2008 Los Angeles Angels season

@ – LAA won the series 3–1. The Angels won their first series of the season, mainly with excellent pitching. This was despite injuries to starters John Lackey and Kelvim Escobar and relievers Scot Shields and Chris Bootcheck. The series also marked an emotional return to Minnesota for Torii Hunter, who had moved from Minnesota to Anaheim during the off-season. In the first game, Liván Hernández out-pitched Jered Weaver to guide Minnesota to the win. In games 2 and 3, the Anaheim starting pitchers went 8 innings each. Jon Garland gave up only one run in his debut for the Angels, while Joe Saunders gave up no runs off just four hits in the longest outing of his career to date. Anaheim hit three home runs in the final game, which proved just enough to power them to a 5–4 win.

Minnesota Twins

vs – TEX won the series 2–1. Texas took two out of three against Anaheim, twice putting up double-digit scores. Friday night saw Texas take an 11–0 lead going into the bottom of the ninth inning, highlighted by Ben Broussard's grand slam and Josh Hamilton finishing the night a home run short of the cycle. In the bottom of the ninth, the Angels rallied for six runs. Torii Hunter, making his debut at Angel Stadium in an Angels uniform had two hits in the bottom of ninth, and the rally was ended when Garret Anderson hit a ball that was caught a few feet shy of the wall. Game 2 saw Jered Weaver beat Kevin Millwood (who lost in a complete game effort, Texas's first for 195 games.) in a pitching duel 2–1, pitching seven scoreless innings. Jon Garland struggled in his Game 3 start, giving up seven runs in five innings. Gerald Laird had a career night for the Rangers, going 4–5 with two home runs and six RBIs. Ben Broussard also went deep. Torii Hunter hit a home run for the Angels, as did Garret Anderson, his first of the season.

Texas Rangers

vs – LAA won the series 2–1. In a series with both sides boasting much speed, home runs decided all three games of the series. Game 1 saw Torii Hunter hit a dramatic walk-off Grand Slam off closer Joe Borowski, after Francisco Rodríguez blew the save in the top of the ninth. Joe Saunders went eight innings for the second time in two starts, while Fausto Carmona pitched six strong innings. Game 2 saw another blown save for the Angels. Justin Speier was called on to close, as Rodríguez was ruled out due to an ankle injury. Travis Hafner hit a two-run homer to give the winning runs to the Indians. Jake Westbrook pitched a complete game to record the win. Vladimir Guerrero hit his first home run of the season during the game. This defeat ended a 163-game winning streak for the Angels where they had been ahead after eight innings. Anaheim comfortably won game 3, courtesy of a Mike Napoli grand slam, and other home runs from Vladimir Guerrero, Garret Anderson and Casey Kotchman.

Cleveland Indians

@ – SEA won the series 2–1. Raúl Ibañez stole the show in Game 1, hitting two home runs and a double, driving in three runs, chasing Jered Weaver to his second loss of the season. Game 2 saw Jon Garland struggle, conceding six runs and twelve hits in five innings. Ibanez was again on form, hitting a home run and getting three RBIs. Carlos Silva pitched eight solid innings to get the win. The final game saw the Angels offence come alive with a 16-hit attack. Howie Kendrick, Casey Kotchman and Jeff Mathis each got three hits. Cha Seung Baek was Seattle's starter, after Eric Bedard was ruled out with an inflamed left hip. Joe Saunders pitched into the sixth inning to continue his excellent start to the season.

Seattle Mariners

@ – LAA won the series 2–0. In the first game, Ervin Santana recovered from a three-run first inning to shut down the rangers for the next six innings to improve his record to 2–0. Jason Jennings couldn't hold the lead and went to 0–3. Game 2 saw Gary Matthews, Jr. come back to his old ball-club and hit a game winning three RBI double to seal a sweep for the Angels. Despite Michael Young's 3–5 effort, the Angels bullpen was very solid, pitching five scoreless innings. In particular, Darren Oliver pitched 2+2⁄3 innings to pick up his first win of the season.

Texas Rangers

vs – Series squared 1–1. Gil Meche and the Royals bullpen outduelled Jered Weaver to take the first game; Weaver's error to field a simple catch at first base cost a run that ended up deciding the result between the two teams. Jon Garland pitched solidly to win Game 2 for the Angels.

Kansas City Royals

vs – LAA won the series 2–1. Game 1 saw Torii Hunter take all the plaudits in his effort to give the Angels the win. He went 3–4 with three doubles and three RBIs. He also made a leaping catch at the wall to deny Richie Sexson a go-ahead home run and allow Francisco Rodríguez to gain his seventh save. Ervin Santana pitched eight dominant innings in Game 2, including eight strikeouts to ensure the Angels won the series. Dustin Moseley once again struggled in Game 3, failing to pitch five innings. Miguel Batista shutout the Angels with 7+2⁄3 innings. The Angels rallied with two runs in the ninth, but this wasn't enough to come back against the Mariners.

Seattle Mariners

@ – LAA won the series 2–1. This series was the first time the two teams met since the 2007 American League Division Series. The Angels bullpen failed to keep the Red Sox at bay in Game 1, as Jacoby Ellsbury hit two home runs and scored the go-ahead run in the eight to give the Red Sox the victory. Gary Matthews, Jr. hit two home runs in Game 2 behind Jon Garland's solid effort to tie the series at 1–1. Game 3 saw Joe Saunders continue his excellent start to the season, moving to 4–0. When Boston's bullpen entered the game, the Angels exploded with a four-run seventh inning to see off the Red Sox. Scot Shields attempted a two-inning save, but after giving up two runs to a David Ortiz home run in the ninth, Francisco Rodríguez was called on to get the final out to acquire his ninth save.

Boston Red Sox

@ – LAA won the series 2–1. The Angels' next visit was at the resurging Detroit Tigers, who were recovering from a 0–6 start. In Game 1, Nate Robertson pitched solidly for the Tigers, apart from a four-run fourth inning, highlighted by Vladimir Guerrero's two-run home run. The Angels bullpen once again proved very solid, backing up Ervin Santana's 6+1⁄3 inning effort to secure the win. Vladimir Guerrero hit his 2000th major league hit to break up a no-hitter from Armando Galarraga in Game 2, but it wasn't enough to stop the Tigers from winning. Game 3 featured on ESPN's Sunday Night Baseball, and saw a solid pitching performance from Jered Weaver to guide the Angels to the series victory. Torii Hunter and Casey Kotchman did the damage against Justin Verlander, each driving in three runs.

Detroit Tigers

vs – Series squared 2–2. In this AL West series, Oakland started strongly, roughing up Jon Garland and Chris Bootcheck for 14 runs over 6+2⁄3 innings in a 16-hit attack. Games 2 and 3 saw young starters Joe Saunders and Ervin Santana combine for 14+2⁄3 just giving up one run, moving both pitchers to 5–0 on the season. Game 4 saw the Oakland offence light up for 15 runs off 20 hits against debutant Nick Adenhart. For the Angels, Erick Aybar hit his first home run of the season, while Mike Napoli belted his second homer of the series, his seventh of the season.

Oakland Athletics

Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim

Angel Stadium of Anaheim

2008 MLB season

2008 Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim season at Baseball Reference

Angels schedule