The Los Angeles Angels are in a rough patch, and Monday night's series opener against the Cleveland Guardians only added to the frustration. A 7-2 loss dropped the Halos to 16 losses in their last 21 games, and the biggest culprit was a familiar one: command issues on the mound.
The Angels walked 10 batters over the course of the game, and Cleveland made them pay in a big way. The Guardians erupted for five runs in the third inning, turning a tight contest into a blowout. That frame was a nightmare for the Angels' pitching staff, as Cleveland loaded the bases multiple times—thanks in large part to four walks in the inning alone.
David Fry forced in a run with a bases-loaded walk, Daniel Schneemann followed with a two-run single, and rookie Travis Bazzana capped the rally with a two-run double to center field. By the time the dust settled, the Guardians held a commanding 7-0 lead.
The game started with left-hander Brent Suter serving as an opener, but Cleveland struck early against the bullpen. Reliever Jose Fermin entered in the second inning and surrendered a two-run single to Brayan Rocchio, putting the Angels in a 2-0 hole before the offense even had a chance to settle in.
There was a bright spot, however. Right-hander Alek Manoah delivered five scoreless innings in relief, giving the Angels' bullpen a much-needed breather. While Manoah battled his own command issues—walking five batters—he managed to keep Cleveland off the board and prevent the game from getting even further out of hand.
Offensively, the Angels were stymied by Cleveland starter Joey Cantillo, who tossed six shutout innings while scattering five hits. Nolan Schanuel and Jo Adell each had multi-hit games, with Adell driving in a run on a single in the eighth inning. But the damage was already done, and the Angels never seriously threatened after falling behind early.
The Halos will look to even the series Tuesday night, sending rookie right-hander Walbert Urena to the mound against the Guardians. If they want to turn things around, tightening up the command—and cutting down on those free passes—will be key.