OC Register: Angels again struggle against a lefty in loss to Mariners

[AngelsWin.com]

• The Los Angeles Angels starting pitcher Jaime Barria throws to the plate against the Seattle Mariners in Anaheim on Wednesday, July 11, 2018. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)

• The Los Angeles Angels starting pitcher Jaime Barria prepares for the first pitch of the game against the Seattle Mariners in Anaheim on Wednesday, July 11, 2018. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)

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• The Los Angeles Angels Justin Upton makes the catch on a line drive by the Seattle Mariners’ Jean Segura for the first out of the game at Angel Stadium in Anaheim on Wednesday, July 11, 2018. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)

• The Los Angeles Angels Shohei Ohtani smiles in the dugout during their game against the Seattle Mariners in Anaheim on Wednesday, July 11, 2018. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)

• The Los Angeles Angels Shohei Ohtani smiles as Luis Valbeuna jokes around in the dugout during their game against the Seattle Mariners in Anaheim on Wednesday, July 11, 2018. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)

• The Los Angeles Angels Shohei Ohtani smiles in the dugout during their game against the Seattle Mariners in Anaheim on Wednesday, July 11, 2018. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)

• The Seattle Mariners starting pitcher Marco Gonzales throws to the plate against the Los Angeles Angels in Anaheim on Wednesday, July 11, 2018. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)

• The Los Angeles Angels Mike Trout can’t come up with the catch on this solo home run by the Seattle Mariners’ David Freitas in the third inning at Angel Stadium in Anaheim on Wednesday, July 11, 2018. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)

• The Los Angeles Angels Mike Trout can’t come up with the catch on this solo home run by the Seattle Mariners’ David Freitas in the third inning at Angel Stadium in Anaheim on Wednesday, July 11, 2018. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)

• The Los Angeles Angels Mike Trout can’t come up with the catch on this solo home run by the Seattle Mariners’ David Freitas in the third inning at Angel Stadium in Anaheim on Wednesday, July 11, 2018. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)

• The Los Angeles Angels Mike Trout grimaces after not making the catch on this solo home run by the Seattle Mariners’ David Freitas in the third inning at Angel Stadium in Anaheim on Wednesday, July 11, 2018. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)

• The Seattle Mariners’ David Freitas rounds the bases after his solo home run in the third inning against the Los Angeles Angels at Angel Stadium in Anaheim on Wednesday, July 11, 2018. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)

• The Seattle Mariners’ David Freitas celebrates with Dee Gordon after his solo home run in the third inning against the Los Angeles Angels at Angel Stadium in Anaheim on Wednesday, July 11, 2018. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)

• The Seattle Mariners’ David Freitas is greeted in the dugout after his solo home run in the third inning against the Los Angeles Angels at Angel Stadium in Anaheim on Wednesday, July 11, 2018. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)

• Angels center fielder Mike Trout can’t come up with the catch on a solo home run hit by the Mariners’ David Freitas during the third inning Wednesday night at Angel Stadium. The ball cleared the fence then landed back on the field. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)

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ANAHEIM — The Angels are not going to get back in the race until they can figure out how to hit left-handed pitchers.

The Angels were once again stymied by a lefty in their 3-0 loss to the Seattle Mariners on Wednesday night.

Marco Gonzales held them to just two hits after he had allowed just one run against them last week in Seattle.

The Angels came into the game ranked 25th in the majors in OPS against left-handed pitchers, which is difficult to explain because most of the Angels’ best hitters swing from the right side.

The Angels are 7-17 in games when the opponent starts a left-handed pitcher.

Gonzales retired the first 10 hitters of the game before Andrelton Simmons hit a line drive that deflected off the pitcher, for the Angels’ first hit. Mike Trout followed with a bloop single.

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With two on and one out, the Angels had a threat. But Justin Upton was called out on strikes and Albert Pujols grounded out.

The Angels hit four balls with exit velocities over 100 mph against Gonzales, and they were all outs. In the seventh, Upton hit a ball 109.8 mph right at shortstop Jean Segura, and then Pujols hit one 102.1 mph to right field.

Angels starter Jaime Barría wasn’t at his best, but still gave up just three runs in five-plus innings.

All the damage came in a short stretch in the third and fourth innings.

Barría had retired the first eight hitters before left a fastball over the middle that David Freitas belted just over the fence in right center. Trout leaped at the fence and nearly robbed the homer, but the ball ticked off the end of his glove. An inning later, Barría gave up a two-run single to Nelson Cruz.

Barría got out of that inning with a double play and then he worked a scoreless fifth, with three strikeouts, before getting chased after allowing the first two hitters to reach base in the sixth.

More to come on this story.

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