The Los Angeles Angels got yet another good outing out of their ace in Dylan Bundy. He allowed just two Seattle Mariners runs in six innings of work, but was unable to get run support behind him. After a 10-run game on Saturday, the Angels could not repeat the same production. They lost 2-0, dropping the series and falling to 13-13 on the year to finish the road trip.
The first inning quickly saw a scary moment when Shohei Ohtani was hit by a pitch in the elbow, similar to Mike Trout at the beginning of the road trip. He stayed in the game, and stole second and third base, but was stranded there to end the inning.
Runners left on base was an early story for the Angels. They had runners in the corners in all of the first three innings, but were unable to get a single run to cross home plate. Luckily, Bundy had allowed just one base runner through three, keeping the game scoreless.
Bundy had done a great job keeping runners off base until the fourth inning. He allowed two base runners with one out, then a two-out single by Dylan Moore gave the Mariners a 1-0 lead. Bundy was able to avoid any further damage by forcing a groundout to end the inning, but the Mariners already held a lead over the Angels.
In the fifth inning, Luis Torrens hit a ground-rule double to start things off. A sacrifice bunt and sacrifice fly got him home as the Mariners extended their lead to 2-0. Bundy was still able to get three straight outs, but run support was starting to become an absolute must.
The Angels had another chance in the sixth to make something happen with a one out single from Jared Walsh. However, Justin Upton popped out to the shortstop and Albert Pujols struck out to end the inning. They still trailed 2-0 in the bottom of the sixth.
Jose Iglesias was the first batter up against the Mariners bullpen in the seventh, and hit a leadoff single, giving the Angels another chance to get some runs on the board. However, Max Stassi grounded into a double play shortly after to clear the bases.
David Fletcher hit a two out double to bring Ohtani to the plate representing the game-tying run. Ohtani grounded out to the second baseman to end the inning and keep the Mariners lead at 2-0.
Aaron Slegers was the first pitcher out of the bullpen for the Angels, replacing Bundy after yet another solid outing defined by a lack of run support. Slegers forced three groundouts while allowing a hit and a walk, but no runs scored.
Once again, in the eighth, the Angels got a runner on base via an Anthony Rendon single. However, Walsh — for the second time in the game — grounded into a double play to end the inning.
In the ninth — with the Angels having just one last chance to score — Justin Upton flied out for the first retired batter of the frame. A Pujols strikeout and Iglesias groundout ended the game, as they fell 2-0 for a series loss to end the road trip.
Looking ahead
The Angels return to Anaheim for a difficult home stand that begins on Monday against the Tampa Bay Rays. Ohtani is the projected starting pitcher, and could potentially face Tyler Glasnow in a marquee matchup. This is the opener of a six-game stretch against 2020’s World Series teams, with three against the Rays and three against the L.A. Dodgers.