The Los Angeles Angels are 15 games under .500, and yet, the team is just 6.5 games back from the final AL wild card spot entering play Thursday.
The Los Angeles Angels couldn’t hold onto an early lead in the rubber match against the Arizona Diamondbacks, losing the series and the game 8-1 on Wednesday.
The Angels jumped out to a 1-0 lead after shortstop Zach Neto hit a leadoff home run, his second homer in as many days, but that would be the only time an Angel touched home plate.
Diamondbacks left-hander Eduardo Rodriguez was great, pitching seven innings and allowing one run on six hits and three walks with five strikeouts to earn his sixth win of the season. He outdueled Angels rookie lefty Sam Aldegheri, who allowed six runs on six hits and three walks while fanning one over three innings of work.
An RBI triple hit by left fielder Tommy Troy and a grand slam hit by right fielder Corbin Carroll in the second inning put Arizona in front 5-1, and Troy added another RBI with a single in the third before designated hitter Ketel Marte hit a two-run double for the final dagger in the fifth.
The Angels have been playing better baseball as of late, and despite dropping this series and falling to 30-45 on the season, the Angels are just 6.5 games back from the final American League wild card spot.
That’s a testament to how bad the AL has been this season, and the Angels can take advantage of that with a run, but it has to start stacking wins. The Halos take on the Athletics next, and that would be a huge momentum boost if the team can take at least two of three.
Los Angeles will send its ace right-hander Jose Soriano to the bump against Athletics rookie lefty Gage Jump, who has pitched well since debuting May 26.
Soriano has been incredible this season, posting an 8-4 record with a 2.79 ERA, 1.23 WHIP and 92 strikeouts to 42 walks through 15 starts (87 innings). He had an unreal start to the season, allowing just one run through his first six starts.
Although he has come back down to earth, he has still pitched well and has been the anchor of this starting rotation. Soriano last worked against the Tampa Bay Rays and threw five scoreless innings, allowing three hits and two walks while punching out five. He did wear a comebacker off his chest in the first inning, and it caused chest tightness, but he pitched four more innings to earn the win.
Jump has made four starts this season and is 2-1 with a 3.09 ERA, 1.11 WHIP and 19 strikeouts to six walks without allowing a home run through 23.1 innings. He last pitched against the Colorado Rockies and allowed three runs on five hits and one walk while fanning six over five innings.
First pitch is at 6:40 p.m. PDT on MLB.TV and regional sports networks.
