3621 W MacArthur Blvd Suite 107 Santa Ana, CA 92704
Toll Free – (844)-500-1351 Local – (714)-604-1416 Fax – (714)-907-1115

Costly error dooms Angels to 2nd straight loss to Blue Jays

Rent Computer Hardware You Need, When You Need It

ANAHEIM ― Raisel Iglesias did his job.

The Angels’ defense did too – until the ninth inning.

An error in right field by Juan Lagares on a playable line-drive single by Lourdes Gurriel Jr. scored Alejandro Kirk with the winning run in the ninth inning of the Angels’ 4-3 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays on Friday night.

The score was tied at 3 when Kirk led off the ninth inning with a weakly hit infield single against the Angels’ closer, then advanced to second base on a bunt by Bradley Zimmer. Gurriel hit a line drive to right field. At first, Kirk appeared ready to stop at third base. But the slow-footed catcher turned on the jets when the ball bounced off Lagares’ glove, scampering home with the winning run.

The Angels could not score in the bottom of the ninth, sending them to their third straight loss before an announced crowd of 44,641 at Angel Stadium – their second-largest crowd of the season, and the largest at home since Opening Day.

The Jays committed three errors to the Angels’ one, but they made the most of their chances with the bat. Toronto went 5 for 12 with runners in scoring position against Chase Silseth and five relievers. The Angels went 1 for 7.

“If you look down the lineup, it’s not our typical lineup,” Manager Joe Maddon said. “We have to get everybody healthy in order to get our offense back in order. Even though they scored four runs and we pitched really well – some guys really did shine tonight – but overall the mainstays, we’ve just got to get them right.”

Third baseman Anthony Rendon missed the game because of inflammation in his right wrist. He will be placed on the injured list on Saturday. Shohei Ohtani was limited to pinch-hitting duties because of a stiff back. That opened the door for Taylor Ward to return as the Angels’ designated hitter – he can’t play the field because of a neck stinger – but he went 0 for 4 with three strikeouts.

The Angels have lost seven of their last 10 games, falling 2½ games behind the first-place Houston Astros in the American League West.

“Lagares is really good out there,” Maddon said. “When the ball was hit I said, OK, it’s going to be played, (Kirk)’s not going to go, whatever. It didn’t work out that way. They got us.”

Silseth got through 4⅓ innings with no strikeouts and plenty of help from his defense. The Blue Jays hit into a 6-4-3 double play – shortstop Andrew Velazquez to second baseman Luis Rengifo to first baseman Jared Walsh – in each of the first three innings.

There was no chance for a double play in the fourth inning. Silseth retired Toronto’s 3-4-5 hitters (Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Bo Bichette and Teoscar Hernandez) in order. Guerrero, the son of the eponymous Angels star, went 0 for 4 with a strikeout and a double-play groundout.

The two teams traded runs in the second inning. Bichette doubled and scored on a groundout in the top of the inning. Rengifo doubled and scored on a Velazquez single in the bottom of the inning. A solo home run by Walsh, his 10th of the season, put the Angels ahead 2-1 in the third.

Toronto tied the score and chased Silseth in the fifth. Kirk doubled. Raimel Tapia singled. Gurriel doubled, scoring Kirk and putting runners on second and third with none out.

Silseth retired Cavan Biggio on a lineout, then gave the ball to Jimmy Herget. The lithe right-hander got Springer to pop out and struck out Santiago Espinal on a curveball at the belt to end the inning. Thus began a mostly excellent night for the Angels’ bullpen.

Herget retired all six batters he faced, striking out two. With a left-handed hitter, Raimel Tapia, due up in the seventh inning, Maddon turned to left-hander Aaron Loup.

Related Articles

Los Angeles Angels |


Angels outfielder Juan Lagares’ offseason was no day at the beach

Los Angeles Angels |


Shohei Ohtani roughed up in Angels’ loss to Blue Jays

Los Angeles Angels |


Angels’ Taylor Ward discouraged by slow progress of his shoulder

Los Angeles Angels |


Reid Detmers struggles again as Angels lose to Rangers

Los Angeles Angels |


Blue Jays, Angels set to get shifty

The Blue Jays countered with right-handed pinch hitter Danny Jansen. He and Gurriel greeted Loup with back-to-back singles. Another right-handed pinch hitter, Matt Chapman, replaced Biggio and singled in a run to tie the score at 3-3.

In his last three outings combined, Loup has allowed six runs and retired just four batters.

“I really don’t know what exactly is going on to pinpoint it,” Loup said. “I feel fine, other than the last three, four times I’ve been out there, just consistently falling behind hitters.”

In came Ryan Tepera. The right-hander struck out George Springer and retired Espinal on a flyout to end the inning, stranding a pair of runners.

Oliver Ortega struck out the side in the eighth inning, preserving the tie and setting up the fateful ninth.

Generated by Feedzy