The Los Angels Angels had their chance against the Padres last night, but they could only come up with one run.
The Los Angeles Angels had a chance to win the first series of their second homestead against the San Diego Padres last night, but another bullpen meltdown led to a 4-1 loss and ruined a fine start by Yusei Kikuchi as he managed to get back on track.
Kikuchi and Padres starter German Marquez turned this one into a pitchers duel early as they matched zeroes for six innings. The closest the Angels came to breaking the shutout was a long fly ball by Yoan Moncada in the second inning that was snatched back into the park by Padres center fielder Jackson Merrill, who’s now matched the total of Angels outfielder Jo Adell with three home-run robberies.
Kikuchi left after six, with the bullpen blowup beginning in the eighth and ninth innings. The culprits were relievers Ryan Zeferjahn and Nick Sandlin, both of whom have struggled mightily in the early going. Both relievers gave up a pair of runs, two in the eighth and two in the ninth, with Fernando Tatis Jr. leading the way with a pair of RBI singles and Ramon Laureno driving in two of his own.
The Angels managed to score their lone run on an RBI single from Nolan Schanuel in the eighth, but they got shut down by the Padres’ devastating bullpen lineup of Adrian Morejon, Jason Adam and Mason Miller. The Halos did manage a hit and a walk against Miller, but his scoreless streak stayed intact at 31-2/3 frames.
As tough as the Angels have been when they’re pounding out homers and Soriano is on the mound, it’s become very apparent that the bullpen is this team’s big weakness so far. Relievers Chase Silseth and Sam Bachman have been reliable, but the rest of the ‘pen is a daily adventure, especially with new closer Jordan Romano melting down twice against the New York Yankees last week.
Kirby Yates and Ben Joyce are getting closer to taking the mound for the Angels, but the question at this point is whether they’ll arrive in time. The Angels are currently treading water at the .500 mark, and the early struggles of the Seattle Mariners and Houston Astros means there’s an opportunity at hand. The Halos are now at 11-11, but they’re just a half-game out of first in this early-season scrum.
The rubber game of the series will pit Michael King of the Padres against the Angels’ Reid Detmers, which could be another fine pitching duel if both hurlers are on their game.