Angel Stadium set off a fireworks display when Street retired Trevor Plouffe on a grounder back to the mound to end Los Angeles’ 17th win in 20 games.
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“His velocity today was the best I think we’ve seen it in probably the last couple of years”, Scioscia said.
Santana, who spent his first eight seasons with the Angels, conceded only four hits and a hit batter while striking out seven in eight innings.
“It was sterling”, Twins manager Paul Molitor said of Santana’s performance. It seemed like another night where you cringed while thinking about how once again, Matt Shoemaker would not get much run support, and he’d have to be flawless.
Santana (2-0) expressed particular satisfaction in defeating his old team.
“It feels a lot better today”, Trout said before the game.
Minnesota Twins starting pitcher Ervin Santana throws against the Los Angeles Angels during the first inning of a baseball game in Anaheim, Calif., Thursday, July 23, 2015. After designated hitter Miguel Sano walked, Plouffe sent a breaking pitch into Minnesota’s bullpen for his 13th home run of the season, a three-run drive.
“We wanted to get his pitch count up”, outfielder Torii Hunter said of his former Angels teammate.
“Richards is a tough guy to face”, Plouffe said. “When he throws that cutter, it’s really tough to barrel up”. Until Mauer’s double, Richards had retired 26 successive batters in two games.The Angels had a chance to move ahead in the bottom of the first inning.
In Oakland, pinch hitter Ike Davis beat out a game-winning infield single with two outs in the 10th inning that went to replay review.
Los Angeles Angels’ Chris Iannetta follows through on a three-run home run during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Minnesota Twins in Anaheim, Calif., Tuesday, July 21, 2015. “Tomorrow is another day”.
Making just his second career start against his original club, Santana mowed down the streaking Angels across eight dominant innings. Santana, who pitched for the Angels from 2005 to 2012, last faced them in 2013 while playing for the Kansas City Royals, when he took a loss…. Twins LHP Glen Perkins needs one save to pass Eddie Guardado and take over third place on the team’s all-time list. Perkins now has 117 career saves for Minnesota….
Not everything went well, however: Third baseman David Freese is out for at least two weeks after his right index finger was broken by an inside pitch in the fourth from Mike Pelfrey.
While facing Twins starter Kyle Gibson, people like Chris Iannetta(RBI single in the second) and Erick Aybar(sac fly in the third) were getting the timely hits needed for rallies, but in both instances, the innings were abruptly cut short by bonehead base running gaffes.
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Star center fielder Mike Trout, the only player to appear in each of the Angels’ first 92 games, was scratched because of a sore left heel that bothered him from the moment he woke up and started walking on it. The reigning AL MVP, hitting. Trout struck out Thursday in his first two at-bats against Santana.
