Angels over Rangers, 15-13

The game got off to a great start, as passes to Garret Anderson, combined with Mark Teixiera's ground game, put the Angels in the red zone and led to a Torii Hunter field goal for a 3-0 lead. A touchdown later, the Rangers blitz was too much to handle for starting QB Jon Garland. He was sacked repeatedly, and eventually was taken down in the Angel end zone for a safety, followed quickly by a Ranger kickoff return for a touchdown of thier own.

The Angels came back, scoring a safety of their own and a field goal to regain the lead. Late in the contest the exhausted offenses, tired of running up and down the field, were only able to trade extra points (which baseball allows to to score without first getting a TD) and the Angels held on to the game, with Scot Shields taking a knee and letting the clock run down.

It was a wild Texas game, and those aren't good for any pitcher, but Jon Garland especially bad. I hope Scioscia thinks long and hard about making Garland the #4 starter in the playoffs over Jered Weaver. After tonight's game Weaver's ERA is 60 points lower. They are almost equal in walks allowed, and homers allowed, but in fewer innings Weaver leads in strikeouts 144-84. Garland just doesn't miss many bats, which is a recipe for disaster assuming game four would be played against the Red Sox in Fenway park. As a result of allowing so much more contact, Garland has given up 60 more hits than Weaver.

If we play a game 4 against the Red Sox, it will be a huge game - either we are up 2-1, trying to close out the series, and doing so with Josh Beckett looming for game 5, or else we're down 2-1 and trying to avoid elimination. I just don't trust Garland to get the job done, he just has too many games where he gets bashed around some. Weaver, on the other hand, pitched against Boston in game 3 last year and lost, but it was an admirable effort, 2 runs in 5 innings. If he does that, with Vlad, Tex, and Torii in the lineup, the game is ours. Besides, a classic from the top 40 of 2006...

We just called up a top prospect
Climbed aboard the Jered Weaver bandwagon

Take away this season in last place
and get back into first

Ooh Jered Weaver
I believe you can pitch into the 7th
Ooh Jered Weaver
I believe you can strike out the side

Fastball high hit to center field
Into Darin Erstad's Torii Hunter's glove
Lots of flyballs hit tonight
But you haven't allowed a run

Ooh Jered Weaver
I believe you can pitch into the 8th
Ooh Jered Weaver
I believe you can strike out the side

Though the game may be ending soon
You still haven't walked anyone
Keep on pitching like Cy Young
And maybe we'll score a run

Ooh Jered Weaver
I believe you can pitch into the 9th
Ooh Jered Weaver
I believe you can strike out the side

Jered Weaver....