OC Register: Angels fall behind early in loss that ensures fifth straight losing season

[AngelsWin.com]

ANAHEIM — A relative hot streak in September couldn’t prevent the Angels from yet another losing season.

The Angels’ 7-2 loss to the Texas Rangers on Sunday ensured that they would finish with a losing record for the fifth straight season.

It’s the franchise’s longest drought since seven straight losing seasons from 1971-77.

The Angels (23-31) are still not mathematically eliminated from the postseason race, although their chances are miniscule.

They are 4-1/2 games behind the Houston Astros for second in the American League West and 4-1/2 behind the Toronto Blue Jays for the second wild card spot. They are five games behind both teams in the loss column, and the Angels have six games left.

While the Angels made something of a run in September, winning 11 of their last 17, too many games this year have been lost because the starting pitcher put them in a hole early, and that’s exactly what happened again on Sunday.

Julio Teheran gave up a two-run homer to Joey Gallo in the first and then a solo homer to Anderson Tejada leading off the second. Teheran then walked Derek Dietrich and was pulled.

The Angels could play their final six games without using Teheran again, because of an off day on Thursday. If they did so, he would finish with a 9.49 ERA.

The Angels signed Teheran to a $9 million, one-year deal in December, citing his durability and consistently solid performances. This year he tested positive for COVID-19 in June, never got a true “spring training” to prepare for this shortened season, and did not have much success.

Taylor Ward drove in a run to make it 3-1 in the bottom of the second, continuing his hot streak. Ward is 16 for 32 in his last 11 games.

But the Rangers scored single runs in the third and fourth to pad the lead.

The fourth-inning homer by rookie Sam Huff was the only run charged to Patrick Sandoval in his 4-1/3 innings of relief. Sandoval, who also got a late start because of COVID-19, gave up four runs in 8-1/3 innings in two relief outings after being recalled from Long Beach.

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Ty Buttrey then gave up two homers in the eighth inning, continuing his disappointing season. Buttrey, who at times in 2019 was the Angels’ best reliever, has a 6.04 ERA.

ALSO

Franklin Barreto, who suffered a shoulder subluxation two weeks ago, will undergo shoulder surgery on Tuesday. The timetable for his return will be determined after the procedure. The Angels acquired Barreto from the Oakland A’s for Tommy La Stella just before the deadline last month. Barreto remains under control to the Angels for four more seasons, and the plan to develop him as a super utility player…

Justin Upton returned to the lineup after missing Saturday’s game. Upton was hit in the head by a pitch on Friday night. Although Manager Joe Maddon said Upton was cleared to play on Saturday, he gave him the day off as a precaution.

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[Angel Oracle]

Barreto = Cozart, don’t count on him, at least it wasn’t many millions down the drain.