Telepeer

Angels blow six-run lead in loss to Royals

June 18, 2023

Kansas City Royals’ Samad Taylor, center, celebrates with teammates after hitting a single to drive in the winning run during the ninth inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels Saturday, June 17, 2023, in Kansas City, Mo. The Royals won 10-9. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Nicky Lopez of the Kansas City Royals tags out Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Angels during the fifth inning at Kauffman Stadium on June 17, 2023 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Kyle Rivas/Getty Images)

Los Angeles Angels’ Shohei Ohtani, from Japan, celebrates in the dugout after hitting a solo home run during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Kansas City Royals Saturday, June 17, 2023, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

MJ Melendez of the Kansas City Royals celebrates with teammates after hitting a home run against the Los Angeles Angels during the fourth inning at Kauffman Stadium on June 17, 2023 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Kyle Rivas/Getty Images)

MJ Melendez of the Kansas City Royals celebrates with Edward Olivares after hitting a home run against the Los Angeles Angels during the fourth inning at Kauffman Stadium on June 17, 2023 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Kyle Rivas/Getty Images)

Kansas City Royals’ MJ Melendez (1) celebrates as he crosses the plate after hitting a two-run home run during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels Saturday, June 17, 2023, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Mike Mayers looks at a ball before pitching in the first inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels Saturday, June 17, 2023, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Los Angeles Angels starting pitcher Griffin Canning throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the Kansas City Royals Saturday, June 17, 2023, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Kansas City Royals’ Samad Taylor celebrates after hitting a single to drive in the winning run during the ninth inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels Saturday, June 17, 2023, in Kansas City, Mo. The Royals won 10-9. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Los Angeles Angels’ Shohei Ohtani, from Japan, watches his solo home run during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Kansas City Royals Saturday, June 17, 2023, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Expand

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Angels’ bullpen had arguably been the single biggest reason for the team’s resurgence this month.

It may have been too much of a good thing.

A corps of heavily-worked Angels relievers blew a six-run lead in the seventh and a one-run lead in the ninth in a gut-wrenching 10-9 loss to the Kansas City Royals on Saturday afternoon.

The meltdown spoiled a day that included Shohei Ohtani’s major league-leading 23rd homer, two Brandon Drury homers and an encouraging game from slumping Mike Trout.

All signs seemed to be pointing to yet another victory for a team that won 10 of its previous 12, largely on the strength of a bullpen that had a major-league best 1.43 ERA in that span.

“They’ve been unreal,” Manager Phil Nevin said. “There’s a reason why we put ourselves in the position we’re in as far as the way the last two, three weeks have gone. I’ve asked a lot out of them. They’ve been used a lot. You’ve got throw strikes late in the game. They didn’t do that today.”

Rookies Kolton Ingram and José Soriano combined for four walks and a hit batter, setting the stage for Chris Devenski to be on the mound when the lead disappeared in the eighth and the victory disappeared in the ninth.

Devenski had a two-run lead when he entered in the eighth and then the Angels gave him another one-run lead when he came back for the ninth.

Closer Carlos Estévez was not available because Nevin said he decided after his rough outing on Thursday that he needed two straight days off.

“He’s just been used a ton,” Nevin said. “For us to get where we want to be, I need Carlos Estévez and I need him healthy.”

Devenski did not pitch on Friday, but he had worked three of the previous five days.

“I don’t believe in fatigue,” Devenski said. “I just didn’t get the job done. I let my team down so I gotta bounce back and go back out there tomorrow and work hard.”

In the ninth, Devenski gave up a leadoff bloop single to Edward Olivares. Pinch-runner Dairon Blanco then stole second and took third when catcher Chad Wallach’s throw went into center field.

Blanco scored on a single by Maikel Garcia. He then stole second and went to third on a bunt, and Samad Taylor knocked in the winning run with a fly ball that dropped on the warning track, ending the Royals’ 10-game losing streak at the Angels’ expense.

“I just didn’t get the job done,” Devenski said. “It’s gonna eat at me a little bit, but I’ll go back out there and prove what I got.”

The nightmare began for the bullpen when Ingram entered for his major league debut with a seemingly comfortable 8-2 lead in the seventh.

Ingram retired the first hitter he faced, but then he didn’t retire any of the next four, including two walks. Right-hander Jacob Webb relieved him with the bases loaded and he gave up a double to Bobby Witt Jr. Ingram was charged with three runs.

The Angels still had a three-run lead when Soriano entered in the eighth. Soriano had not allowed a run in any of his first six big league games. Soriano got the first out, but then he walked two straight hitters, hit a batter and gave up a single off the right-field fence.

Devenski, who has been the Angels’ best reliever with runners on base, then gave up a two-run single to Witt, tying the game.

Right fielder Mickey Moniak bailed out Devenski with a diving catch, preserving the tie after eight innings.

That set the stage for Trout to have his biggest moment in weeks.

The Angels’ superstar has been mired in the worst slump of his career, a six-week slide in which he had hit .199 with a .669 OPS. He felt a few recent games this week were encouraging, and on Saturday afternoon he hit two balls at 111 mph or harder, one of them for a double play.

When he came up in the ninth inning, he had a chance to save the Angels after their meltdown.

Andrew Velazquez led off the inning by drawing a walk against Aroldis Chapman, and then he stole second and third. Chapman pitched around Ohtani to bring up Trout, whose slump has been marked by his difficulty hitting high velocity.

Chapman’s first two pitches were 100.3 mph and 101.3 mph. Trout took one for a ball and swung through one. The third was 99.6 mph and Trout yanked it past the drawn-in infield for an RBI single.

“I felt good,” Trout said. “It’s been a slow process, a little slower than I want it to be, but it’s coming along. I feel a lot better up there the last couple days. It’s a step in the right direction.”

Los Angeles Angels |

Angels’ Jared Walsh still searching for swing after late start to his season

Los Angeles Angels |

Patrick Sandoval ends personal losing streak, keeps Angels winning

Los Angeles Angels |

Angels lose Gio Urshela with fractured pelvis

Los Angeles Angels |

Shohei Ohtani pitches, slugs Angels to series victory in Texas

Los Angeles Angels |

Angels place shortstop Zach Neto on injured list with a strained oblique

Orange County Register

News Details

Angels blow six-run lead in loss to Royals

Related Articles

News

CONTACT INFO

QUICK LINKS

SERVICES

CURRENT NEWS