And just like that, the bad old Angels were back, for one game, anyway.

The winning stream is dead at eight games, but it didn't have to be. The Angels were actually in prime position to continue their winning ways as the Dodgers were Dodgering all over the place the first few innings of the game as several defensive miscues staked the Halos to a 6-1 lead. Alas, that wouldn't last. It all began with C.J. Wilson and his back-from-the-dead problems with that one big inning.

Not to be outdone, the improved bullpen went and got all shaky again, giving up two runs off the arms of Michael Kohn and Robert Coello. Their ineffectiveness only served to point out once more that Mike Sciocsia's passing infatuations with relievers that have really done nothing to earn his trust.

And then, of course, there were the baserunning blunders and the three back-breaking doubleplays in the final three innings to save the Dodger bullpen from blowing the lead despite their best efforts.

It was classic April Angels baseball, but it was only for one game. Or at least we hope.

Dodgers 8, Angels 7

Game Notes

-- Not that it would've changed my mind about the Angels erring by signing Hamilton instead of Greinke, but it sure would've been nice for the Halos to actually win this game. Knocking Zack around is only a small consolation since so much of the damage came because the Dodgers are a freaking disaster in the field.

-- Does Robert Coello have DADHAT? I can't decide. It isn't like his hat has too much crown, per the typical definition, but it does look weird. It is like he wears it too high up on his head, or maybe he just has an oddly-shaped head. Someone needs to figure this out.

-- I'm not sure how or why, but I blame those hideous digital camoflauge uniforms.

Angel A-Hole of the Game

The "Season of the Whiff" continues for Christopher John as he "whiffed" on the chance to extend the team's winning streak and on the opportunity to prove that his early season struggles were behind him.

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The Angels have tacked on another win to an ever growing streak that looks more and more like an unstoppable force at the wins continue to pile on. I've been saying this team has the potential to go on a 15 win streak and get in the playoff race in a matter of weeks, not months like everyone has been speculating. Everything is clicking with this team, as it should be. The pitching isn't a complete disaster as it was in the past month and the offense is finally putting up the important runs in tight situations. 

This series has shown that this team is capable of putting up early runs while the pitching can keep the lead in the teams hands. Most importantly, this game has shown that the team is capable of putting runs late in the game without letting the opposing pitching put them out of the game. The biggest problem with this team was their inability to mentally keep themselves in the game long enough to put something together.

Now that they've been streaking hard I think it's apparent the Angels mental problems have put far behind them.

Angels 5 Royals 2

Things are rolling right along right now. Today's game was a victory of a thousand papercuts. There wasn't one big event you could point to that caused the win, just a teams playing good baseball right now on all fronts. Anytime you can coax a win out of a career minor league pitcher, you have to count yourself lucky. On top of that, the offense didn't really start rolling till the 6 inning, and was even no hit for the first five. Once again, what should have been a loss comes up roses for the Halos. Maybe this team will be heard from in October after all.

Angels 7 Royals 0

Streaks are strange beasts. Winning or losing is often arbitrary and not always the outcome of the better team playing better. When a team gets on a winning streak, many will attribute it to players feeling more comfortable, or an easier part of the schedule. These factors are surely at play when it comes to the Angels current 6 game winning streak that has seen them now climb to third in the AL west. But as was also the case tonight, luck and good fortune were also large components in keeping the streak alive. Whatever the case may be, winning is a heck of alot better than losing.

Angels 5 Royals 2

At the risk of being a jinx, the Angels appear to have turned the corner. Their recent winning streak and the historic highlight of Mike Trout hitting for the cycle seem to have sparked something in the team. However, the train is only leaving the station. There’s no telling what twists and turns await ahead and if last season’s late runs for Texas and Oakland have taught us anything, it’s that nothing is over until the 162nd game has been played. Thus, the Angels fan mantra at this juncture should be that of cautious optimism. Be excited, but be tempered. There is still a long road ahead.

Wait a minute... Who speaks like that? Ever?

In today’s age of the uncensored internet, intimate scenes on cable television and the millions upon millions of podcasts, why do we resort to cliches? John Keating (later quoted by Robin Williams in “Dead Poet’s Society”) once said “Language was invented for one reason, boys - to woo women - and, in that endeavor, laziness will not do.” We’re clearly not trying to impress the ladies in this instance, but cliches are just that: Lazy. They’re safe. They’re in the comfort zone. Regardless of what’s ahead. The cliches have got to go.

“One game at a time” they say. One game at a time? Well, obviously! How else are you going to do it? Go to a football/baseball stadium conversion and set up two diamonds at the same time? Have Peter Bourjos play right field in one game while having him simultaneously play left in the other? Split an already anemic bullpen in half? If you’re playing frequent doubleheaders, let alone two concurrent games, you’re clearly doing something wrong.

Last night's Angels-Royals game was an eventful one between tape measure home runs, copious pitching changes and a narrowly avoided blown save. Still, the Angels managed to win their fifth game in a row, yet that is not the highlight of the game. That distinction goes to the insane and/or brave Royals fan who sprinted on the field and avoided security long enough that he not only got on camera but actually stole the rosin bag right off the mound and hoisted it like a trophy for all to see:

Not to glorify his juvenile and illegal behavior, but this might be the greatest idiot running field on the moment I've ever seen. I'd be lying if I didn't admit to enjoying it more than I probably should've. But you know who didn't enjoy it, the reliever on the mound at the time, Michael Kohn. In fact, Kohn took to social media to voice his displeasure.

Dear Mr. Fan who ran on the field tonight. Congrats on making it all the way to the mound. But don't ever touch my rosin bag. #gotheem

— Michael Kohn (@MichaelKohn58) May 24, 2013

The moment may have been fun, but Kohn is right. You never, EVER touch another man's rosin bag.

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The May 24th, 2013 edition of daily news for the Los Angeles Angels including Weaver says he's ready to return, Mike Trout hit for the 'super cycle' and much more...

The Story: Jered Weaver will rejoin the rotation next week if his weekend bullpen session goes well.

The Monkey Says: Weaver says he feels good and is ready to go. He also says he was touching 90 MPH by the end of his rehab start, which is very intriguing. If that is really the case, it means I might've been right about my crackpot conspiracy theory that he was secretly nursing an injury to his throwing arm all this time. Or maybe Jered is just misinformed of what the radar gun was saying.

The Story: Mike Trout actually accomplished the "super cycle" on Tuesday night.

The Monkey Says: He is only the 17th player to hit for the cycle and steal a base in process. That still doesn't make the cycle a sign of greatness, but it does make his statistical accomplishment quite a bit more fascinating.