BOSTON — The Angels’ infield defense has been responsible for their last two losses.
Angels infielders made three errors leading to four runs in a sloppy 5-3 loss to the Boston Red Sox on Friday night.
An error and two misplays that weren’t ruled errors contributed to four runs in their two-run loss to the Washington Nationals on Monday night.
Although there was plenty of blame to go around in this one – from Patrick Sandoval’s control issues to the Angels’ 1-for-14 performance with runners in scoring position – the shabby infield defense was the biggest problem.
The Angels had a 2-0 lead in the fourth inning, when shortstop Luis Rengifo bobbled a grounder up the middle, for the first error. That runner came around to score on a bloop double.
Two outs later, the Angels were about to get out of the inning on a routine grounder to third baseman Anthony Rendon. He had plenty of time to make the throw across the diamond, but the throw was wide and short, bouncing past first baseman Jake Lamb. The tying run scored on the play.
The Red Sox took the lead on a Rafael Devers homer against Jimmy Herget in the fifth, but another Rendon error cost them two more runs in the sixth.
With two outs and two on, Rendon again cleanly fielded a grounder and had ample time to throw, but he again threw the ball wide. A run scored on that play, and a second run scored on a passed ball.
All told, four of the Boston runs were unearned.
Despite the sloppy defense, the Angels still could have won if a few other things had gone right.
Sandoval walked three hitters in 3 2/3 innings. He was also bailed out by some good defense, a running catch by left fielder Taylor Ward in the first and a diving stop by Rendon in the third.
Left-hander Aaron Loup hit two batters before Rendon’s error opened the door for both to score.
Offensively, the Angels jumped to a 2-0 lead when Hunter Renfroe launched a two-run double off the Green Monster in the first inning.
That was their last hit with a runner in scoring position all night.
The Angels then left two runners in the third, two in the fourth and they hit into double plays in the fifth and sixth. In the seventh, they had runners at second and third with no outs, and managed just one run. They left two more in the eighth and one more in the ninth.
