Fresh Trout
The Angels’ leadoff hitter and rookie phenomenon Mike Trout only went 1-for-4, but his single in the sixth inning loaded the bases with two down. The steller center fielder can run from home plate to first in 3.53 seconds, fast enough to be mentioned in the same breath as Mickey Mantle. He effortlessly advanced to third on Torii Hunter’s line drive to right.
Trout didn’t steal a base but he did tag up from first in the fifth inning on Hunter’s fly ball to Jacoby Ellsbury. I always wonder why more runners don’t do such a thing, but perhaps one needs Hall of Fame-level speed like Trout. His GIDPs don’t cure the blind but the one he hit into in the third inning drove in his team’s first run.
Dustin Pedroia tried to out-Trout Trout in the first inning by reaching first on a passed ball strikeout and then swiping second. Pedroia was one of the players who didn’t go to Johnny Pesky’s funeral, but he could be given a pass because his wife is nine months pregnant.
Only Clay Buchholz, David Ortiz, Jarrod Saltalamacchia, and Vicente Padilla attended. That last name is not a mistake.
I’m not angry at the rest of the players for not paying their respects to this Red Sox legend. I feel sorry for them for not availing themselves of the honor of being in the presence of a true lover of baseball, a mensch, a war hero, for one last time. It is their loss.
| Game 124: August 22, 2012 | ||
 Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim64-60 |
7 | W: Jered Weaver (16-3) H: Kevin Jepsen (10) |
| 2B: Albert Pujols (34), Howie Kendrick (20) 3B: Chris Ianetta (1) HR: Kendrick (7) | ||
| Boston Red Sox 59-65 |
3 | L: Clay Buchholz (11-4) |
| 2B: Ryan Lavarnway (2), Mike Aviles (26), Cody Ross (26) | ||
