Royals vs. Angels, 2014 ALDS Game 2: Start time, TV schedule and how to watch online
Matt Shoemaker is no stranger to rescuing his team. He’ll have to do it again on Friday.
Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
If anyone can help the Angels rebound from a disappointing loss in Game 1 of the ALDS against the Royals, it's Matt Shoemaker.
The 28-year-old rookie played a huge part in saving the Halos' season after their ace, Garrett Richards, went down with a season-ending injury on Aug. 20. Shoemaker allowed only five runs in 40 innings spanning six starts after the injury, striking out 31 batters and walking only six. And all of that came after he began the season as a reliever and, later, spent a month in the minors.
”In spring training I was just trying to make the club in whatever position they needed me, and it slowly developed into the starting role, Shoemaker told reporters before Game 1. “It’s been a great ride, and we definitely want to keep playing for about another month just to top it off.”
Shoemaker will have to overcome a late-season oblique injury, but he claims it won’t be an issue.
“After Sunday’s bullpen [session], everything felt 100 percent,” Shoemaker said. “I didn’t throw a hundred pitches in the bullpen, but the stamina felt great, the body, the legs were there,” he added. “Everything felt where it should be.”
The Royals will counter with Yordano Ventura, who will have to get past some disappointment of his own. The 23-year-old right-hander, also a rookie, was used in an unfamiliar relief role in the AL Wild Card play-in game on Tuesday and didn't respond well, allowing a three-run homer while recording only one out. He insists he's using the outing as a learning experience.
“I learned that things do happen very quickly, and that I got myself into trouble in that situation,” Ventura said on Thursday. “I understood immediately falling behind in the count is not going to be a good thing.”
Like Shoemaker, Ventura had an impressive debut full season in the majors, posting a 3.20 ERA with 159 strikeouts in 183 innings.
Game time: 9:30 p.m. ET
TV: TBS
Radio: ESPN Radio (affiliate locator)
Streaming: Postseason.tv
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