Angels 4, Orioles 3

Some observations from section 29, row G, seat 5 at today's rubber-match between the Angels and Orioles:

A well pitched game on both sides. I enjoyed that.

Jeremy Guthrie throws some serious heat. With a fastball in the mid to high 90s he was perfect his first time through the Angels batting order. He has the potential to be a front-end of the rotation kind of starter as he had 6-innings of 1-2-3 efficiency.

John Lackey also packs some mean heat. And a good slider. And as a veteran he managed to get the win even though Guthrie clearly out pitched him today. The Orioles' pitching staff didn't allow any walks, whereas Lackey issued 3 free passes. But his only real mistake pitch was the one Jay Payton barely muscled over the left field wall for a 2-run home run in the second inning.

When the Angels' offense wasn't being retired in order they were making their hits count. 4 hits, 4 runs scored and no runners stranded. That made all the difference in the world with a 1-run margin.

The game-ending double-play was swift and exciting with the potential tying run cut down at the plate by Vladimir Guerrero. It looked like catcher Mike Napoli may have been injured on the play as he had to be helped off the field.

Angels player of the game: (RP) Francisco Rodriguez - WPA +.383
1.1IP, 2H, 0R, 0ER, 0BB, 0SO, 0HR

Angels lowest contributor of the game: Gary Matthews Jr. - WPA -.104
0/4, 0R, 0HR, 0RBI, oBB, 1SO

Orioles player of the game: Jay Payton - WPA +.296
2/4, 1R, 1HR, 2RBI, 0BB, 1SO

Orioles lowest contributor of the game: (2B) Brian Roberts - WPA -.358
1/2, 1R, 0HR, 0RBI, 0BB, 0SO

John Lackey: 7.1IP, 4H, 3R, 3ER, 5SO, 1HR - W
Scot Shields: 0.1IP, 1H, 0R, 0ER, 0BB, 0SO, 0HR - H
Francisco Rodriguez: 1.1IP, 2H, 0R, 0ER, 0BB, 0SO, 0HR - SV

Jeremy Guthrie: 8.0IP, 4H, 4R, 4ER, 0BB, 7SO, 2HR - L
Chad Bradford: 0.2IP, 0H, 0R, 0ER, 0BB, 0SO, 0HR
Jamie Walker: 0.1IP, 0H, 0R, 0ER, 0BB, 1SO, 0HR