The Los Angeles Angels squandered an opportunity to take the first game of the series against the Tampa Bay Rays on Friday, after the pitching couldn’t keep pace with some early run support.
A second inning grand slam from Shohei Ohtani provided the Angels with a 5-1 lead, after rookie Nolan Schanuel worked an eight-pitch walk to load the bases with two outs. The Rays would find a way to put up runs in both fourth and fifth innings, notching the score at five a piece.
Heading into the ninth inning, the Rays were threatening with runners on the corners and nobody out. Angels closer Carlos Estévez induced a hard ground ball to shortstop Luis Rengifo, who fired the ball to Brandon Drury at second, starting a double play turn. Schanuel made a quick decision to go home with it, tagging out Yandy Díaz, completing a triple play.
However, the Angels would falter in extra innings, allowing three runs in the top half of the 10th frame. They’d go on to lose 9-6, a frustrating defeat which was their 63rd of the season, per Jeff Fletcher of the O.C. Register:
“We certainly had our opportunities there,” Nevin said. “They certainly did as well early in the game. We just didn’t push a run across. I thought the at-bats were really good during the game. A couple got away there in the ninth inning. That’s what happens when games get like this.”
Another close game loss for the Angels and another in which their offense went 2-for-13 with runners in scoring position ultimately played the decider. Ohtani launching his 43rd homer in grand fashion wasn’t enough, and the Angels weren’t able to have struggling lefty Tyler Anderson provide quality depth.
His season ERA is up to 5.50, and in his last 33.1 innings, he’s carried a 6.21 ERA with a 1.56 WHIP.
State of the Angels looking ahead
As far as the schedule moving forward, following the Rays series, they matchup with the Cincinnati Reds, who are in the midst of a race for the National League Central as well as a Wild Card.
Following a three-game set with the New York Mets, a Philadelphia Phillies series might be the deciding factor and final blow to the Angels this season.
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