize cheating by expanding their wallets then the game will remain dirty. While some visitors to this post won’t understand, this is why the Angels are such a classy organization to watch. They play the game the right way on and off the field.
Those are called Yankee Fans. They pay to see A-Fraud, a known cheater and Andy Pettitte, a known cheater.
Those umpires have got to be repremanded by the league! Posada was clearly out and after that the fly ball to left would have ended th inning, instead the yankees score six runs because of a BLIND FRIGGIN UMPIRE! Maybe it is time to use a computer to call balls and strikes. Somehow this crap has got to stop and fairness restored.
Ahem. Did you forget to mention Johnny Damon being safe?
I think we can all agree that the umpiring has been less then stellar for both sides and should be addressed without partisanship to any specific club. It’s not a matter of favoring any specific team, at least I’d like to think not. It’s more a matter of ensuring that teams are competing against their opponent only and not having to also play against the umpires.
Just a thought I think all fans can agree on.
Apparently being addressed:
http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news?slug=ap-worldseries-umpireswitch&prov=ap&type=lgns
Missed calls prompt umpire switch for World Series
By BEN WALKER, AP Baseball Writer
5 hours, 49 minutes ago
NEW YORK (AP)—Stung by a rash of blown calls in the playoffs, Major League Baseball is breaking tradition and sticking with only experienced umpires for the World Series.
Longtime crew chiefs Joe West, Dana DeMuth and Gerry Davis, along with Brian Gorman, Jeff Nelson(notes) and Mike Everitt will handle the games, three people with knowledge of the decision told The Associated Press this week.
The people spoke on condition of anonymity because an official announcement has not been made.
In 24 of the last 25 World Series, the six-man crew has included at least one umpire working the event for the first time—baseball likes to reward newer umpires, plus replenish the supply of umps with Series experience.
In each of the last two years, there were three new umps working the World Series.
CB Bucknor was in line to work the World Series for the first time this year. But he missed two calls in Game 1 of the division series between the Red Sox and Angels, damaging his chance to get picked, one of the three people said.
Umpiring mistakes caused anxious moments for MLB in the first two rounds: Phil Cuzzi’s foul call on a drive by Joe Mauer(notes) that was fair by a foot, Jerry Meals’ error on a ball that bounced off Chase Utley’s(notes) leg, Dale Scott’s miss on a pickoff and Tim McClelland’s call on a tag play, among others.
Scott missed again Thursday night in Game 5 of the AL championship series, ruling New York’s Johnny Damon(notes) out after he clearly beat Angels first baseman Kendry Morales’(notes) toss to pitcher John Lackey(notes).
The problems have ramped up calls by fans for expanded use of instant replay. Loading up with veteran umpires, however, is no guarantee of getting it right. McClelland missed an obvious double play Tuesday night in the ALCS.
West, DeMuth and Davis each have worked three World Series and have been major league umpires for more than 25 years. Gorman, Nelson and Everitt all have called one World Series, and have been on the big league staff for at least 11 years.
At least a pair of first-time World Series umpires have been on each of the last five crews. Starting in 1983, the only crew that did not include a World Series rookie was 1997.
World Series umpires are chosen from the pool of 24 umpires who work in the first round, with those two dozen picked on merit. ALCS and NLCS umpires aren’t in play, because umps don’t work in consecutive rounds of the postseason.
Anyone would have to admit and not just in this series that the Yankees have had more than there share of bad calls go there way.
It has to be a ratings thing.
How about those announcers for fox, who do you think there rooting for:?
Yes, the announcers on Fox last night were suddenly quiet or subdued when the Angels came back in the 7th inning. It was hysterical.
This has been a fantastic series. I think the yanks should throw in CC for game 6 bc of the rain delay. And then if the angels can win 6, 7 shuold be much easier against Pettite than CC