The first game of a three-game interleague series between the San Francisco Giants and the Los Angeles Angels took place on Monday night at Angel Stadium. Both teams attempted to scratch and claw for runs, but on a night where neither team's starting pitching was anything to write home about, the Giants won by a final score of 5-3.
The Angels struck first in the bottom of the first inning, as Mike Trout once again made it all happen more or less by himself. With Matt Cain making his first start since his perfect game, Trout opened the bottom of the first with a single, stole second base, advanced to third on a Torii Hunter fly ball and came in to score on a fly ball from Albert Pujols. Trout would end up going just 1-for-4 with a walk, but would steal three bases in the game.
In the top of the second inning, Halos starter Jerome Williams would walk Pablo Sandoval and Brandon Belt with one out. Both runners came in to score on a triple by Brandon Crawford, giving the Giants a 2-1 lead. Mark Trumbo led off the bottom of the second inning with his 16th home run of the season to tie things up once again.
In the top of the third, Angel Pagan hit an RBI single to put the Giants back on top. Ryan Theriot hit another RBI single in the top of the fourth to make it 4-2 Giants and Williams was lifted for reliever Hisanori Takahashi. Williams would later be taken to the hospital due to experiencing shortness of breath. The episode ended at the hospital but Williams will be kept overnight for observation.
In the bottom of the fourth, Bobby Wilson hit a sacrifice fly, which plated Alberto Callaspo to make it 4-3, but that would be the last time the Halos would be within a run. Theriot hit another RBI single up the middle in the top of the sixth.
While both teams stranded their share of runners, the Angels' pitchers were working from the stretch all evening. The only time the Angels recorded a 1-2-3 inning was in the top of the ninth, long after the damage had already been done.
The Halos will try to even things up on Tuesday evening.
For all news and information regarding the Los Angeles Angels, please visit Halos Heaven. For updates and perspective on the San Francisco Giants, head on over to McCovey Chronicles or check out SB Nation Bay Area.
