The Los Angeles Angels finished the 2014 regular season with the most wins in all of baseball. And in their first Cactus League game, they got back to those winning ways by defeating the Milwaukee Brewers by a score of 3-2.
Milwaukee’s Kyle Lohse pitched very well in 2.2 innings where he only gave up one hit, while also striking out three. Hector Santiago, on the other hand, labored a bit in the early part of the game and only lasted
Ron Roenicke’s ball club got on the board first in the bottom half of the third inning. Martin Maldonado jumped on a first from Corey Rasmus and Mike Trout got twisted around going back to get the ball and it dropped in behind him, allowing Maldonado to reach second. Then, with one out, leadoff man Scooter Gennett sacrificed Maldonado home from third after he hit a deep fly ball towards center field.
It would not take long for the Angels to get right back in this game as they would score a run of their own in the top of the inning. There were two outs in the inning when Ariel Pena came in to relieve Lohse, but there was a runner on second. Kole Calhoun got on base as he hit the ball back up the middle, but it deflected off the pitcher, Pena, and rolled into foul territory, moving C.J. Cron to third. Then the reigning MVP stepped up to the plate and hit a grounder to Jean Segura but Segura’s throw is low and Trout is able to beat it out, scoring Cron from third.
D’Arby Myers pinch ran for Chris Iannetta and showed some nice speed to steal second base. Josh Rutledge 1-1 pitch on the ground up the middle, scoring Myers and giving the Angels a 2-1 lead. In the next inning of play, the Angels would score another run without getting a hit. Milwaukee would make a few defensive mistakes allowing extra outs and Mike Scioscia’s squad would take full advantage.
Milwaukee would score once more in the bottom of the next inning through Elian Herrera as he singled up the heart of the infield, scoring Shane Peterson. It wasn’t enough for the Brewers today, however, as the two runs would be all that they could muster.
The Angels will welcome in the Coloardo Rockies in Tempe tomorrow afternoon. Meanwhile, the Milwaukee Brewers play their first home game as they face off against the Los Angeles Dodgers.