Bad Managing, Bad Defense, Spell L-O-S-S for the Angels

After taking two out of three from the St. Louis Cardinals, the Angels kicked off a series against the Boston Red Sox on a sour note, dropping the opener 6-2. A loss that will probably sit sourly with both the fans and, most likely, the players as there were a few different times where miscues and mismanagement cost the team in the form of Red Sox runs.

The Red Sox got on the board first, thanks largely to the Angels first defensive miscue of the game. Jarrod Saltalamacchia hit what should have been a routine base hit to left field. Then, J.B. Shuck happened. First, the ball bounced over his head, then as he was trying to pick up the ball, he dropped it. Two runs came across on the error, putting the Sox up 2-0. The Angels got one back in the third though on an Albert Pujols double play ground out.

In the fourth inning, the Angels pulled even with the Red Sox when second baseman, Howie Kendrick, hit a “just enough” home run to right-center field. It was his 10th home run of the season, and it made the score 2-2. But that would close the book on the Angels scoring, which obviously was not going to be enough on this night.

Angels starter C.J. Wilson did his best to keep the Sox off of the board, weaving in and out of trouble all night long. And then, with two outs in the seventh inning, Josh Hamilton happened. Johnny Gomes lifted a lazy fly ball down the right field line that Hamilton had to go a long way to get under. But he did get under it, then he closed his glove to soon, and watched helplessly as Shane Victorino raced home all the way from first base. it was the last batter Wilson would face, and it was a run that would put him in line to lose the game.

Then, in the eighth, Mike Scioscia happened. With Dane De La Rosa on the mound, John Farrell sent David Ortiz tot he plate as a pinch hitter. With first base open, and Ortiz swinging the bat quite well this season, in a one-run game, you walk him. Unless you are Mike Scioscia. On the second pitch of the at bat, Oritz deposited De La Rosa’s split-finger offering into the right field seats, putting the Sox up 5-2.

The Red Sox added another run for good measure when Mike Napoli sent his 10th home run of the season to the batter’s eye in straight-away center field, making the score 6-2. More than enough cushion for Koji Uehara, who set the Angels down in order in the bottom of the ninth.

This game stunk, and losing to the Red Sox stinks more, but the Angels will be back at it tomorrow night when they send Jeromoe Williams (on two-days rest no less) to the mound against Ryan Dempster at 7:05 PM PST. Happy staff day everyone. Light up the fail-o, did I mention that this stinks. OK, just wanted to make sure.