The Angels kept sliding Monday night, and the latest loss looked a lot like several of the others: flat offense, a starter overwhelmed in the middle innings, and a game that got away fast.
Los Angeles fell 6-2 to the Milwaukee Brewers, dropping its fourth straight and its seventh in the last eight games. The Angels managed only four hits, struck out 10 times, and never really threatened after Milwaukee blew it open in the fifth.
Ryan Johnson took the ball for Los Angeles, and while he held up for the first four innings, the Brewers still struck first. Cooper Pratt delivered an RBI single in the second to put Milwaukee ahead 1-0.
Then came the fifth, and that was that. Brice Turang opened the inning with a two-run homer, Jake Bauers followed with a three-run shot, and suddenly the Brewers were in front 6-0. Johnson’s night was effectively over once Milwaukee stacked the big inning.
The Angels did answer in the same frame, but only briefly. Denzer Guzman hit a two-run homer to cut the deficit to 6-2, and that was as close as Los Angeles got. Outside of that swing, the offense was nearly invisible, with just two other hits to go with the 10 strikeouts.
Shane Drohan handled the rest for Milwaukee. The Brewers starter went six innings, allowed four hits and a walk, and struck out seven in a smooth win. Three relievers closed it out as Milwaukee bounced back after losing two of three to the San Francisco Giants.
For the Angels, the quietest night may have come from the players drawing the most attention. Jorge Soler, Jo Adell and Zach Neto combined to go 1-for-11 with seven strikeouts, and Neto had the only hit among the trio.
The trade chatter could pick up again Tuesday night, when Jose Soriano starts against Milwaukee in what the Angels may hope becomes a showcase outing. Soriano has been strong lately, and the Brewers will counter with Robert Gasser as they try to keep rolling in the NL Central, where they hold a 6.5-game lead. Milwaukee is also now just a half-game behind the Los Angeles Dodgers for the best record in baseball.
In Other News...
Angels Just Sent A Clear Message With The Jo Adell Move
For the Angels, moving Jo Adell is another reminder of where the organization is trying to sharpen its roster and sort out its long-term picture. Adell had flashed enough to remain an intriguing name, but the Angels clearly decided the return and the roster flexibility mattered more than waiting longer for a fuller breakout.
The deal sends a young outfielder with upside into a new spot where he is expected to help, especially against left-handed pitching, while the Angels move on with a different kind of roster calculation in mind. For a team that has spent plenty of time trying to balance present needs with future control, this was the sort of move that signals a choice, even if the full meaning of it will take time to come into focus. [Read more 🡒]
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For the Angels, the move is harder to sort through because it cost them a starter who had become part of their long-term picture. In return, they picked up three players and added another layer to a deadline that signals just how much the front office was willing to reshape the roster, even if the full verdict on the deal may take years to come into focus. [Read more 🡒]
Zach Neto Trade Buzz Puts The Angels Infield Future In Focus
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What sharpened the speculation was a small but notable development on the other side, where top Red Sox prospect Franklin Arias was scratched from his Triple-A start. It is the sort of move that can send a rumor mill into overdrive, especially when the Angels are looking at ways to shape their future in the middle of the diamond, but for now it remains only that - talk, not a completed trade. [Read more 🡒]