OC Register: Jaime Barría, Taylor Cole, provide opposite glimpses of the future in Angels’ loss

[AngelsWin.com]

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  Los Angeles Angels’ Shohei Ohtani follows through on an RBI single against the Texas Rangers during the seventh inning of a baseball game, Monday, Sept. 10, 2018, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

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  Los Angeles Angels’ Mike Trout slides safely into third base, advancing from second, after a throwing error to first base by the Texas Rangers during the seventh inning of a baseball game, Monday, Sept. 10, 2018, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

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  Texas Rangers starting pitcher Mike Minor throws to the Los Angeles Angels during the first inning of a baseball game Monday, Sept. 10, 2018, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

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  Texas Rangers’ Joey Gallo follows through on a 2-RBI double against the Los Angeles Angels during the second inning of a baseball game Monday, Sept. 10, 2018, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

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  Los Angeles Angels starting pitcher Jaime Barria throws to the Texas Rangers during the second inning of a baseball game Monday, Sept. 10, 2018, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

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  Texas Rangers’ Jurickson Profar, left, and Adrian Beltre celebrate as they were both driven in on a double from Joey Gallo during the second inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels Monday, Sept. 10, 2018, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

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  Texas Rangers’ Joey Gallo (13) is safe at third base on a sacrifice fly ball by Robinson Chirinos as Los Angeles Angels third baseman Taylor Ward, left, awaits the throw from the outfield during the second inning of a baseball game Monday, Sept. 10, 2018, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

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  Texas Rangers’ Ronald Guzman, right, follows through on his two-run home run against the Los Angeles Angels during the second inning of a baseball game Monday, Sept. 10, 2018, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

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  Texas Rangers’ Ronald Guzman, right, celebrates his two-run home run with teammate Joey Gallo (13) during the second inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels Monday, Sept. 10, 2018, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

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  Angels starting pitcher Jaime Barria throws to the plate during the third inning of Monday’s game against the Rangers at Angel Stadium. (Photo by Victor Decolongon/Getty Images)

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  Los Angeles Angels starting pitcher Jaime Barria makes an underhand throw to first base to put out Texas Rangers’ Elvis Andrus after a ground ball during the second inning of a baseball game Monday, Sept. 10, 2018, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

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  Los Angeles Angels’ Shohei Ohtani follows through on a double against the Texas Rangers during the fourth inning of a baseball game Monday, Sept. 10, 2018, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

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  Los Angeles Angels’ Shohei Ohtani hits a double against the Texas Rangers during the fourth inning of a baseball game Monday, Sept. 10, 2018, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

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  ANAHEIM, CA – SEPTEMBER 10: Shohei Ohtani #17 of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim gets a high five from teammate Justin Upton #8 in the dugout after Ohtani scored during the fourth inning of the MLB game at Angel Stadium on September 10, 2018 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Victor Decolongon/Getty Images)

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  Los Angeles Angels’ Shohei Ohtani, right, steals third base before the tag by Texas Rangers third baseman Jurickson Profar during the fourth inning of a baseball game Monday, Sept. 10, 2018, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

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  Texas Rangers right fielder Shin-Soo Choo makes a sliding catch on a fly ball from Los Angeles Angels’ Jose Briceno during the fourth inning of a baseball game Monday, Sept. 10, 2018, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

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  Los Angeles Angels’ Shohei Ohtani, right, follows through on a foul ball against the Texas Rangers during the second inning of a baseball game Monday, Sept. 10, 2018, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

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  Los Angeles Angels’ Shohei Ohtani drives in a run with a single against the Texas Rangers during the seventh inning of a baseball game, Monday, Sept. 10, 2018, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

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  Los Angeles Angels’ Shohei Ohtani runs the bases after a fly out by teammate Andrelton Simmons to end the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Texas Rangers, Monday, Sept. 10, 2018, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

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ANAHEIM — The Angels are all but mathematically eliminated from the postseason with three weeks left in the regular season. They must fight for attention, and the empty seats among the announced crowd of 32,891 Monday testified to the fact that it won’t always be easy.

In the moment, there wasn’t much at stake for Jaime Barría and Taylor Cole in a 5-2 loss to the Texas Rangers. Barría suffered a rare hiccup in his three-inning start, while Cole was masterful in his four innings out of the bullpen.

For two pitchers auditioning for roles on the 2019 staff, it was an important audition.

Facing the same team multiple times is no easy task for a pitcher, let alone a rookie. For Barría (10-9), Monday was his second game against the Texas Rangers in the last five days.

Barría has faced the Rangers five times in 23 starts to begin his career. The Rangers had only scored two runs in their first four tries against Barría, but they doubled that total in the second inning Monday.

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A scoreless first inning extended Barría’s streak of scoreless innings to 12, a career high, before his command abandoned him completely. With runners on first and second base, Joey Gallo pounced on a 2-and-2 slider for a double. Adrian Beltre and Jurickson Profar, who walked on nine pitches to begin the inning, scored on the hit and Texas took a 2-0 lead.

Robinson Chirinos hit a fly ball for the first out of the inning before the next hitter, Ronald Guzman, sent a 1-and-0 changeup 420 feet to center field for a home run. The Angels trailed 4-0 in the span of five batters.

It was already clear that Barría had lost his command when he walked the next batter, Hanser Alberto, on four pitches. That earned a visit from pitching coach Charles Nagy. Barría escaped the inning without allowing another run and pitched a 1-2-3 third, but was replaced by Taylor Cole to begin the fourth inning.

The Rangers entered the day striking out more frequently than all but one American League team. Against Barría, they seemed unfazed by a two-strike count. More often, they ended each plate appearance with strikes to spare. In three innings Barría walked four batters, struck out two, and allowed three hits.

Barría’s second-inning hiccup dampened some of the enthusiasm following an outstanding road trip for the Angels’ starting rotation. The staff recorded a 1.92 earned-run average against the Astros, Rangers and White Sox.

The Angels also lost Shohei Ohtani’s pitching talents for the remainder of the season, forcing Manager Mike Scioscia to patch together nine innings with a “bullpen game” Tuesday. Barría picked a bad time to make his second-shortest start of the season.

Cole steadied the ship with four perfect innings, his longest outing in a career that consists of 13 games. The rookie right-hander struck out three of the 12 batters he faced.

Meanwhile, the Angels chipped away at their deficit.

Ohtani led off the fourth inning with a line drive to right-center field against Rangers starter Mike Minor (11-7). Center fielder Delino DeShields Jr. had to slide to cut the ball off in the gap, holding Ohtani to a double.

With one out, Ohtani stole third base after the Angels successfully challenged the original out call by umpire Nic Lentz. Jose Fernandez lined a single into center field, scoring Ohtani with the Angels’ first run. Taylor Ward and Kole Calhoun both walked in the inning, but the Angels left the bases loaded.

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A two-out rally in the seventh inning led to the Angels’ second run. Mike Trout reached on an infield single. Guzman couldn’t handle Elvis Andrus’ one-hop throw to first base on a Justin Upton ground ball, and Trout went to third base on the E-5. That brought Ohtani to the plate, and Rangers manager Jeff Banister summoned left-handed reliever Alex Claudio from the bullpen.

Ohtani delivered for the second time against a southpaw, shooting a line-drive single into center field to drive in Trout. The Angels trailed 4-2.

Texas got the run back in the eighth inning against Angels pitcher Williams Jerez. Andrus singled with one out and went to third base on a two-out single by Jurickson Profar. Gallo came through again, this time with a single to right field to drive in Andrus.

In the ninth inning, David Fletcher drew a one-out walk against Jose Leclerc. But Trout grounded out, Upton struck out, ending the Angels’ winning streak at four.

More to come on this story.

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