Angels close in on AL West champion Rangers

Just recently, in a game between the Los Angeles Angels and the Texas Rangers, the Angels inched ahead in the standings by defeating their opponents on the field. They are now just three and a half games away from the Rangers' lead in the American League West.

Usually, the Angels are the underdog team. Just like something straight out of a college wonder-team of students at a university who defeat their rivals, the Angels have done considerable damage to the Yankees, who have usually just bowled over anyone they play.

Whether they were the California Angels, or the Anaheim Angels, the team cannot escape their underdog spirit (in Orange County or Los Angeles County!). The Rangers have been great as of late, taking up division leads like it was nothing.

Now, the Angels have finally secured a truly underdog position, rising to the top after streaks of wins to attempt a grab at the Rangers' coveted lead position. What will develop as the two teams race to the top? Will either of them still be at the top when the season ends?

As the season passes on, we shall all see.

Yankees end Angels' big streak

Anyone who has been following the Angels (as myself and my eager college student son have been) will know that the team has pulled off an eight win streak that included the two most recent games with the Yankees in the series. Angels were poised to continue the streak to nine and sweep the series with one of baseball's biggest teams, but it turns out they just didn't have it in them.

Early in the final game of the series, the Yankees took points that the Angels couldn't match, try as they might. That isn't to say they didn't try, though, as the game was a close 6-5 for the Yankees, edging by with just one more point as the game came to a close.

"Both teams have a day off Thursday. Los Angeles will host AL West rival Texas in a three-game weekend series, while New York wraps up its nine-game trip with a weekend set in Detroit." -Yahoo! MLB News

Angels' Pujols and Haren smash the Mariners together

Just tonight (Thursday, May 24, 2012), the Mariners were delivered a crushing defeat at the hands of the Angels. If you have been following their games, then I am sure you know why: Albert Pujols excellent hitting, and Dan Haren's incredible pitching.

Pujols almost stole the limelight from Haren tonight as he pulled three hits, one of which was his 450th career home run. Of course, Haren kept most of his thunder from being stolen by striking out a career-high 14 batters during the game. Watch out!

"He makes good hitters look pretty bad including myself, he has in the past," says teammate Pujols. "He is pretty amazing when he keeps the ball down."

During the game, Haren happened to also seal his 1,500th career strikeout, making the night quite eventful for both of the Angels players. Naturally, they only had good things to say about each other, but on their somewhat less-eventful wins-loss ratio, Haren remarks, "I'm happy obviously to win a game. I forgot what it felt like."

Hopefully, he won't have to forget again.