ARLINGTON, Texas — After a brilliant week from the Angels’ starting rotation, the story changed quickly with a new week.
Noah Syndergaard failed to make it out of the first inning for the first time in 126 career starts, allowing six runs in the Angels’ 7-4 loss to the Texas Rangers on Monday night.
Syndergaard allowed two more runs than Angels’ starters did in seven games last week, when they combined for an 0.81 ERA. It was the fifth time in Syndergaard’s career that he’d allowed six or more runs. Only four of the runs were earned.
The Angels still had a chance to win because they’d staked Syndergaard to a three-run lead in the top of the first. The bullpen then held the Rangers within striking distance. Jaime Barria did most of the heavy lifting with 4-1/3 scoreless innings.
The Angels left two runners on base in the fourth and sixth innings. They had the makings of a rally in the seventh when Taylor Ward led off with an infield single, but Mike Trout then hit into a double play – nicely turned by shortstop Corey Seager and second baseman Marcus Semien – and Shohei Ohtani struck out.
Seager and Semien, the duo the Rangers signed for a combined $500 million over the winter, also did some damage to Syndergaard in his nightmare first inning.
Semien won an 11-pitch duel with Syndergaard, drawing a walk. Seager then ripped a single into right, driving in the first run of the game. Adolis Garcia followed with a double. A third run scored on a sacrifice fly.
Jonah Heim then hit a bouncer that first baseman Jared Walsh couldn’t handle. It was the Angels’ first error in six games. Syndergaard struck out Nathaniel Lowe, but then he gave up a single to Sam Huff and he walked Brad Miller, ending his night.
There were four runs on the board when Syndergaard was pulled and two more scored on Eli White’s single against Barria.
After that, Barria was nearly perfect.
The success of the Angels’ rotation has left Barria – their long reliever – sitting unused most nights. He had pitched just five times in the Angels’ first 37 games.
He’s been effective when they’ve called on him, though, posting a 1.50 ERA in 18 innings.
More to come on this story.
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