The Los Angeles Angels rolled to a 6-5 victory over the Colorado Rockies at Tempe Diablo Stadium on Sunday in spring training action. Zach Humphreys paced the offense, going 2-for-2 with a home run and three RBI, giving the coaching staff plenty to be encouraged about as the exhibition schedule continues. Austin Gordon worked 2.0 innings on the mound, allowing 1 earned run on 3 hits. The Angels finished with 10 hits on the day while holding the Rockies to 9. It was an encouraging performance for the Angels as they continue sharpening the roster for the regular season. Games like these serve as a valuable measuring stick for where the team stands heading into the campaign.
Key Performers
Zach Humphreys was the offensive highlight at the plate, going 2-for-2 with a home run and three RBI. The long ball provided a major boost to the offensive attack. It was the kind of day at the plate that suggests good things ahead for the Angels offense.
Jeimer Candelario also contributed, going 1-for-3 with a home run and two RBI, Jorge Soler chipped in, going 2-for-3 with a double, and Adam Frazier added to the attack, going 1-for-4. It was a balanced attack that kept the pressure on from the first pitch to the last.
On the other side of the diamond, Hunter Goodman led the Rockies offense with a 2-for-4 with a home run and three RBI day. Jake McCarthy also contributed, going 3-for-4. Jordan Beck added a 1-for-2 with a double and an RBI effort as well. Despite those contributions, the Angels pitching staff did enough to limit the damage and secure the victory.
On the Mound
Austin Gordon got the start, having a rough go of it, working 2.0 innings while allowing 1 earned run on 3 hits with one strikeout. He threw 35 pitches in the outing. His outing provided the coaching staff with another data point as rotation and bullpen decisions loom.
The bullpen combined for 6.3 innings of work, allowing 4 earned runs while striking out four. The relief corps did its job in protecting the lead after the starter departed. Managing the bullpen workload is a key priority during the spring, and every outing helps the coaching staff gauge who is ready for high-leverage situations.
Among the relievers, Samy Natera Jr. stood out with 1.0 innings of scoreless work, striking out two. The outing gave the coaching staff confidence in his ability to contribute this season.
How It Happened
Rockies got on the board first with a run in the second inning. Rockies plated three runs in the third. The Angels answered with a run in the third. The Angels tacked on two runs in the fifth. The Angels pushed across two runs in the seventh. Rockies struck back with a run in the eighth. The Angels answered with a run in the ninth. The Angels spread their scoring across four different innings, applying consistent pressure throughout the game. The Angels out-hit Rockies 10-9 on the day, with 2 errors committed between the two clubs. A crowd of 6,181 was on hand to take in the action.
Looking Ahead
It was a productive day for the Angels, who continue to put the pieces in place ahead of the regular season. The coaching staff will take the positives from this outing and use the remaining spring games to finalize the roster. Days like this one suggest the Angels are heading in the right direction as Opening Day draws closer.