Anaheim Angels

A hitter hitting for the cycle is about as rare as a pitcher tossing a no-hitter. Some franchises have been around a long time and only have a few cycles. The Braves have fewer cycles in their history than the Angels, but they have one in the nineteenth century, four in the twentieth century and one in the twenty-first century. The Nationals were once he Expos and combined the franchise has had eight cycles while the Padres, founded the same year, 1969, have none. The Angels have had six players hit for the cycle, one man doing it twice. That was Jim Fregosi, in 1964 and 1968. If you were not around for those you had to wait until "Disco" Dan Ford did it in 1979. Dave Winfield did it next in 1991. I recall that one, his final hit was the triple and he walloped the ball over the CF's head somewhere out in Kansas City. The legendary Jeff DaVanon did it at home in 2004 and Chone Figgins hit for the cycle in a loss to the Rangers in 2006. On Tuesday night, Trout struck out looking in his first AB. What started out as his first career three-hit game became a four-hit game with that solo homerun in the bottom of the eighth. His single was an infield hit, a bang-bang play at 1B with Aaron Harang's foot sidling up to the base as Trout flew by. Trout then stole 2B and became only the fifth Angel ever with 5 RBI and a SB in a game! Outside of the franchise marks, Mike became the fifth youngest player to hit for the cycle and the youngest ever in the American League. We all know he is a special player and deserved that MVP and now maybe the glimmer has returned and will propel the team a little higher toward our expectations!

Aaaand it's over. Leaving to face some royalty after this. Loading...

On the list of accomplishments that the multi-talented Mike Trout might someday complete, hitting for the cycle seemed inevitable. With his blend of speed and power, it was a question of if, not when. Well, the we just got the answer to the "when" as Trout just became the third youngest player ever to hit for the cycle as the Angels thrashed the Mariners. So, I guess this means we get to fire up the Trout vs. Cabrera debate all over again, right? I'm kidding, obviously. Seriously, please don't do that. What you can do is realize that this is just another sign of how great Trout is. Sure, the cycle is wildly overrated and really more of a statistical anomaly than a feat indicative of greatness, but it still holds a special place in the hearts of baseball fans because of the variety of skills one must possess to achieve it. We already knew Trout possessed those skills, but I'll be damned if it wasn't fun to watch him put them on display like he did tonight. Here is the homer that completed the cycle for him, for your viewing enjoyment: All I know is that the fans sitting above the right center field wall where his cycle-clinching homer landed have to feel like real buffoons for letting the ball hit them right in the hands only to fall harmlessly to the center field track. That would've been one hell of a souvenir. [follow]

The evening began with birthday boy Josh Hamilton launching a deep 2-run home run into left centerfield. The star of Arte Moreno's 2012 offseason looks like he is finally ready to climb out of his season-long funk. And that could very well have been the story of the night, but the 32-year-old's birthday bash was overshadowed by a kid 11 years his junior: Mike Trout, who made the Mariners pitching staff his personal punching bag. The rising star is looking more and more like the absolute beast he was last season with each passing day, but tonight's game was special. Not only did the Kid match his career-high RBI total (5), he hit for the cycle, becoming the first Halo player to do it since Chone Figgins in 2006. It's hard to believe Mike Trout is only 21 years old. It's even harder to believe that he became the youngest player in American League history to ever hit for the cycle. Let's take a moment, in the midst of this here disappointing season, and really appreciate just how freakishly good Mike Trout is. We are watching a supreme talent, who is only getting better. Scary. Angels 12, Mariners 0 ------ Game Notes -- Jerome Williams is making an emphatic case for a permanent stay in the starting rotation. The right-hander dominated the hapless Mariners over eight shut out innings, featuring a nasty 2-seam fastball/sinker to induce tons of ground ball outs. Once Jered Weaver returns, Mike Scioscia and Jerry Dipoto may have to swallow their pride and send Joe Blanton to the bullpen. We'll see how that goes. -- Any time Josh Hamilton is hitting balls hard the opposite way, you know he's going good. The home run he launched to left-center was crushed. Could we be seeing the beginnings of a hot streak? ----- Halo Hero of the Game Who's got two thumbs, was doused in a post-game ice bath by his teammates, and wins at everything? This guy!

ANAHEIM – To hear Mike Scioscia tell it, this game will not go down as the night Mike Trout hit for the cycle. It will be remembered as the first time Trout hit for the cycle. "If I'm a betting man, I have to believe there's another cycle in...

Where: Angel Stadium TV: Fox Sports West Did you know: Twelve of the Angels' 27 losses have been by two runs or fewer. Numbers game: 13 – Extra-base hits among Mark Trumbo's last 19 hits entering Tuesday. He has 17 RBI in that span. THE PITCHERS...

Josh Hamilton hit a two-run homer on his 32nd birthday as part of a three-run first inning but a Mike Trout home run in the bottom of the eighth was the big story as it completed the cycle for the 21-year-old slugger. The Angels crushed the Seattle Mariners easier than your wife stomping an upside down cockroach on the center of the kitchen's linoleum floor. At 21, Trout became the youngest player since 1929 to hit for the cycle. Los Angeles Angels tickets If only the Angels could face Aaron Harang every night. If only men of the obtuse incomprehension of building a baseball tam like Jack Zduriencik were in charge of our other division rivals. If only the three Sasquatch hipsters and four Ichiro stalking cougars who comprised the Mariners fan base until late last season were the only opposing team trash cluttering the seats of our beautiful stadium. If only the club that Dave Cameron at FanGraphs called the sixth best front office in all of baseball a few seasons ago were to share the wealth of its total ineptitude, then and maybe only then the Angels would have a chance in 2013. Oh Seattle, your caffeinated populace is ignoring the slaying that took place to the name of your fine fair city tonight in Anaheim. You all know you are a cursed sports town and flat out ignore the putrid expansion mess of a baseball team you were handed when they win less than 116 games. Your little group has always been and always will until the SafeCo stadium gates open to crickets. Mike Scioscia did not take Jerome Williams out after 74 pitches and the righthander rewarded the decision with eight strong innings of shutout ball. The pink glove slapped the espresso out of Microsoft's hand. A four-run fourth inning featured two doubles, two triples and a Howie Kendrick home run. It was wild. It was pandemonium. It was the dream that every team we face will be the hollow backward punching back that is the Seattle Mariners. And even when they get on the plane after the finish tomorrow's 4:05 PM start in Anaheim, the Angels might just be able to carry a flake of that dream with them for the 117 remaining games of this season. ...and meanwhile, at the MLB FanCave in New York, Angels fan Danny Farris got dizzy hitting the big team slide on three Angels home runs! Los Angeles Angels tickets Poll PANTHER OF THE GAME Mike Trout Jerome Williams 30 votes | Results

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