Dana makes Angels history in strong MLB debut

ANAHEIM, Calif. —  Los Angeles Angels pitcher Caden Dana made franchise history in their 3-2 win over the Seattle Mariners on Sunday afternoon, becoming the young pitcher to win their MLB debut since Frank Tanana did in 1973.

The Angels' No. 1 prospect had a six-inning performance that featured him striking out four batters and giving up two runs was just what the Angels needed to finish the season going 8-5 against the Mariners.

"That was special. Honestly, everyone behind me played really well. Even the bullpen pitched really well," Dana said. "It was a good feeling. Getting a win like that." 

After having a 1-2-3 first inning that featured his first career strikeout against Cal Raleigh, the Angels provided Dana with some early insurance as Taylor Ward hit a leadoff home run to start the game. His leadoff home run was the second one he's had in the spot this season. The first came in Friday's 9-5 loss. Ward now has 16 home runs on the season and finished the day going 2-4.

Throughout the game, Dana showed poise and promise and even had moments where he had to step up and get batters out like getting Victor Robles to strike out in the fifth inning after walking both Josh Rojas and Leo Rivas. After walking Raleigh in the sixth inning, he struckout Randy Arozarena on an 86 MPH cutter. In the next at-bat, he got Polanco to pop out to right field to end his day.

"For his first big league start, the amount of information he had on their lineup," Angels catcher Matt Thaiss said, "the homework he did leading up to the start was really really impressive.

Dana's only runs given up came in the second and third innings after Luke Riley gave the rookie a welcome-to-the-show moment with a solo home run to right field, to tie the game 1-1. In the third inning, the Mariners took the lead from Dana after Victor Robles scored driving in Rojas who reached second base two outs before on a ground rule double.

Dana finished the day giving up two hits while walking four Seattle batters and four strikeouts, including Randy Arozarena in the sixth inning from an 86 MPH cutter.

"That's where he showed his presence right there. He was not gonna allow that to get out of hand and that's what you wanna see out of a pitcher." Angels manager Ron Washington said. "Now we just seen it out of a 20-year-old that pitched in A-ball last year and first time in Double-A. 

"And I think he can pitch in the big leagues and theirs a lot of growth left. That's the amazing thing. He has a lot of growth left. He's not where he's gonna be but he's good enough right now. He proved to himself today that he can pitch in the big leagues."

"He's a baseball player. And he's a competitor. And he knows he capable of doing what his expertise is as pitching. He knows he can pitch. He don't lack confidence."

After Ward hit his 25th double of the season in the fifth, he and Zach Neto who reached from a hit by pitch advanced to third and second and scored on the next at-bat when Anthony Rendon hit his two-run RBI single that slipped past Mariners shortstop Leo Rivas's glove. Rendon's 11th RBI of the season was just enough to give the Angels the final score.

After Dana exited the game, Ryan Miller and Brock Burke came in and held the Mariners scoreless. Miller gave up one hit in the seventh to Rojas but was able to end the inning by striking out Rivas.

Burke gave up one hit to Julio Rodriguez on a single to center field and walked Arozarena two batters later. He ended the inning by getting Polanco to pop out to center field.

After the Angels were unable to add any more runs before the ninth inning, Ben Joyce came in for his fourth save opportunity. Luke Raley hit a leadoff single to right field opening the inning. J.P. Crawford came in to pinch hit but hit into a double play. Joyce then collected his 31st strikeout of the season to end the game, making him 4-4 in save opportunities.