OC Register: Rookie journeyman Jhonathan Diaz debuts in Angels’ loss to A’s

[AngelsWin.com]

ANAHEIM ― On Aug. 9, 2013, the Boston Red Sox agreed to terms with four prospects from Latin America. One was an infielder named Rafael Devers. Another was a 16-year-old left-handed pitcher from Venezuela, Jhonathan Diaz.

Diaz spent the next seven years in the Red Sox organization, never advancing beyond the Class-A level, sniffing a major league spring training game just twice. Last November, the Angels signed Diaz as a minor league free agent.

Already in 2021, Diaz has fashioned a satisfying narrative arc out of his formerly nondescript career. He pitched for Venezuela during the Olympic qualifying round. He excelled with the Angels’ Double-A affiliate upon his return, striking out 78 batters in 61 innings before receiving his first promotion to Triple-A. On Friday, after he appeared in just three games with the Salt Lake Bees, Diaz was promoted to the major leagues for the first time.

If the story of Diaz’s 2021 season ended there, it would have a happy ending. Unfortunately, the Angels had to play a game Friday and they lost, 5-4, to the Oakland A’s, before an announced crowd of 18,918 at Angel Stadium.

Diaz lasted just 1⅔ innings in his debut. He needed 50 pitches to retire five batters.

The left-hander hit the first batter he faced, Josh Harrison. He issued two walks before the first inning ended, allowing the A’s to load the bases, but he did not allow a run. Chad Pinder and Matt Chapman swung and missed at a couple of mean two-strike sliders to end the threat.

The A’s also loaded the bases in the second inning against Diaz. This time they scored twice, on an RBI single by Harrison and a sacrifice fly. Kyle Tyler relieved Diaz and did not allow another run.

Meanwhile, the Angels rallied for four runs in the bottom of the second inning against A’s starter Cole Irvin, the former Servite High standout.

Kurt Suzuki homered. Luis Rengifo reached on a fielding error, went to third base on a Jack Mayfield single, and scored when Juan Lagares placed a beautiful squeeze bunt between home plate and the pitcher’s mound. Irvin hustled in vain to make a play at the plate, but he could not field the ball cleanly.

When David Fletcher dumped a single into left field, two more runs scored. Suddenly the Angels held a 4-3 lead.

Irvin (10-13) allowed only two more hits before departing after six innings. He walked one batter and struck out three.

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Meanwhile, the Angels attempted to navigate a bullpen game and nearly pulled it off. Rookie right-hander Jose Marte, in his first game back after a 21-game stay on the COVID-19-related injured list, allowed two runs in the sixth inning as the A’s went ahead for good.

Marte inherited a runner on first base and looked rusty from the outset. He walked Mark Canha. He appeared to cross up Angels catcher Kurt Suzuki, who was charged with a passed ball that sent Matt Olson to third base.

A groundout by Seth Brown, followed by a bases-loaded, four-pitch walk to Matt Chapman, plated Oakland’s fourth and fifth runs.

More to come on this story.

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