ANAHEIM, Calif. — The Angels tied the game in dramatic fashion Friday night. Shortstop Vaughn Grissom hit a two-run home run in the bottom of the ninth inning, knotting the score at 5-5 against the Houston Astros. The blast came with one runner on base, sending the game into extra innings at Angel Stadium.
This is the kind of hit that changes a season's story. The Angels faced a 5-3 deficit heading into the final frame against their division rivals. A loss would have pushed them further back in the AL West standings, making a potential wild card spot even more distant.
Grissom's performance validates the Angels' investment. The team acquired him this past offseason in a trade that sent two pitching prospects — right-hander Ben Joyce and left-hander Reid Detmers — to the Boston Red Sox. Grissom, still on his rookie contract paying him $740,000 this season, is hitting .278 with seven home runs and 41 RBIs through 92 games.
General Manager Perry Minasian took a calculated risk trading established arms for Grissom's offensive upside. Moments like this ninth-inning heroics prove the trade's worth. Grissom's bat provides the power the team needs in key situations.
The business of baseball demands young, cost-controlled talent to build around. Grissom fits that mold. His contract runs through 2028, with arbitration years ahead. If he continues to deliver in clutch spots and develop into a consistent offensive threat, his current deal will be a steal for the franchise for years to come.
