Angels “Fresh Start” Begins With a 7-5 Loss to the Astros

For the first game after the All-Star break, the Angels faced off against the Astros with an updated roster. To the IL goes Rendon, Adell, and Bachman, while Fletcher got sent down. Incoming is Zach Neto and Matt Moore from the IL and the duo of Michael Stefanic and Trey Cabbage making the trip from Salt Lake. Especially of notice is Cabbage preparing to make his Major League Debut once he gets into a game. Hopefully his power will play up in the Bigs.

But sha-la-la-la-la-la live for today when Shohei Ohtani takes the bump hoping to get the Angels off on the right foot against J.P. France. Shohei looked solid from the get-go, but seemed to have a different pitch pattern, likely to avoid throwing pitches that will reaggravate his fingernail problems. The Angels got on the board first in the 2nd inning when Stefanic singled home Mike Moustakas, who had reached on a single of his own to lead off the inning. The next batter, Neto, touched a little nubber down the first base line to drive in Renfroe from third. 2-0 Angels after 2.

Fast forward to the 4th inning where Shohei must have started to have issues with his finger again. Kyle Tucker was immediately hit on his back foot by the first pitch, Jose Abreu walked after he started to walk back to the dugout two pitches prior thinking he struck out looking, and Chas McCormick had a walk of his own. The next batter Bligh Madris grounded out to third where Rengifo was waiting to throw home for a force out, but Wallach’s throw to first was too late for a double play. Corey Julks followed up with a single to bring the Astros within one. Then Jeremy Pena made a productive out with a grounder to bring the tying run home. Considering the bases loaded with no outs predicament, Ohtani was lucky to limit the damage to 2 runs. Nothing was doing in the bottom of the inning. 2-2 after 4 innings.

Houston was up to no good again in the 5th inning. Back to back 1-out doubles by Bregman and Tucker put the Astros up by 1. But they weren’t done there. Abreu chopped the ball toward third base, which would typically be an easy out, but Rengifo inexcusably didn’t glove the ball, allowing it to roll into the outfield. What’s worse, Luis looked like he was just lollygagging to retrieve the ball while Tucker ran home all the way from second base. Maybe the run would’ve scored regardless, but it wasn’t a good look, IMO. Judge for yourself. 4-2 Astros.

This time, the Halos had a response in the bottom of the 5th. After Ohtani and Ward singled with 1 out, Mickey Moniak brought the Angels one run closer with an RBI single, making him 3 for 3 at that point.

The very next batter was Eduardo Escobar, who had a clutch single of his own to tie the game at 4.

If you thought this meant the momentum would shift back to our side, though, you haven’t seen the second half version of the 2023 Angels of Buttercupland. The first batter was Corey Julks who walked, thanks in part to Shohei appearing to have a problem with his finger again. Jacob Webb replaced him and did not have his pitches working. Another walk led to some successful small ball sac bunting by Maldonado to put two runners in scoring position with 1 out, perfectly paving the way for Mauricio Dubon to single in both runners. But the ‘Stros weren’t done there. Abreu had an RBI single of his own before the inning was over, resulting in a 7-4 Astros lead after 6 and a half innings.

In the bottom of the 6th, Hunter Renfroe greeted new reliever Seth Martinez with a double over Tucker’s head in right. Pinch-hitter Matt Thaiss walked and things were looking interesting. But once again, this is the Angels. Stefanic tried a sac bunt of his own, but he softly fouled it back to Maldonado. To make matters MUCH worse, Renfroe started leaning toward third base for some reason and got forced out when Maldy threw to second base to nab him for a very unconventional double play. Zach Neto then struck out swinging to end the inning. Killjoy…

Jaime Barria was the new Halo pitcher in the 7th inning and he looked really good in putting the Astros down in order. Houston then countered in the bottom of the inning with Hector Neris, who struck out Ohtani, but then surrendered a long homer to Taylor Ward, bringing them within 2 again.

Unfortunately, he was the only one who could do anything, as Moniak and Escobar both posted strikeouts.

Barria stayed in the game and had another 1-2-3 inning in the 8th. As the game slowly began to reach the finish line, Renfroe had a 1-out single and Thaiss walked, setting the table for Trey Cabbage’s first ML at-bat. He was first pitch swinging and almost squeaked a grounder down the middle, but Dubon had a play on it getting the fielder’s choice at second. Velazquez pinch ran for Cabbage and immediately stole second, but Zach Neto flew out to end the inning with no runs scoring.

Aaron Loup came in to pitch the top of the ninth and the results were quite loopy. After 2 singles, Jose Soriano replaced Loup inheriting runners on the corners. David Hensley struck out on a nice curveball, then Corey Julks walked to load the bases with 2 outs bringing up playoff hero Jeremy Pena, who only managed a soft grounder up the middle allowing Squid to step on second for the inning ending out.

Then the amazing Angels…or not…went down swinging in the closing frame. Same old, same old…7-5 Astros final.