The Los Angeles Angels set numerous franchise records in a win over the Colorado Rockies on Saturday — only to lose the three-game series in Denver on Sunday.
The Angels, who have two of the best players in MLB in their lineup, outscored cellar-dwelling Colorado by 20 runs in their three-game set this week. But miraculously, the Rockies won Friday and Sunday to clinch the series win — and deal a big blow to Los Angeles‘ playoff hopes.
How did this happen?
After the Rockies took the series open 7-4 on Friday night, the Angels roared to an historic win on Sunday, pounding Colorado 25-1 — and scoring 23 runs in the first four innings.
The Angels’ 23 runs in only four innings were the most in an MLB game in over 100 years. The Halos also set new team records for runs in a game — as well as hits, with 28, in the third-largest margin of victory in MLB since 1901.
But Colorado rebounded on Sunday, holding on for a 4-3 win that made Saturday’s overpowering display seem like a distant memory for Ohtani, Mike Trout, and their teammates.
Ohtani takes home run lead…but Angels still fighting for playoffs
In an encapsulation of the Angels‘ recent history, Ohtani took over MLB‘s home run leaderboard on Friday and further bolstered his MVP candidacy. But if the season ended today, fans would once again be deprived of seeing Ohtani play in October.
The Angels remain one game out of the final wild card spot in the American League, and failure to make the postseason once again would be a bitter pill to swallow in Los Angeles. Even with Ohtani and Trout — two players on Hall of Fame tracks — the Halos last made MLB playoffs in 2014 and last won a postseason series in 2009.