OC Register: Angels shut out by Giants as Justin Upton leaves with injury

[AngelsWin.com]

ANAHEIM ― San Francisco Giants pitcher Anthony DeSclafani stuck out his glove and found a baseball, flipped it into his bare hand, and threw out Jose Iglesias in the fourth inning Tuesday night. Even a 100-mph ground ball destined for center field stood no chance at Angel Stadium on this night – that is, if the Angels hit it.

The Giants? They have baseball’s best record for a reason. DeSclafani offered no margin for error, and the Angels barrelled through the margin quickly en route to a 5-0 loss before an announced crowd of 28,354.

With a runner on first base in the first inning, Darin Ruf hit a catchable fly ball to right field. Luis Rengifo, an infielder making his third major league start in the outfield, took a poor route to the warning track and the ball fell for a double. Instead of the inning’s second out, Ruf reached second base safely on a double. The next batter, Buster Posey, hit a deep ground ball to score a run.

Angels starter Andrew Heaney (4-5) barely made it out of the inning. Brandon Belt dropped a bunt single down a vacant third-base line, scoring another run. Wilmer Flores slugged a two-run homer. Finally, Heaney whistled a two-strike changeup past Donovan Solano on his 29th pitch, the game’s third out.

That Heaney gutted his way through six innings would have to suffice as consolation. Little else went right for the Angels, who fell a game below .500 (36-37) for the third time in the last week.

Justin Upton was removed from the game with lower back stiffness after swinging and missing at a fading slider to end the second inning. Shohei Ohtani went 0 for 3 with three strikeouts. Twice, the Angels got runners on second and third base against DeSclafani. Each time, they came up empty.

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Ohtani and Jared Walsh (1 for 4) were kept off the scoreboard following three consecutive games with a home run. The Angels were shut out for the fourth time this season, the last coming May 27 in Oakland.

DeSclafani (8-2) used his five-pitch mix effectively over seven innings, allowing just three hits and two walks while striking out nine. Heaney’s night improved dramatically after the first inning. He struck out 10 batters and walked none.

Thanks in part to the Angels’ defense, Heaney also allowed 10 hits. Mauricio Dubon hit a solo home run in the second inning to pad the Giants’ lead.

The newest member of the Angels’ bullpen, left-hander Jose Quintana, didn’t allow a run in his first game since returning from the injured list. Right-hander Junior Guerra followed with two scoreless innings of his own.

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