Angels' Top 10 memorable games of the decade
ANAHEIM -- It was a difficult decade for the Angels, who only made the playoffs once and were swept by the Royals in the 2014 American League Division Series in that appearance.
But there were still plenty of memorable games over the past 10 years, so here’s a look at the Top 10 Angels games since 2010.
1) Angels 13, Mariners 0
Date: July 12, 2019
It was one of the more incredible no-hitters in Major League history, as Taylor Cole and Félix Peña combined for a no-hitter in the first home game since the sudden death of left-hander Tyler Skaggs on July 1. All Angels players wore Skaggs’ No. 45 jersey, and Mike Trout even connected on a 454-foot home run. After the game, Angels players laid down their No. 45 jerseys on the mound in a fitting tribute to their late teammate.
2) Angels 5, Mariners 0
Date: Sept. 17, 2014
The Angels clinched their lone AL West title of the decade with a win over the Mariners at Angel Stadium. C.J. Wilson, Joe Smith and Huston Street combined for a one-hitter while C.J. Cron smacked a three-run homer. After the game, the Angels had to wait for the result of Oakland's game against Texas, but when the A's lost, the Angels were able to celebrate their first division title since 2009.
3) Angels 9, Twins 0
Date: May 2, 2012
Jered Weaver was absolutely dominant, throwing a no-hitter against the Twins with nine strikeouts. He walked just one with Josh Willingham reaching with two outs in the seventh. It took him 121 pitches, but Weaver got Alexi Casilla to fly out to right field to complete the no-no and celebrated with his teammates on the field.
4) Angels 3, Indians 1
Date: July 27, 2011
A year before Weaver’s no-hitter, Ervin Santana threw a no-no against the Indians in Cleveland and made history, becoming the first Angels pitcher to allow a run in a no-hit effort. Santana struck out 10 and walked just one but gave up a run in the second, when Ezequiel Carrera reached on an error, stole second and later scored on a wild pitch. But Santana was efficient from there, needing 105 pitches to complete the first no-hitter at Progressive Field.
5) Angels 12, Mariners 0
Date: May 21, 2013
Given Trout's otherworldly talents, it's almost surprising that he's only hit for the cycle once in his career. But Trout did it against the Mariners at Angel Stadium despite striking out in his first at-bat. He singled in the third, tripled in the fourth, doubled in the sixth and homered in the eighth. Trout, though, finished second in the balloting for AL MVP Award for a second straight year in 2013.
6) Angels 7, Twins 2
Date: June 3, 2017
Albert Pujols reached 600 career homers in grand fashion, crushing a grand slam off Ervin Santana in the fourth inning of a win at Angel Stadium. Pujols became the ninth member of the 600-homer club and the first to hit the mark with a grand slam.
7) Angels 5, Mariners 0
Date: May 4, 2018
Pujols reached yet another milestone, getting career hit No. 3,000 with a broken-bat single off Mariners right-hander Mike Leake in Seattle. He became the 32nd player to reach 3,000 hits and the second from the Dominican Republic, while also becoming the fourth member of the 3,000-hit, 600-homer club along with Hank Aaron, Willie Mays and Alex Rodriguez.
8) Angels 6, A’s 1
Date: April 8, 2018
It wasn’t Shohei Ohtani’s debut -- he gave up three runs over six innings in a win in Oakland on April 1 -- but this start really got the Ohtani hype train rolling in his AL Rookie of the Year Award-winning season. Ohtani had homered in three straight games as a DH on April 3, 4 and 6, and Angels fans were excited to see him pitch at home for the first time. Ohtani didn't disappoint, as he threw seven innings of one-hit ball with 12 strikeouts. He showed that he could excel as a two-way player and that start set the tone for the rest of his impressive season.
9) Angels 11, Yankees 4
Date: May 26, 2018
Trout showcased his skills at Yankee Stadium, as he recorded the first five-hit game and three-double game of his career. Trout also ripped a two-run homer and had four RBIs in the blowout win. Trout still watches video of his swing from that game to help him get out of slumps or if his mechanics feel off.
10) Angels 5, Rays 3
Date: June 13, 2019
Ohtani carried the offense by hitting for the cycle for the first time in his career in a victory at Tropicana Field. Ohtani became the first Japanese-born player to hit for the cycle, hitting a three-run homer in the first, a double in the third, a triple in the fifth and a single in the seventh.