There was plenty of blame to be shared around the Angels clubhouse after a frustrating 4-3 loss to the Rangers on Friday night in Arlington, Texas.
Although the most glaring issue was Tommy La Stella’s error, which opened the door for the three unearned runs that flipped the game in the fourth inning, Griffin Canning also endured a rough night, and the offense didn’t do enough enough to pick up Canning or La Stella.
“We just did not execute up to our abilities tonight,” Manager Joe Maddon said. “But you look at all that, and we still had plenty of opportunities to win that game.”
Los Angeles Angels’ Brian Goodwin falls to the ground after fielding a sacrifice fly by Texas Rangers’ Robinson Chirinos in the second inning of a baseball game in Arlington, Texas, Friday, Aug. 7, 2020. The Rangers’ Willie Calhoun scored on the play. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
Los Angeles Angels second baseman Tommy La Stella (9) is unable to field the throw to the bag as Texas Rangers pinch runner Scott Heineman steals second in the eighth inning of a baseball game in Arlington, Texas, Friday, Aug. 7, 2020. Heineman advanced to third on the play on an throwing error by Angels catcher Max Stassi. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
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Los Angeles Angels’ Mike Trout waves to the dugout after hitting a two-run home run in the first inning of a baseball game against the Texas Rangers in Arlington, Texas, Friday, Aug. 7, 2020. The shot scored David Fletcher. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
Los Angeles Angels manager Joe Maddon, right, argues with third base umpire Edwin Moscoso (109) in the second inning of a baseball game against the Texas Rangers in Arlington, Texas, Friday, Aug. 7, 2020. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
Los Angeles Angels manager Joe Maddon, left, takes the ball from starting pitcher Griffin Canning in the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Texas Rangers in Arlington, Texas, Friday, Aug. 7, 2020. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
Los Angeles Angels’ David Fletcher (22) lifts the bat over his head after striking out in the ninth inning of a baseball game against the Texas Rangers in Arlington, Texas, Friday, Aug. 7, 2020. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
Fan cut outs are seen at right as Texas Rangers right fielder Shin-Soo Choo stands ready in the second inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels in Arlington, Texas, Friday, Aug. 7, 2020. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
Texas Rangers relief pitcher Jonathan Hernandez writes on the back of the mound before working against the Los Angeles Angels in the seventh inning of a baseball game in Arlington, Texas, Friday, Aug. 7, 2020. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
Los Angeles Angels right fielder Brian Goodwin reaches forward to field a sacrifice fly by Texas Rangers’ Robinson Chirinos in the second inning of a baseball game in Arlington, Texas, Friday, Aug. 7, 2020. The Rangers’ Willie Calhoun scored on the play. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
Los Angeles Angels’ Brian Goodwin falls to the ground after fielding a sacrifice fly by Texas Rangers’ Robinson Chirinos in the second inning of a baseball game in Arlington, Texas, Friday, Aug. 7, 2020. The Rangers’ Willie Calhoun scored on the play. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
Los Angeles Angels starting pitcher Griffin Canning walks behind the mound after giving up a single to Texas Rangers’ Todd Frazier in the fourth inning of a baseball game in Arlington, Texas, Friday, Aug. 7, 2020. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
Texas Rangers’ Robinson Chirinos (61) celebrates with coaching staff Don Wakamatsu, from left rear, manager Chris Woodward, Julio Rangel, and Hector Ortiz after Chirinos scored in the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels in Arlington, Texas, Friday, Aug. 7, 2020. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
Los Angeles Angels manager Joe Maddon walks back to the dugout in the second inning of a baseball game against the Texas Rangers in Arlington, Texas, Friday, Aug. 7, 2020. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
Los Angeles Angels’ Mike Trout follows through on a two-run home run in the first inning of a baseball game against the Texas Rangers in Arlington, Texas, Friday, Aug. 7, 2020. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
Texas Rangers’ Rougned Odor swings at a pitch as Los Angeles Angels catcher Max Stassi and umpire Doug Eddings look on in the fourth inning of a baseball game in Arlington, Texas, Friday, Aug. 7, 2020. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
Members of the Los Angeles Angels sit amongst fan cut outs behind home plate watching play in the second inning of a baseball game against the Texas Rangers in Arlington, Texas, Friday, Aug. 7, 2020. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
Los Angeles Angels’ Mike Trout walks to the dugout after striking out in the ninth inning of a baseball game against the Texas Rangers in Arlington, Texas, Friday, Aug. 7, 2020. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
Texas Rangers relief pitcher Rafael Montero throws to the Los Angeles Angels in the ninth inning of a baseball game in Arlington, Texas, Friday, Aug. 7, 2020. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
Mike Trout did his usual birthday thing — celebrating turning 29 by hitting a two-run homer, the fifth time he’d homered on his birthday — and that put the Angels up 2-0 two batters into the game.
After that, though, the game was a slow slog to defeat, sapping the team of any momentum they hoped to carry from winning their first series of the season in Seattle.
They had a 3-1 lead in the fourth, when the game turned on an ugly sequence. The Angels walked three, hit a batter and made two errors, allowing the Rangers to score three runs with just one hit, a leadoff single.
Canning, who was on the mound at the time, was the victim of the unearned runs, but Canning didn’t do much to help himself either. He walked six in his 3 2/3 innings.
“Just kind of one of those nights where I didn’t have my release point,” Canning said. “Didn’t really get in any type of rhythm. That’s pretty much it, pretty simple.”
Through three innings, Canning had thrown 65 pitches. Although he’d allowed only one run, he also got the benefit of two Rangers baserunners sliding off the base. Isaiah Kiner-Falefa and Shin-Soo Choo were both called safe with stolen bases, but both of them lost contact with the base and were called out upon review.
Canning then struck out Rougned Odor on a pitch that appeared to be high, ending the third.
Canning took the mound in the fourth with a two-run lead and he gave up a leadoff single to Todd Frazier. He then walked Willie Calhoun. After Elvis Andrus hit a flyout, Kiner-Falefa hit a ball sharply but right at La Stella. It should have been an inning-ending double play, but La Stella mishandled it and didn’t get an out.
“He just he just missed it,” Maddon said. “Tommy will make that 11 out of 10 times and he just missed it tonight. Obviously that was a big play in the game. But it’s called baseball, things like that occur.”
Canning, who said after the game that “I pride myself” on being able to overcome a teammate’s error, then walked Robinson Chirinos, forcing in a run. He got the second out on a force at the plate, but then threw a pickoff into center field, allowing the tying run. He walked Choo to reload the bases, ending his night.
Mike Mayers then grazed Nick Solak’s shoulder with a pitch, pushing home the go-ahead run.
After that, the Angels’ beleaguered bullpen held the Rangers, giving the offense a chance, but the hitters couldn’t convert. They left five runners on base in the sixth and seventh innings, including a wasted bases-loaded chance in the seventh when La Stella popped out.
Shohei Ohtani went hitless in four at-bats, dropping his average to .147. Anthony Rendon was hitless in three at-bats, although he drew a walk and hit a ball hard. Rendon is hitting .121.
They got Trout to the plate with two outs in the ninth. He just missed a homer on a foul ball, and then struck out to end the game.
“We’ve got to get those guys rocking and rolling,” Maddon said, referring to Ohtani and Rendon. “Right guys up at the right time and it just it just did not play.”
