OC Register: Angels pitching undone by homers, walks in loss to A’s

[AngelsWin.com]

• 

  Ramon Laureano #22 of the Oakland Athletics reaches over the wall to steal a home run from Brian Goodwin #18 of the Los Angeles Angels in the eighth inning of the game at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on August 12, 2020 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images)

• 

  Griffin Canning #47 of the Los Angeles Angels pitches in the first inning of the game against the Oakland Athletics at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on August 12, 2020 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images)

• Sound

  The gallery will resume inseconds
• 

  Anthony Rendon #6 of the Los Angeles Angels crosses the plate after hitting a solo home run in the sixth inning of the game against the Oakland Athletics at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on August 12, 2020 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images)

• 

  Ramon Laureano #22 of the Oakland Athletics makes a diving catch off a ball hit by Jo Adell #59 of the Los Angeles Angels in the fifth inning of the game at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on August 12, 2020 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images)

• 

  Anthony Rendon #6 of the Los Angeles Angels hits a solo home run in the sixth inning of the game against the Oakland Athletics at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on August 12, 2020 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images)

• 

  Los Angeles Angels’ Mike Trout is congratulated by teammates after hitting a solo home run during the first inning of a baseball game against the Oakland Athletics Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2020, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

• 

  Ramon Laureano #22 of the Oakland Athletics reaches over the wall to steal a home run from Brian Goodwin #18 of the Los Angeles Angels in the eighth inning of the game at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on August 12, 2020 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images)

• 

  Ramon Laureano #22 of the Oakland Athletics makes a catch off a long fly ball hit by Jo Adell #59 of the Los Angeles Angels at the warning track and hangs on to the ball in the sixth inning of the game at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on August 12, 2020 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images)

• 

  Anthony Rendon #6 of the Los Angeles Angels hits a solo home run in the sixth inning of the game against the Oakland Athletics at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on August 12, 2020 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images)

• 

  Sean Murphy #12 of the Oakland Athletics receives the ball as Shohei Ohtani #17 of the Los Angeles Angels strikes out in the fifth in the first inning of the game at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on August 12, 2020 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images)

• 

  Los Angeles Angels starting pitcher Griffin Canning throws to the plate during the first inning of a baseball game against the Oakland Athletics Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2020, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Show Caption

of

Expand

ANAHEIM — Angels pitchers got too much of the plate early and too little of it late, and in between the hitters had their potential rallies snuffed out by one player.

The Angels lost 8-4 to the Oakland A’s on Wednesday afternoon, coming up short in their bid for a sweep of the first-place team in the American League West.

Starter Griffin Canning gave up three homers in his four innings. Although the Angels hung close throughout the game, relievers Felix Peña, Keynan Middleton and Ty Buttrey combined for four walks to allow three runs in the eighth.

The Angels also may have had a better chance at a comeback if not for A’s center fielder Ramon Laureano, who made spectacular plays in three consecutive innings.

Laureno made a sliding catch in shallow center to rob Jo Adell of a hit in the fifth. In the sixth, he leapt at the fence to take an extra-base hit away from Tommy La Stella.

In the seventh, Laureano reached over the fence to snag the would-be game-tying homer from Brian Goodwin.

Just after that, the A’s put the game away with three more runs.

Canning had his second straight rough start, allowing four runs in four innings. In the previous outing he was undone by walks, but this time his pitches may have gotten too much of the plate.

Canning gave up three homers, including a 454-foot moon shot to Matt Olson in the first inning. He also gave up two doubles.

Four starts into the season, Canning has pitched very well once and very poorly twice. In each of his last two rough starts, though, the damage was minimized to the point that the Angels could stay in the game.

This time, they Angels used homers by Mike Trout and Anthony Rendon and a two-run rally in the third to stay within striking distance.

Trout’s first-inning homer, a towering blast to right-center field, was his eighth in 15 games this season.

The Angels trailed 5-3 in the sixth when Rendon blasted his third homer in three games, continuing to come out of of his season-opening slump.

With the Angels down 5-4, Manager Joe Maddon called on the three pitchers he has said are his top choices right now, but none of them delivered. Peña pitched a perfect seventh but then came out after a walk in the eighth. Middleton walked two of the three hitters he faced. Buttrey then walked in a run and gave up a two-run single to Laureano.

Related Articles

• Angels to face lineup questions when Andrelton Simmons returns
• Dylan Bundy continues dominant start and Angels blast four homers against A’s
• Joe Maddon in favor of MLB playoffs in a bubble – with good weather
• Mike Trout’s second homer of the night completes Angels comeback
• Joe Maddon wants Angels players to relax amid early slump

View the full article