Ervin Santana Allows 3 Runs As Bullpen Finally Comes Up Big In Extra Innings.
Saturday evening, in the second game of an important AL series with playoff standing implications involved, The Angels of Anaheim were back again with hopes of stealing a victory against the Chicago White Sox. Prior to this game, the Angels bullpen had lost three consecutive games for their team but finally came up big against the Sox ending their three-game losing streak. 20 year old, Mike Trout, who had one of the best HR saving catches of year; had Déjà vu today as White Sox 2 baseman, Gordon Beckham hit a fly-ball into deep center but Trout robbed the HR with a left outward hand extension in the tracks.
In the top of the 7th, Albert Pujols would come up big hitting a solo HR on Gavin Floyd that would give the Angels a 5-3 lead. This was Pujols six HR in five games putting his total at 24 for the season. In the bottom half of the inning Kevin Youkilis would hit a two-run homer to left on LaTroy Hawkins tying the game at 5-5. This was Youkilis’ second HR of the game and 12 of the year. The game would go into the top of the 10th inning still tied; but with a man on, Howard Kendrick would single into right bringing in a run off Matt Thornton to give the Angels the win. The Angels bullpen featuring Kevin Jepsen and Ernesto Frieri would save the game working two scoreless innings in extras.
The rubber game set for this afternoon will feature newly acquired starting pitcher Francisco Liriano making his U.S. Cellular debut for the Sox in a duel against Angels pitcher, Dan Haren; who’s been having lower-back inflammation problems since early July. In his debut with the Sox last Tuesday, Liriano helped them (six-man rotation) win a game against his former team the Twins allowing only two earned runs and four hits in six innings. This year upon arrival to Chicago, the lefty had been having a nightmare with a 5.18 ERA and having a 3-10 record. Now, with an improved batting lineup to take off pressure from his pitching, Liriano is expected to be a key piece for the AL Central division leading Sox for a post-season run.