As you might have guessed, I have missed quite a few posts lately due to a spur of the moment family vacation to the Sierras. Hopefully I’ll be able to successfully recap the four games I lost and get back up to date in the sports world. Thanks for your patience with this slacking blogger…

ORIOLES

The Angels got yet another series win against an AL team when they pounded the Orioles hard for the win. Starting pitcher Santana went seven innings, making only two noticeable mistakes in homeruns to Montanez and Markakis. It was the offense that helped to carry them as well, as they jumped on the soft throwing Olson to get a 9-1 lead as early on as the fourth. That allowed for Ervin to pitch more comfortably, knowing he had such a huge amount of run support.

“It’s a bit different when we score five or more runs,” said Santana, who won his 13th game of the season. “It takes some pressure off you. I just said to myself to keep pitching like the score is nothing-nothing.”

Vladimir Guerrero and Jeff Mathis also helped significantly with the offense, both hitting a homerun in the game. That makes 20 for Vlad and 9 for Mathis.

YANKEES- GAME ONE

Torii Hunter sure hit up a storm in this one. He had four RBIs with a monster homerun, a double, and two singles. That helped the hitting fest as the Angels offense took off, getting 17 hits off the Yanks at home.  

“All the cylinders are clicking,” Hunter said. “It’s a lot of fun. Hopefully, it’ll carry over.”

Jared Weaver got his tenth win of the season, despite giving up five runs. The hits held them on top, though, and Jose Arredondo pitched two scoreless innings to get back below a 1.00 ERA as he was earlier. It is now an outstanding 0.97. Scot Shields closed this one out in the ninth and the Angels shut down the Yanks 10-5.

YANKEES- GAME TWO

It was not a good night for Yankees fans but it was worse for the Yankees relief pitchers Jose Veras, Ramirez, and Robertson. Going into the seventh, the Angels had only scored one run on a homerun by Teixiera, but then they got 11 hits and 10 runs. Anderson, newly added Napoli, and Guerrero also joined in as they belted out homers in the eightrun eighth to outscore the Yankees 11-4. John Lackey pitched a decent game for the Halos, going seven and giving up three on nine hits. He didn’t get the win, however, as Shields came in the eighth and pitched a scoreless inning to win it.

YANKEES- GAME THREE

A sweep was just what the Angels needed to give themselves another boost of confidence. After tying the latest series with the Yanks in New York, they responded with a three game sweep at home against them a week later. It wasn’t such a loose game this time, though. When the game was tied in the ninth with one of the best closers in baseball on the mound, it looked like it may have to be an extra inning duel for the Angels in order to win. But Chone Figgins managed to roll a ball to the right side, just deep enough for Howie Kendrick to race home for the walkoff win. This marks the fourth win in a row and another sweep for the Halos. Their current record holds them 14 games above Texas and 20 games above Oakland. They’re still the best team in all of baseball and have the best road record, too. The Angels are hoping to keep this offensive and defensive roll going to the postseason of 2008.