6-4-2 — an Angels/Dodgers double play blog: Angels 12, Chisox 0

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Wednesday, July 07, 2004

Angels 12, Chisox 0

In 1980, I was a junior in high school, and I had just gotten my class ring. A few weeks later, Jerry Reuss threw a no-hitter that almost became a perfect game; only a throwing error by Bill Russell prevented Reuss from getting his perfecto. I remember sitting in my mom's rocking chair, violently rocking back and forth, and nervously tapping my ring on the arm as Reuss retired batter after batter. It was the most amazing pitching I think I've ever seen in one game.

Today's game didn't quite make it to those standards, but it did remind me of just how rare it is that you see complete games anymore, let alone complete game shutouts. Both the Dodgers and the Angels today threw brilliant games (more about the Dodgers in a moment), and from unexpected pitchers; Wash had never thrown a complete game shutout in his career, but he got one today against an inexplicably slumping White Sox team. Strangely, I didn't feel any emotions going into the ninth; I knew he'd either give up a hit or a run, and Mike would pull him, the team would win, and the season would continue tomorrow at seven o'clock Central. But no: Wash pulled it out.

The offense started rolling again, too: Anderson knocked one out of the park, and Guillen popped off two homers against Schoeny, whose early season stymie is now a distant memory. And even though the Sox worked a minor miracle when Benjie hit into a triple play, it didn't avail them anything, as the Angels still pasted them 12-0. Let's hope the lads' bats don't forget how to hit tomorrow.

Recap

// posted by Rob @ 9:38 PM link // 1 comments