Stunning pitching goes unrewarded

ANAHEIM » The Angels’ final game of July was not unlike most others this month. The pitching was “phenomenal,” as interim manager Phil Nevin described it, as Reid Detmers made one of his best starts of the season.

The hitting left something to be desired.

The Angels collected eight hits Sunday against the Texas Rangers, their most of any game in the four-game series against their American League West rivals. But they went 1 for 6 with runners in scoring position and left seven men on base en route to a 5-2 loss before an announced crowd of 29,257 at Angel Stadium.

The game was tied 2-2 when Texas loaded the bases against Jose Quijada in the ninth inning. Closer Raisel Iglesias entered and promptly served up a basesclearing double to Ezequiel Duran. Just like that, the Angels’ third loss in four games was sealed.

Quijada (0-3) faced four batters and allowed only one hit, an infield single by Leody Taveras. But he walked two of the other three batters he faced, throwing only six of 17 pitches for strikes.

“Just didn’t have his best stuff,” Nevin said of Quijada. “It was a lane we liked for him, with the two switchhitters then the lefty, Garcia. He just didn’t have his good stuff today.”

The Angels were trailing 1-0 in the bottom of the first inning when Shohei Ohtani tripled and scored on Luis Rengifo’s single. In the second inning, the Angels loaded the bases against right-hander Dane Dunning without recording an out. Only one run scored, on a sacrifice fly by Andrew Velazquez.

The Angels couldn’t score again.

“You’re looking for that big inning,” Nevin said. “We had other opportunities too. We had first and third (with one out in the fourth). We didn’t get a bunt down. We didn’t score the run. We had other opportunities to score the runs. We didn’t do it today.”

Detmers surrendered two runs in seven innings, permitting only three hits — all singles — while striking out a career-high 12 batters. He threw nine pitches in the second inning and recorded three strikeouts, the third “immaculate inning” in Angels franchise history.

Detmers’ four-seam fastball averaged 93.8 mph Sunday, nearly a full tick above his season average (93.1). His average slider (86.4) was two ticks above his season average (84.0). His 24 swings and misses were the 11thmost in any game by any pitcher this season. For comparison’s sake, Detmers induced 10 swings and misses when he pitched a no-hitter against the Tampa Bay Rays on May 10.

Detmers has made four starts since his brief demotion to Triple-a Salt Lake. The left-hander allowed a total of four runs (three earned) across 24 innings, a 1.13 earned-run average.

“Quite frankly, he shouldn’t have given up any runs today,” Nevin said. “He pitched his (butt) off.”

Marcus Semien led off the game with a walk and an uncontested steal of second base. He scored with two outs on a sharply-hit single by Nathaniel Lowe.

In the fifth inning, Charlie Culberson smoked Detmers’ changeup down the left-field line for a double. Brandon Marsh misplayed a bounce in the corner, allowing Culberson to advance to third. The next batter, Elier Hernandez, drove in Culberson with a sacrifice fly.

Detmers needed pitches to complete seven innings.

“It’s definitely a confidence booster,” he said of his last four starts. “Since the first outing in Baltimore I’ve felt good ever since. Sometimes the pitch count gets a little high but I can deal with that. I’ve felt good ever since I’ve been back. Stuff’s been working how I want it to. I’ve gotten some swings and misses.”

The loss dropped the Angels to 43-59, 3½ games behind Texas (46-55) for third place in the division.

According to the Associated Press, the Angels became only the third team since 1907 to bat at or below .200 in the month of July, with the exception of the 2020 season. The Angels hit .199; the 1972 Mets batted .188 and 2021 Rangers hit .198. 105 the