ANAHEIM, Calif. — It was a tense night at Angel Stadium as the Los Angeles Angels faced off against the Detroit Tigers, but the excitement quickly turned to despair. With the score tied at 1-1 heading into the ninth inning, closer Kenley Jansen was called upon to keep the game level. However, things went south rapidly for the veteran reliever.
Jansen, who had not allowed a run in his first eight appearances this season, entered the game with high hopes but only managed to record two outs. By the time the dust settled, he had surrendered six earned runs on six hits, three of which were home runs. This marked the most runs Jansen has ever given up in a single outing during his illustrious 16-year career.
The Angels' bullpen woes have become a concerning trend, with the unit allowing a staggering 25 runs in the seventh inning or later over the last five games. This was not just a one-off incident; it was the second consecutive night that the bullpen had given up eight runs in the late innings. "We've been in a lot of ball games," manager Ron Washington lamented. "But, when we get down to the end, we just haven't been able to shut the innings down that we need to shut down."
On this particular night, it was not just Jansen who struggled. Jake Eder took the mound after Jansen and immediately walked the first batter he faced. Eder then gave up a three-run homer to Tigers designated hitter Riley Greene, who made history by becoming the first player in Major League Baseball to hit two home runs in the ninth inning of the same game.
The final score was a disheartening 9-1 in favor of the Tigers, extending the Angels' losing streak to seven games and leaving them with a dismal record of 5-15 over their last 20 games. The Angels' offense was nearly nonexistent after a promising start; they managed just three baserunners after shortstop Zach Neto's lead-off home run in the first inning.
Neto’s homer came on the very first pitch from reigning American League Cy Young Award winner Tarik Skubal, igniting a brief spark of hope for the Angels. However, that hope quickly faded as the Tigers took control of the game. Neto’s night took an interesting turn in the third inning when he exchanged words with Skubal after being struck out, resulting in a benches-clearing incident. Fortunately, cooler heads prevailed, and no physical altercation ensued. "Two guys, high energy, big time situations," Neto reflected. "That's what the game is all about. I got a good swing, he got a good pitch. Touché."
Despite the offensive struggles and bullpen collapse, starter José Soriano turned in a commendable performance, pitching six scoreless innings. Soriano allowed six hits, struck out five batters, and walked only one. His solid outing was overshadowed by the late-game meltdowns, a frustrating reality for the Angels this season.
As the Angels look to turn things around, they will send veteran Kyle Hendricks to the mound for their next game against Jack Flaherty and the Tigers. "It's a tough stretch for us," Neto acknowledged. "We're not going to make the playoffs in April. We've got to live through these, learn from them, and hopefully move on from them." The Angels are desperately seeking a way to break their losing streak and regain some momentum as they continue to navigate a challenging season.
With the series against the Tigers continuing, the Angels will need to regroup and find a way to support their pitchers, particularly in the late innings. The team's struggles have sparked conversations among fans and analysts alike about the effectiveness of the bullpen and the overall direction of the franchise.
As the Angels prepare for their next matchup, the pressure is on to find a solution to their ongoing issues. The fans are hoping for a turnaround, and the players are determined to fight through this rough patch. Only time will tell if they can rise to the occasion and start racking up some much-needed victories.
