BALTIMORE — At least in the first two games of their series against the Baltimore Orioles, the Angels could take some solace in the fact that they pitched well in one and hit well in the other, even though they ultimately lost both.
In the finale, they didn’t do anything well.
The Angels lost, 11-2, to the Orioles on a rainy Sunday afternoon, an ugly performance on an ugly day.
Starter Yusei Kikuchi made just enough bad pitches and one critical throwing error, overshadowing his season-high 10 strikeouts.
Two of the five runs charged to Kikuchi were unearned, with third baseman Kevin Newman’s first-inning error leading to one. Kikuchi followed the error by giving up a Ramón Urías homer on a hanging slider.
At the plate, the Angels managed only five hits, including Nolan Schanuel’s first-inning solo homer.
The Angels had a chance to get back in the game when they loaded the bases with one out in the seventh, down by three. Jo Adell and pinch-hitter LaMonte Wade Jr. both struck out
Just after that, the game got away when right-hander Connor Brogdon gave up a grand slam to Gary Sanchez.
The Angels (33-37) had won three consecutive series, including a three-game sweep of the Athletics, to get within one game of .500 before this nightmare series.
The only silver lining from the game was that Kikuchi again showed some encouraging signs.
Kikuchi got 18 whiffs and 13 called strikes among his 92 pitches, which is an above average percentage. He issued only two walks.
The Angels trailed 3-2, and Kikuchi was an out away from a quality start, when everything went downhill in the sixth.
Cedric Mullins dropped a perfect bunt up the third base line. Kikuchi had no play at first, but instead of holding the ball he chucked it into the right field corner. A run scored on that play, and another scored when he gave up a double to Coby Mayo.
Immediately after that inning, the Angels briefly threatened getting back into the game. Taylor Ward singled, Jorge Soler walked and, an out later, Luis Rengifo singled, to load the bases. Adell, who had been one of the Angels’ hottest hitters lately, took a called third strike. Wade then was called out on a two-strike half swing.
The deficit went from three to seven by the time the Angels came back to the plate.
Closer Kenley Jansen, who hadn’t pitched since Tuesday, got some work in the eighth. He gave up a two-run homer to Jordan Westburg.
More to come on this story.
