OC Register: Tyler Skaggs’ breakout season interrupted by a rare bad outing in Angels’ loss

[AngelsWin.com]

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  The Rays’ Jake Bauers, left, celebrates with teammate Carlos Gomez after hitting a home run during the second inning of Tuesday’s game against the Angels in St. Petersburg, Fla. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)

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  ST PETERSBURG, FL – JULY 31: Jake Bauers #9 of the Tampa Bay Rays hits a homer in the second inning against the Los Angeles Angels on July 31, 2018 at Tropicana Field in St Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)

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  Los Angeles Angels third baseman Jefry Marte makes a throw from the turf after knocking down a ground ball hit by Tampa Bay Rays’ Kevin Kiermaier during the first inning of a baseball game Tuesday, July 31, 2018, in St. Petersburg, Fla. Kiermaier was out on the play. (AP Photo/Steve Nesius)

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  ST PETERSBURG, FL – JULY 31: Kevin Kiermaier #39 of the Tampa Bay Rays gets safe after hitting an RBI triple in the third inning against the Los Angeles Angels on July 31, 2018 at Tropicana Field in St Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)

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  Umpire Nick Mahrley, left, makes the call as Los Angeles Angels’ Jefry Marte reaches for the ball after Tampa Bay Rays’ Kevin Kiermaier, center, slid into third base with an RBI-triple during the third inning of a baseball game Tuesday, July 31, 2018, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Steve Nesius)

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  Los Angeles Angels starter Tyler Skaggs pitches against the Tampa Bay Rays during the first inning of a baseball game Tuesday, July 31, 2018, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Steve Nesius)

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  Tampa Bay Rays’ Ryne Stanek pitches against the Los Angeles Angels during the first inning of a baseball game Tuesday, July 31, 2018, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Steve Nesius)

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  Tampa Bay Rays reliever Ryan Yarbrough pitches against the Los Angeles Angels during the third inning of a baseball game Tuesday, July 31, 2018, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Steve Nesius)

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  Los Angeles Angels designated hitter Shohei Ohtani, right, races from the batters box after hitting a dribbler in front of Tampa Bay Rays catcher Michael Perez, left, during the third inning of a baseball game Tuesday, July 31, 2018, in St. Petersburg, Fla. Perez made the play and threw out Ohtani at first base. (AP Photo/Steve Nesius)

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  Tampa Bay Rays’ Mallex Smith races home to score on Kevin Kiermaier’s RBI-triple off Los Angeles Angels’ Tyler Skaggs during the third inning of a baseball game Tuesday, July 31, 2018, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Steve Nesius)

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  Tampa Bay Rays’ Carlos Gomez gestures toward the Rays dugout after hitting a two-run single off Los Angeles Angels reliever Noe Ramirez during the fourth inning of a baseball game Tuesday, July 31, 2018, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Steve Nesius)

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  Los Angeles Angels manager Mike Scoscia, left, leaves the mound while reliever Noe Ramirez, right, talks with catcher Jose Briceno (10) during the fourth inning of a baseball game Tuesday, July 31, 2018, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Steve Nesius)

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  Los Angeles Angels’ Kole Calhoun drops his bat after hitting a two-run single off Tampa Bay Rays reliever Ryan Yarbrough during the sixth inning of a baseball game Tuesday, July 31, 2018, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Steve Nesius)

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  Los Angeles Angels on-deck batter Justin Upton, left, congratulates Mike Trout, right, after his solo home run off Tampa Bay Rays reliever Ryan Yarbrough during the seventh inning of a baseball game Tuesday, July 31, 2018, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Steve Nesius)

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ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Tyler Skaggs was enjoying the best extended stretch of his career before hitting a giant speed bump on Tuesday night.

Skaggs, who brought a 2.62 ERA into the game, gave up a career-worst nine runs in the Angels’ 10-6 loss to the Tampa Bay Rays.

The Angels trailed 10-1 before they rallied to at least make the game interesting, including Mike Trout’s 30th homer of the season.

Skaggs hadn’t allowed more than three runs in any game in more than two months, a 1.44 ERA over eight starts.

Much of the damage on Tuesday night came in one nightmarish inning.

Already down 3-0 after three innings, Skaggs got the first out of the fourth, but then he allowed consecutive hits to Carlos Gomez and Michael Pérez, scoring a run. He walked Willy Adames.

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Mallex Smith then hit a grounder between short and third. David Fletcher, who was starting at shortstop because Andrelton Simmons had the night off, fielded it and made an errant throw to third. It was ruled an infield hit.

After Skaggs then issued a bases-loaded walk, the Angels finally got Noé Ramírez up in the bullpen. Then Fletcher couldn’t handle another ground ball to his right, which went for another infield hit and another run.

Skaggs then hit Daniel Robertson with a pitch, forcing in the Rays’ fourth run of the inning and ending his night. Two more runs were charged to him after he left.

With the Angels down 10-1, it looked for the second game in a row like they might resort to using a position player to pitch, something they haven’t done in 25 years.

Just as they did after falling behind 8-0 on Sunday, the Angels’ hitters came through to make the game too close for them to give up.

Kole Calhoun hit a two-run homer in the fifth, one of his three hits as he continues to sizzle since coming off the disabled list.

They added two more in the sixth and one in the seventh on a blast by Trout. Trout hit a shot off one of the catwalks that hang from the roof of Tropicana Field. The drive was estimated at 427 feet.

More to come on this story.

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Pretty sure if that catwalk wasn’t there @miketrout woulda hit it 500 feet … pic.twitter.com/iR4IbNKCT5

— MLB (@MLB) August 1, 2018

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[Angelsjunky]

I don't understand how this was posted 8 hours ago.