White Sox snap Angels’ Winning Streak

The Angels win/lose vs the White Sox, 6-5. Ohtani gets the loss and the Angels snap their winning streak. Angels pitchers had 11 strikeouts, 4 walks, and allowed 6 runs on 11 hits. The offense had 5 runs on 6 hits and had 5 walks vs 8 strikeouts.

Going 3-5 with RISP meant that the Angels really did decently with their limited opportunities. Especially since the White Sox went 3-13.

Pitching

Shohei Ohtani

Shohei Ohtani stepped back on the mound for the Angels. He gave up- a leadoff double, but stranded him and struck out 2.

The second inning did not go as well. He gave up a home run, and a double off Jo Adell’s glove. The long half inning by the offense may have something to do with it, as Ohtai was wild this inning.

Ohtani did not get any breaks either. A pop up was just out of reach, and a ground ball made it through to score a run. Despite his control issues, however, he did get another strikeout and maybe could get out of the inning, but Maddon pulled him with the bases loaded and 2 outs.

Maddon brought him back in the 3rd because Spring training rules, and that looked like the 2nd rather than the first. A double and a stolen base right away. He did get the next two outs but was pulled yet again.

Jake Reed

Jake Reed took over for Ohtani in the 2nd and put into a tense situation with the bases loaded and 2 outs vs Jose Abreu. He walked in a run. Then he let a single drive in 2 more. He did end the inning, but not before giving up 3 that went to Ohtani’s line.

Jesse Chavez

Ohtani was pulled with 2 outs in the 3rd and Jesse Chavez came in to get the final out. Which he did, as he got the strikeout to end the inning. He came out for another inning, he allowed a walk and a single, and another walk to load the bases. He did get out of it without letting anyone score, though.

Alex Claudio

The Puerto Rican last from the Brewers got a loud flyout and a strikeout on a way to a quick inning. That is until Matt Thaiss threw the ball away. Alex got the last out though and kept it a 5-4 game.

Chris Rodriguez

The Angels’ second best pitching prospect impressed with only one leadoff single and a quick 3 outs to get out of there. A strikeout and two groundball outs.

He was impressive enough to get another inning and quickly ran through the 3 batters he needed to face. 2 innings in only 29 pitches.

Reid Detmers

Angels had their best prospect come out and give the offense a chance to come back. Instead, he gave up an obligatory home run. Reid did calm down and get the next 3 outs but it was up to the offense to save this one.

Offense

1st

In the first inning, the Angels went down in order with 3 strikeouts. One was a dropped 3rd strike, which was not gotten away with, sadly.

2nd

The second inning, however, had actual action. Taylor Ward walked, and Juan Lagares drove him home with a double. Kurt Suzuki then singled him in. A walk by Jo Adell made it 2 on, one out and forced Tony Larussa to pull his pitcher. That worked as the Angels failed to drive them in.

3rd

The third did not go well. Bill Ryan Burr just made the Angels hitters look foolish. A quick inning is not what the team needed.

4th

4th inning was more of the same with an added HBP by Kurt Suzuki. Jordyn Adams took over for Jo Adell and grounded out to end the inning.

5th

Finally, things looked to be going well in the 5th. Rojas walked, and reached 2nd on a wild pitch. Jon jay walked to make it first and second no outs. A hit by Barreto made the bases loaded, no outs. Jared Walsh followed that up with a 3 bag sac fly, 2nd and 3rd with one out. Taylor Ward walked and bases loaded for Luis Rengifo. He hit another sac fly, but Ward got thrown out on the bases.

6th

Juan Lagares teased us with warning track power. The other two did not, and a 1-2-3 inning got the team no closer to winning.

7th

7th inning stretch time, and it felt like it too, with a long game and a full one today. Thaiss got hit in the leg and that was all they could muster.

8th

Angels needed to do something. So of course they did nothing. Despite a one run game, it felt much more than that with how few hits were today. Walks, some, but hits were rare.

9th

It was the top of the 9th, the last chance for the Angels bats. Keinner Pina got a single. After an Adams out, Mayfield got a single, putting 2 on for Brandon Marsh. He came through, driving in a run on a single! 6-5 White Sox with two on and one out.

Mashs got picked off which made it 2 outs. Everything on Thaiss’ shoulders, he struck out, securing the loss.

Defense

Talking about defense is always extreme. It is either really good or really bad. otherwise you do not notice it. Today, it was really bad. Jo Adell dropped a fly ball after going the wrong way at first. Juan Lagares misplayed a ball in LF, although no runs scored. Matt Thaiss threw a ball away when playing third.

Balls that should be caught, late throws to not get guys, and catcher pitcher miscommunication made this game rather sloppy. Ohtani and Kurt allowed a steal of 3rd without a throw and it was not fun to watch.

Jo Adell also may have gotten hurt on his play, as he was pulled. He did not come up well after misplaying the ball, as he hit the wall. Adams took over for him. Adell’s pulling was for precautionary reasons, but it was the Angels who said that.

Recap

Angels pitching was good besides Ohtani, Angels offense was not that impressive, and the defense was suspect. The Angels are now 7-5-1 and play the other Chicago team at 1PM tomorrow. Clocks change, so be sure you change yours.