OC Register: Angels can’t overcome costly first-inning error in loss to Blue Jays

[AngelsWin.com]

• Angels outfielder Chris Young makes an error when a ball hit by the Blue Jays’ Russell Martin goes off his glove, allowing two runners to score on the play during the first inning of Tuesday’s game in Toronto. (Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images)

• TORONTO, ON – MAY 22: Garrett Richards #43 of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim delivers a pitch in the third inning during MLB game action against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre on May 22, 2018 in Toronto, Canada. (Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images)

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• Toronto Blue Jays’ Russell Martin hits a ball to right field, and reaches on an error by Los Angeles Angels’ Chris Young during the first inning of a baseball game Tuesday, May 22, 2018, in Toronto. Two runs scored on the play. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)

• Toronto Blue Jays’ Justin Smoak (14) and Teoscar Hernandez (37) celebrate after scoring against the Los Angeles Angels during the first inning of a baseball game Tuesday, May 22, 2018, in Toronto. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)

• Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher J.A. Happ throws against the Los Angeles Angels during the first inning of a baseball game Tuesday, May 22, 2018, in Toronto. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)

• Los Angeles Angels starting pitcher Garrett Richards throws to a Toronto Blue Jays batter during the first inning of a baseball game Tuesday, May 22, 2018, in Toronto. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)

• TORONTO, ON – MAY 22: Kendrys Morales #8 of the Toronto Blue Jays slides back safely to second base on a pick-off attempt in the fourth inning during MLB game action as Andrelton Simmons #2 of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim waits for the throw at Rogers Centre on May 22, 2018 in Toronto, Canada. (Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images)

• Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Justin Smoak (14) makes it back to second as Los Angeles Angels second baseman Ian Kinsler (3) misses the tag after Kevin Pillar lined out to third during the first inning of a baseball game Tuesday, May 22, 2018, in Toronto. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)

• TORONTO, ON – MAY 22: Josh Donaldson #20 of the Toronto Blue Jays hits a double in the first inning during MLB game action against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim at Rogers Centre on May 22, 2018 in Toronto, Canada. (Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images)

• The Blue Jays’ Kendrys Morales, right, rounds the bases after hitting a two-run home run off Angels starting pitcher Garrett Richards, center, during the first inning of Tuesday’s game in Toronto. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)

• TORONTO, ON – MAY 22: Kendrys Morales #8 of the Toronto Blue Jays celebrates after hitting a two-run home run in the first inning during MLB game action against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim at Rogers Centre on May 22, 2018 in Toronto, Canada. (Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images)

• Toronto Blue Jays’ Kendrys Morales celebrates after hitting a two-run home run off Los Angeles Angels starting pitcher Garrett Richards during the first inning of a baseball game Tuesday, May 22, 2018, in Toronto. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)

• TORONTO, ON – MAY 22: Shohei Ohtani #17 of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim grounds out in the fourth inning during MLB game action against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre on May 22, 2018 in Toronto, Canada. (Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images)

• Los Angeles Angels’ Shohei Ohtani heads to first base as he grounds into a fielder’s choice during the fourth inning against Toronto Blue Jays in a baseball game Tuesday, May 22, 2018, in Toronto. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)

• Toronto Blue Jays’ Russell Martin (55) is tagged out by Los Angeles Angels shortstop Andrelton Simmons (2) as he is caught in a rundown during the fourth inning of a baseball game Tuesday, May 22, 2018, in Toronto. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)

• TORONTO, ON – MAY 22: Russell Martin #55 of the Toronto Blue Jays is caught in a run-down before being tagged out in the fourth inning during MLB game action as Martin Maldonado #12 of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim throws the ball at Rogers Centre on May 22, 2018 in Toronto, Canada. (Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images)

• TORONTO, ON – MAY 22: Devon Travis #29 of the Toronto Blue Jays turns a double play in the seventh inning during MLB game action as Andrelton Simmons #2 of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim slides into second base at Rogers Centre on May 22, 2018 in Toronto, Canada. (Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images)

• TORONTO, ON – MAY 22: Noe Ramirez #25 of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim delivers a pitch in the sixth inning during MLB game action against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre on May 22, 2018 in Toronto, Canada. (Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images)

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TORONTO — With the Angels’ hitters giving the pitchers little margin for error, they also couldn’t withstand … an error.

Chris Young couldn’t catch a fly ball in the first inning, and it led to four unearned runs in the Angels’ 5-3 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays on Tuesday night.

Young ran into right center and reached out for a line drive off the bat of Russell Martin. The ball nicked off Young’s glove, and two runs scored. Garrett Richards then compounded the error by giving up a two-run homer to Kendrys Morales.

In Richards’ previous start, he gave up a two-run homer after a two-out error by Zack Cozart, and those were the only runs in a 2-0 loss to the Houston Astros.

On April 28, Andrelton Simmons made an error in the first inning, and then Richards gave up two hits later in the inning. The Yankees took a 5-0 first-inning lead, with four of the runs being unearned.

The problem hasn’t been only Richards’ outings. On Saturday, Andrew Heaney gave up a grand slam after a two-out error.

This time, Richards managed to hold the Blue Jays for the next four innings, but the Angels hitters couldn’t do enough to erase the deficit.

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They managed two runs in the fourth, but they could have had more after the first three hitters of the inning reached. They wasted runners by hitting into double plays in the second and seventh. In the eighth, Martín Maldonado led off with a double and scored on two productive outs.

In the last 10 games, the Angels have scored 25 runs.

More to come on this story.

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