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The Los Angeles Angels fell victim to their bad bullpen once again, as a seven-run seventh inning by the Tampa Bay Rays wiped out a 2-1 lead and put the Angels on the wrong end of an 8-5 game in their series opener.
The Angels sent starter Walbert Urena to the mound against the Rays, but Tampa Bay jumped out on top on a home run by Yandy Diaz in the first inning to go up 1-0. The Angels countered with a run in the third on a double by Zach Neto, who was then driven in on a single by Vaughn Grissom. They took the lead in the fifth off starter Nick Martinez on a single by Neto that scored Jose Siri after Siri doubled to make it 2-1.
Urena left after six innings, and he posted yet another strong start. Urena gave up five hits and just one run while walking three, and the starter also struck out five. It was yet another impressive step in his progression as a young pitcher.
Unfortunately, reliever Ryan Zeferjahn undid all of Urena’s good work in just three hitters in the seventh. He walked Cedric Mullins, then allowed another home run to Diaz. Jonathan Aranda followed with another homer, and just like that it was 4-2.
The Angels continue to fall apart as Brent Suter came on in relief of Zeferjahn. An error by Grissom opened the floodgates, and a single by Oliver Dunn and a triple from Richie Palacios were the key hits as the Rays broke the game open to make it 8-2.
The Angels cut the margin to 8-5 in the bottom of the eighth on an RBI double by Grissom, followed by RBI groundouts from Jo Adell and Wade Meckler. The Angels loaded the bases in the ninth, but they couldn't get a run home against Tampa Bay closer Bryan Baker.
This game was yet another reminder of how difficult it is to win with a bad bullpen. Urena deserved bettter, but both Zeferjahn and Suter were awful, and that’s become a familiar storyline this season. It’s a reminder of the failures of GM Perry Minasian and owner Arte Moreno as they refused to pay for decent pitchers behind their starter, which makes many of these losses tough to watch.
The Angels came into this one having won five of six games, but now they have to fight uphill to get even in this series. They’ll send Reid Detmers to the hill against Drew Rasmussen for the Rays tomorrow to see if they can get back to their winning ways.
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The Angels sent starter Walbert Urena to the mound against the Rays, but Tampa Bay jumped out on top on a home run by Yandy Diaz in the first inning to go up 1-0. The Angels countered with a run in the third on a double by Zach Neto, who was then driven in on a single by Vaughn Grissom. They took the lead in the fifth off starter Nick Martinez on a single by Neto that scored Jose Siri after Siri doubled to make it 2-1.
Urena left after six innings, and he posted yet another strong start. Urena gave up five hits and just one run while walking three, and the starter also struck out five. It was yet another impressive step in his progression as a young pitcher.
Unfortunately, reliever Ryan Zeferjahn undid all of Urena’s good work in just three hitters in the seventh. He walked Cedric Mullins, then allowed another home run to Diaz. Jonathan Aranda followed with another homer, and just like that it was 4-2.
The Angels continue to fall apart as Brent Suter came on in relief of Zeferjahn. An error by Grissom opened the floodgates, and a single by Oliver Dunn and a triple from Richie Palacios were the key hits as the Rays broke the game open to make it 8-2.
The Angels cut the margin to 8-5 in the bottom of the eighth on an RBI double by Grissom, followed by RBI groundouts from Jo Adell and Wade Meckler. The Angels loaded the bases in the ninth, but they couldn't get a run home against Tampa Bay closer Bryan Baker.
This game was yet another reminder of how difficult it is to win with a bad bullpen. Urena deserved bettter, but both Zeferjahn and Suter were awful, and that’s become a familiar storyline this season. It’s a reminder of the failures of GM Perry Minasian and owner Arte Moreno as they refused to pay for decent pitchers behind their starter, which makes many of these losses tough to watch.
The Angels came into this one having won five of six games, but now they have to fight uphill to get even in this series. They’ll send Reid Detmers to the hill against Drew Rasmussen for the Rays tomorrow to see if they can get back to their winning ways.
Continue reading...
