OC Register: Angels’ woes continue against Rays with 8-3 loss

[AngelsWin.com]

• The Angels’ Mike Trout hits a solo home run in the eighth inning of Friday’s game against the Tampa Bay Rays, ending his career-worst 21-at-bat hitless streak. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images)

• ANAHEIM, CA – MAY 18: Nick Tropeano #35 of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim pitches in the first inning of the game against the Tampa Bay Rays at Angel Stadium on May 18, 2018 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images)

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• ANAHEIM, CA – MAY 18: Mike Trout #27 of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim leaps but can’t come up with the ball on a two run home run by Wilson Ramos #40 of the Tampa Bay Rays in the third inning of the game at Angel Stadium on May 18, 2018 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images)

• ANAHEIM, CA – MAY 18: Mike Trout #27 of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim leaps but can’t come up with the ball on a two run home run by Wilson Ramos #40 of the Tampa Bay Rays in the third inning of the game at Angel Stadium on May 18, 2018 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images)

• ANAHEIM, CA – MAY 18: Mike Trout #27 of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim leaps but can’t come up with the ball on a two run home run by Wilson Ramos #40 of the Tampa Bay Rays in the third inning of the game at Angel Stadium on May 18, 2018 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images)

• ANAHEIM, CA – MAY 18: Mike Trout #27 of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim leaps but can’t come up with the ball on a two run home run by Wilson Ramos #40 of the Tampa Bay Rays in the third inning of the game at Angel Stadium on May 18, 2018 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images)

• ANAHEIM, CA – MAY 18: Blake Snell #4 of the Tampa Bay Rays pitches in the third inning of the game against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim at Angel Stadium on May 18, 2018 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images)

• ANAHEIM, CA – MAY 18: Shohei Ohtani #17 of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim doubles in the second inning of the game against the Tampa Bay Rays at Angel Stadium on May 18, 2018 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images)

• ANAHEIM, CA – MAY 18: A wild pitch by Blake Snell #4 of the Tampa Bay Rays allows Shohei Ohtani #17 of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim to take third as he beats the throw to Christian Arroyo #21 of the Tampa Bay Rays in the fourth inning of the game at Angel Stadium on May 18, 2018 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images)

• Los Angeles Angels’ Shohei Ohtani, left, of Japan, talks with Tampa Bay Rays second baseman Joey Wendle as he stands on second during the fourth inning of a baseball game Friday, May 18, 2018, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

• Los Angeles Angels’ Shohei Ohtani, left, of Japan, talks with Tampa Bay Rays second baseman Joey Wendle as he stands on second during the fourth inning of a baseball game Friday, May 18, 2018, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

• ANAHEIM, CA – MAY 18: Michael Hermosillo #56 of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim makes a catch in foul territory off a ball hit by C.J. Cron #44 of the Tampa Bay Rays on the first inning of the game at Angel Stadium on May 18, 2018 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images)

• Tampa Bay Rays right fielder Johnny Field makes a catch on a ball hit by Los Angeles Angels’ Chris Young during the second inning of a baseball game Friday, May 18, 2018, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

• Tampa Bay Rays right fielder Johnny Field catches a ball hit by Los Angeles Angels’ Chris Young during the second inning of a baseball game Friday, May 18, 2018, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

• Tampa Bay Rays right fielder Johnny Field looks at his glove after catching a ball hit by Los Angeles Angels’ Chris Young during the second inning of a baseball game Friday, May 18, 2018, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

• Los Angeles Angels right fielder Michael Hermosillo makes a catch on a foul ball hit by Los Angeles Angels’ Rene Rivera during the first inning of a baseball game Friday, May 18, 2018, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

• Los Angeles Angels starting pitcher Nick Tropeano throws to the plate during the first inning of a baseball game against the Tampa Bay Rays, Friday, May 18, 2018, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

• ANAHEIM, CA – MAY 18: Zack Cozart #7 of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim doubles in the fifth inning of the game against the Tampa Bay Rays at Angel Stadium on May 18, 2018 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images)

• ANAHEIM, CA – MAY 18: As Christian Arroyo #21 of the Tampa Bay Rays scores from third as Martin Maldonado #12 of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim is charged with a missed catch error in the seventh inning at Angel Stadium on May 18, 2018 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images)

• ANAHEIM, CA – MAY 18: As Christian Arroyo #21 of the Tampa Bay Rays scores from third as Martin Maldonado #12 of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim is charged with a missed catch error in the seventh inning at Angel Stadium on May 18, 2018 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images)

• ANAHEIM, CA – MAY 18: Starting pitcher Nick Tropeano #35 gets a pat from Martin Maldonado #12 as he is pulled from the game by manager Mike Scioscia #14 of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in the third inning of the game against the Tampa Bay Rays at Angel Stadium on May 18, 2018 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images)

• Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Blake Snell throws to the plate during the first inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels, Friday, May 18, 2018, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

• Los Angeles Angels’ Shohei Ohtani, right, of Japan, hits a double as Tampa Bay Rays catcher Wilson Ramos watches during the second inning of a baseball game Friday, May 18, 2018, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

• Los Angeles Angels’ Shohei Ohtani, of Japan, runs to first as he hits a double during the second inning of a baseball game against the Tampa Bay Rays, Friday, May 18, 2018, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

• Tampa Bay Rays’ Daniel Robertson gestures before scoring after hitting a solo home run during the second inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels, Friday, May 18, 2018, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

• Tampa Bay Rays’ Wilson Ramos, right, is congratulated by Daniel Robertson after hitting a two-run home run during the third inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels, Friday, May 18, 2018, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

• Tampa Bay Rays’ Daniel Robertson is congratulated after hitting a solo home run during the second inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels, Friday, May 18, 2018, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

• Tampa Bay Rays’ Joey Wendle, left, is tagged out at second by Los Angeles Angels second baseman Zack Cozart while trying to stretch a single into a double during the fourth inning of a baseball game Friday, May 18, 2018, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

• Los Angeles Angels’ Mike Trout (27) gives autographs prior to a baseball game against the Tampa Bay Rays, Friday, May 18, 2018, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

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ANAHEIM — Martin Maldonado sat next to a portable plastic basketball hoop with an undersized rim, counting.

Mike Trout kept shooting a small plastic basketball, and he kept missing – one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine. According to the ad hoc rules of clubhouse basketball, Trout had one shot left. He sank it, ending the pregame tomfoolery version of a long national nightmare.

Back on the main stage, the Angels’ lost 8-3 to the Tampa Bay Rays. Trout extended the longest hitless streak of his career to 21 at-bats before hitting a solo home run in his final at-bat of the game.

Trout also leaped in pursuit of a Wilson Ramos home run in the third inning, only to watch the ball glance off the webbing of his glove, off the top of the center-field wall, and into a green thicket for a home run. Another shot taken, another missed.

Between a lineup that mustered only six hits against Blake Snell and two relievers, and a disastrous 2-2/3-inning start by Nick Tropeano, the Angels did not have the threads to piece together a win.

Their fourth straight loss left the Angels with a 25-20 record, 3-1/2 games behind the Houston Astros for first place in the American League West. The Angels were in a virtual tie for first after beating the Astros on Monday. Now they’re in third place, a half-game behind the Seattle Mariners.

Friday’s disjointed effort included brief glimpses of greatness.

During batting practice, Shohei Ohtani hit a baseball against the right-field scoreboard, whose base sits approximately 500 feet from home plate. The Angels had never attempted to calculate the distance from home plate to the facade of the 49-foot tall display because no player had ever hit a baseball against it. An official distance is expected Saturday.

Later, in his first plate appearance, Ohtani doubled against Snell to begin the second inning. But he was stranded at third base when Rays right fielder Johnny Field dove to catch a sinking line drive, ending the inning.

Michael Hermosillo began the third inning by pounding a double to left field in his first major league at-bat. The rookie outfielder drew a round of applause from the announced crowd of 40,067, which he figured included at least a dozen friends or family. But Hermosillo was stranded at second base when Trout watched a two-strike fastball whiz over the inside corner of Manny Gonzalez’s strike zone, ending the inning.

By then Tampa Bay had already forced Mike Scioscia to tap into his bullpen.

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Tropeano allowed a solo home run to Upland High product Daniel Robertson in the second inning of a scoreless game. In the third inning, Tropeano pitched to four batters after recording the second out. Ramos homered, and the next three batters singled. The Angels trailed 4-0 and Noe Ramirez was forced to put out the fire.

Tropeano allowed six hits, walked three batters and was charged with four runs, all earned. His earned-run average swelled from 3.64 to 4.45.

Ramirez didn’t allow a run in the fourth inning, passing the torch to Cam Bedrosian to begin the fifth. Ramos greeted Bedrosian with a home run, his second of the game. A walk and two singles later, Bedrosian was headed for the showers and the Rays led 6-0.

The Angels answered with two runs in the bottom of the fifth inning. Both came on a single by Andrelton Simmons, who batted second for the first time on a day off for Ian Kinsler.

Up 6-2, Tampa Bay used a squeeze bunt to score another run in the seventh inning. Trout’s home run in the eighth inning made it 7-3, but Field knocked in a run against Eduardo Paredes in the ninth inning to provide the final score.

More to come on this story.

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