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Los Angeles Angels’ Shohei Ohtani follows through on an RBI single against the Texas Rangers during the seventh inning of a baseball game, Monday, Sept. 10, 2018, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
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Los Angeles Angels’ Mike Trout slides safely into third base, advancing from second, after a throwing error to first base by the Texas Rangers during the seventh inning of a baseball game, Monday, Sept. 10, 2018, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
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Texas Rangers starting pitcher Mike Minor throws to the Los Angeles Angels during the first inning of a baseball game Monday, Sept. 10, 2018, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
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Los Angeles Angels starting pitcher Jaime Barria throws to the Texas Rangers during the second inning of a baseball game Monday, Sept. 10, 2018, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
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Texas Rangers’ Joey Gallo follows through on a 2-RBI double against the Los Angeles Angels during the second inning of a baseball game Monday, Sept. 10, 2018, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
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Texas Rangers’ Jurickson Profar, left, and Adrian Beltre celebrate as they were both driven in on a double from Joey Gallo during the second inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels Monday, Sept. 10, 2018, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
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Los Angeles Angels’ Shohei Ohtani, right, follows through on a foul ball against the Texas Rangers during the second inning of a baseball game Monday, Sept. 10, 2018, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
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Texas Rangers’ Joey Gallo (13) is safe at third base on a sacrifice fly ball by Robinson Chirinos as Los Angeles Angels third baseman Taylor Ward, left, awaits the throw from the outfield during the second inning of a baseball game Monday, Sept. 10, 2018, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
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Angels starting pitcher Jaime Barria throws to the plate during the third inning of Monday’s game against the Rangers at Angel Stadium. (Photo by Victor Decolongon/Getty Images)
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Texas Rangers’ Ronald Guzman, right, follows through on his two-run home run against the Los Angeles Angels during the second inning of a baseball game Monday, Sept. 10, 2018, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
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Texas Rangers’ Ronald Guzman, right, celebrates his two-run home run with teammate Joey Gallo (13) during the second inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels Monday, Sept. 10, 2018, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
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Los Angeles Angels starting pitcher Jaime Barria makes an underhand throw to first base to put out Texas Rangers’ Elvis Andrus after a ground ball during the second inning of a baseball game Monday, Sept. 10, 2018, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
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Los Angeles Angels’ Shohei Ohtani follows through on a double against the Texas Rangers during the fourth inning of a baseball game Monday, Sept. 10, 2018, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
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Los Angeles Angels’ Shohei Ohtani hits a double against the Texas Rangers during the fourth inning of a baseball game Monday, Sept. 10, 2018, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
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ANAHEIM, CA – SEPTEMBER 10: Shohei Ohtani #17 of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim gets a high five from teammate Justin Upton #8 in the dugout after Ohtani scored during the fourth inning of the MLB game at Angel Stadium on September 10, 2018 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Victor Decolongon/Getty Images)
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Los Angeles Angels’ Shohei Ohtani, right, steals third base before the tag by Texas Rangers third baseman Jurickson Profar during the fourth inning of a baseball game Monday, Sept. 10, 2018, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
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Texas Rangers right fielder Shin-Soo Choo makes a sliding catch on a fly ball from Los Angeles Angels’ Jose Briceno during the fourth inning of a baseball game Monday, Sept. 10, 2018, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
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Los Angeles Angels’ Shohei Ohtani drives in a run with a single against the Texas Rangers during the seventh inning of a baseball game, Monday, Sept. 10, 2018, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
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Los Angeles Angels’ Shohei Ohtani runs the bases after a fly out by teammate Andrelton Simmons to end the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Texas Rangers, Monday, Sept. 10, 2018, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
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Texas Rangers catcher Robinson Chirinos, right, throws out Los Angeles Angels’ Mike Trout, left, at first base after a ground ball during the ninth inning of a baseball game, Monday, Sept. 10, 2018, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
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Texas Rangers’ Ronald Guzman, left, and Hanser Alberto celebrate after a 5-2 win over the Los Angeles Angels during a baseball game, Monday, Sept. 10, 2018, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
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ANAHEIM — The Angels are all but mathematically eliminated from the postseason with three weeks to play on the calendar. They must fight for attention, and the empty seats among the announced crowd of 32,891 at Angel Stadium on Monday showed that it won’t always be easy.
In the moment, there wasn’t much at stake in a 5-2 loss to the Texas Rangers. Angels starter Jaime Barría suffered a rare hiccup in a shortened start before Taylor Cole was masterful out of the bullpen. The Angels created many chances to score but left 10 runners on base.
The final score mattered little. The Angels fell to 71-73, 19 games behind the Houston Astros with 18 games to play.
For Barría and Cole, two pitchers auditioning for roles on the 2019 staff, it was an important game.
Barría allowed four runs over three innings, then was removed after a laborious 60-pitch effort. It was the second-shortest start he’s made in 23 games to begin his career.
“He’s had some tough starts,” Manager Mike Scioscia said of Barría. “Like the first couple innings in New York, he gave up four runs early, then came back and kept us in the game. We’ve seen that happen, but not the way it happened tonight. It’s uncharacteristic for him to be behind in so many counts and walk so many guys. … It was just a tough start for him.”
Facing the same team multiple times is no easy task for a pitcher, let alone a rookie. For Barría (10-9), Monday was his second game against the Texas Rangers in the last five days, and his fifth start against them this year.
The Rangers strike out more frequently than all but one American League club. Against Barría, they seemed unfazed by a two-strike count. More often, they ended each plate appearance with strikes to spare. In three innings Barría walked four batters, struck out two, and allowed three hits – including a home run and a double.
The Rangers had only scored two runs in their first four games against Barría. They doubled that total in the second inning Monday.
A scoreless first inning extended Barría’s streak of scoreless innings to 12 – a career high – before his command abandoned him completely. In the second inning, Joey Gallo pounced on a 2-and-2 slider for a double. Adrian Beltre and Jurickson Profar, who walked on nine pitches to begin the inning, scored on the hit and Texas took a 2-0 lead.
Robinson Chirinos hit a fly ball for the first out before the next hitter, Ronald Guzman, sent a 1-and-0 changeup 420 feet to center field for a home run. The Angels trailed 4-0 in the span of five batters.
It was already clear that Barría had lost his command. For good measure, he walked the next batter, Hanser Alberto, on four pitches. That earned a visit from pitching coach Charles Nagy. Barría escaped the inning without allowing another run and pitched a 1-2-3 third, but was replaced by Taylor Cole to begin the fourth inning.
“Three innings, 60 pitches is a lot,” Scioscia said. “Not only that but when you’re out of sync you’re going to be grinding. He just didn’t need to throw anymore tonight.”
Barría’s second-inning hiccup dampened some of the enthusiasm following an outstanding trip for the Angels’ starting rotation. The staff recorded a 1.92 earned-run average over 10 games against the Astros, Rangers and White Sox.
Cole steadied the ship with four perfect innings. The rookie right-hander struck out three of the 12 batters he faced.
“Honestly, I try not to look too far ahead or anything like that,” Cole said. “I just want to put us in a good situation. Whenever my name’s called I go out there and do my best, and let everything fall in its place the way it should.”
The Angels lost Shohei Ohtani’s pitching talents for the remainder of the season, forcing Scioscia to patch together nine innings with a “bullpen game” Tuesday. Barría picked a bad time for an abbreviated start. Cole picked a great time for the longest outing of his career.
Meanwhile, the Angels chipped away at their deficit.
Ohtani led off the fourth inning with a line drive to right-center field against Rangers starter Mike Minor (12-7). Center fielder Delino DeShields Jr. had to slide to cut the ball off in the gap, holding Ohtani to a double.
With one out, Ohtani stole third base after the Angels successfully challenged the original out call by umpire Nic Lentz. Jose Fernandez lined a single into center field, scoring Ohtani with the Angels’ first run. Taylor Ward and Kole Calhoun both walked in the inning, but the Angels left the bases loaded.
A two-out rally in the seventh inning led to the Angels’ second run. Mike Trout reached on an infield single. Guzman couldn’t handle Elvis Andrus’ one-hop throw to first base on a Justin Upton ground ball, and Trout went to third base on the E-5. That brought Ohtani to the plate, and Rangers manager Jeff Banister summoned left-handed reliever Alex Claudio from the bullpen.
Ohtani delivered for the second time against a southpaw, shooting a line-drive single into center field to drive in Trout. The Angels trailed 4-2.
Texas got the run back in the eighth inning against Angels pitcher Williams Jerez. Andrus singled with one out and went to third base on a two-out single by Jurickson Profar. Gallo came through again, this time with a single to right field to drive in Andrus.
In the ninth inning, David Fletcher drew a one-out walk against Jose Leclerc, but Trout grounded out and Upton struck out, stranding the tying run on deck. The Angels’ winning streak ended at four games.
Jim Johnson will start Tuesday’s game. It will be his second start in a career that consists of 668 games, and his first since his major league debut on July 29, 2006.
Another day, another #ShoTime double!@Angels | @MLBonFOX pic.twitter.com/HxR3Ep14QH
— FOX Sports West (@FoxSportsWest) September 11, 2018
Here’s your daily reminder @MikeTrout deserves a Gold Glove
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— FOX Sports West (@FoxSportsWest) September 11, 2018