OC Register: Garrett Richards throws one-hitter, but Angels lose 3-2 to Rangers in extra innings

[AngelsWin.com]

• Los Angeles Angels’ Ian Kinsler, left, celebrates with Mike Trout after a solo home run during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Texas Rangers in Anaheim, Calif., Saturday, June 2, 2018. (AP Photo/Kelvin Kuo)

• Los Angeles Angels’ Mike Trout, left, slides safely to steal second base ahead of the tag by Texas Rangers shortstop Jurickson Profar during the sixth inning of a baseball game in Anaheim, Calif., Saturday, June 2, 2018. The play was reviewed and overturned after Trout was initially called out. (AP Photo/Kelvin Kuo)

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• Los Angeles Angels’ Mike Trout, right, slides safely to steal second base ahead of the tag by Texas Rangers shortstop Jurickson Profar during the sixth inning of a baseball game in Anaheim, Calif., Saturday, June 2, 2018. The play was reviewed and overturned after Trout was initially called out. (AP Photo/Kelvin Kuo)

• Los Angeles Angels’ Ian Kinsler rounds the bases after hitting a solo home run during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Texas Rangers in Anaheim, Calif., Saturday, June 2, 2018. (AP Photo/Kelvin Kuo)

• during the third inning of a baseball game in Anaheim, Calif., Saturday, June 2, 2018. (AP Photo/Kelvin Kuo)

• Los Angeles Angels’ Ian Kinsler rounds the bases after hitting a solo home run during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Texas Rangers in Anaheim, Calif., Saturday, June 2, 2018. (AP Photo/Kelvin Kuo)

• Los Angeles Angels’ Mike Trout slides into third after a fly out by Justin Upton during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Texas Rangers in Anaheim, Calif., Saturday, June 2, 2018. (AP Photo/Kelvin Kuo)

• Los Angeles Angels’ Ian Kinsler, right, celebrates with Mike Trout after a solo home run during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Texas Rangers in Anaheim, Calif., Saturday, June 2, 2018. (AP Photo/Kelvin Kuo)

• Texas Rangers’ Rougned Odor reacts after scoring the go-ahead run off a single by Ronald Guzman during the tenth inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels in Anaheim, Calif., Saturday, June 2, 2018. The Rangers won 3-2. (AP Photo/Kelvin Kuo)

• Texas Rangers’ Rougned Odor, right, scores the go-ahead run ahead of the tag by Los Angeles Angels catcher Martin Maldonado on single by Ronald Guzman during the 10th inning of a baseball game in Anaheim, Calif., Saturday, June 2, 2018. The Rangers won 3-2. (AP Photo/Kelvin Kuo)

• Los Angeles Angels shortstop Andrelton Simmons, right, holds on to the ball after forcing out Texas Rangers’ Ronald Guzman on a grounder by Delino DeShields during the 10th inning of a baseball game in Anaheim, Calif., Saturday, June 2, 2018. The Rangers won 3-2. (AP Photo/Kelvin Kuo)

• Texas Rangers’ Rougned Odor reacts after scoring the go-ahead run on a single by Ronald Guzman during the 10th inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels in Anaheim, Calif., Saturday, June 2, 2018. The Rangers won 3-2. (AP Photo/Kelvin Kuo)

• Texas Rangers relief pitcher Keone Kela, right, celebrates with catcher Robinson Chirinos after the team’s baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels in Anaheim, Calif., Saturday, June 2, 2018. The Rangers won 3-2. (AP Photo/Kelvin Kuo)

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ANAHEIM — Garrett Richards’ yo-yo of a season appears to be spinning in the right direction.

The right-hander had one of his best outings of the year on Saturday, allowing just one hit in the Angels’ 3-2 loss to the Rangers in extra innings. He threw 101 pitches, struck out nine batters and lasted seven innings — tying his longest start of the season.

Despite the Angels falling to 31-28, it was a good sign for the 30-year-old, who entered the year as the most experienced starter in the rotation.

“Garrett has great stuff from the first inning,” Manager Mike Scioscia said. “Maintained it until over his 100th pitch. Got a little bit tired. His command got a little wavy in the latter innings, but that’s as well as you can throw the ball. It was terrific.”

Added Richards: “It was a good one to build off of.”

After losing chunks of the last two seasons due to injuries, Richards has been difficult to predict. He has recorded at least eight strikeouts in three outings, including 11 in a 3-0 win over the Giants six weeks ago. He has also twice been pulled before the end of the third inning, lasting 2-1/3 frames in last weekend’s appearance at Yankee Stadium.

But he has at least been present, making his 12th start of the year on Saturday after taking the mound just six times in both 2016 and 2017.

Texas saw the good version of Richards. After the first innings, no Rangers got on base until the start of the seventh, when Shin-Soo Choo reached first on an error by third baseman Jefry Marte. A wild pitch pushed Choo to second, and he eventually scored after a pair of groundouts.

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A walk in the eighth inning ended Richards’ night.

Justin Anderson walked his first batter, then retired three straight with his next 14 pitches — including two swinging strikeouts. In the ninth, Blake Parker gave up a double to Jurickson Profar, who advanced to third on a wild pitch to Nomar Mazara.

And then, a some confusion: A sac fly by Adrian Beltre brought Profar home, but Carlos Tocci — pinch-running for Mazar — ran for second and was thrown out. Angels fans initially cheered, thinking the game was over, but a review ruled that Profar reached home plate before Tocci was tagged. Tie game, 2-2.

“That’s a timing play,” Scioscia said. “They got the call right.”

After a scoreless ninth by the Angels, Jose Alvarez took the mound. The reliever struck out Joey Gallo to start the 10th inning, then gave up a single, a walk, and a single. That sequence brought Rougned Odor home to give the Rangers a 3-2 lead.

The Angels couldn’t respond. Luis Valbuena struck out swinging, while Ian Kinsler and Mike Trout flew out to center.

Trout, who finished just shy of the cycle, was nevertheless a bright spot in the Angels’ lineup. The center fielder opened up scoring with a home run to left field in the first inning. He tripled in his next at-bat, his 1,104th career hit with the Angels, and singled in the sixth inning.

He now sits in eighth place on the club’s all-time list, ahead of Bobby Grinch (1,103) and behind Howie Kendrick (1,204). The outfielder has had at least one base hit in six consecutive games, his longest streak of the season.

Kinsler blasted a solo shot of his own in the sixth inning. After a disappointing start to the season, the second baseman entered the day with nine hits in his last 15 at-bats — a stretch that included three doubles and a pair of home runs.

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His shot off the left-field foul pole on Saturday was his fifth homer of the season.

Any bad feelings from the previous day were held mostly in check. A day after being spiked in the leg by Odor’s controversial slide, Angels shortstop Andrelton Simmons got his own chance to break up a double play. He slid cleanly into second base in the bottom of the fourth inning — but was called for interference when he moved too far past the bag.

Simmons also took a fastball to the leg in the second inning, but the pitch did not appear to be intentional. Rangers left-hander Cole Hamels walked Simmons during his next at-bat, with his fifth pitch landing in the dirt.

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