HOUSTON — The nights of good pitching have been rare enough for the Angels lately that it was no doubt disappointing to waste one.
The Angels had as many errors as hits – two – in a 2-0 loss to the Houston Astros on Friday night, as they dropped to 10 games under .500 for the first time all season.
One of those errors, by rookie second baseman Christian Moore, led to the game’s first run, in the seventh inning.
Both of the Angels’ hits were also in the seventh inning, when they failed to convert on an opportunity score the game’s first run. The Angels (62-72) also loaded the bases on three walks in the eighth, before Jo Adell hit a flyout to end the inning.
Angels starter Tyler Anderson and four relievers did all they could, but they got no support.
The game was scoreless in the bottom of the seventh. With one out, Astros slugger Yordan Alvarez hit a sharp ground ball directly to Moore, who booted it.
“It was hit pretty hard,” Moore said. “I just took my eyes off it a little.”
Interim manager Ray Montgomery added that it wasn’t just a physical error. It was also a mental mistake for not retrieving the mishandled ball quickly enough.
“You’ve got to stay with the play,” Montgomery said. “I thought he still might have had a shot if he continued with the play.”
The next hitter, José Altuve, hit a flare into shallow center field. Moore, who was running with his back to the infield, got there but couldn’t make the play. Center fielder Bryce Teodosio, who has outstanding range, got an uncharacteristic bad jump on the ball. Moore said he also might have run after the ball cautiously because of Teodosio.
“I was a little hesitant to even run out there that much, because I know how fast he is, I know how spectacular he can be out there,” Moore said. “Kind of just a weird in-between all of us. Didn’t really communicate too much. I tried to snag it last second, and I missed it.”
Carlos Correa then singled into right, driving in Alvarez.
Just before that difficult defensive inning, Moore had been a part of the Angels’ failure to convert on their first good scoring opportunity of the game.
For six innings the Angels didn’t even have a hit against Cristian Javier, who was making his fourth start since coming back from Tommy John surgery.
Yoán Moncada then led off the seventh with a double against reliever Enyel De Los Santos. Adell followed a single, sending Moncada to third.
Logan O’Hoppe then hit a fly ball to shallow right, not deep enough to score the run. Moore struck out, then Niko Kavadas hit a ball to the warning track in right, ending the inning.
“First and third, nobody out, you got a couple AB’s coming behind there that you hoped would have been a little better quality,” Montgomery said.
After the Astros scored in the bottom of the inning, veteran reliever Craig Kimbrel gave the Angels a chance by walking the bases loaded, with two outs.
By the time the Angels got another chance in the ninth, the Astros added an insurance run against reliever Ryan Zeferjahn. That also scored because shortstop Zach Neto couldn’t make a play on a sharply-hit ball that was ruled a hit.
The lack of offense and defense spoiled a strong start from Anderson, who worked five innings in his first start after being on the paternity list.
Unfortunately for Anderson, the Angels didn’t score while he was in the game, so his winless streak extended to 22 straight starts. He last picked up a victory on April 18.
Anderson got in one significant jam in the fourth inning, when the Astros loaded the bases with no outs, with two walks and a single. Astros catcher Yainer Diaz hit a ground ball to third baseman Yoán Moncada, who stepped on the bag and then threw home to complete a double play. Anderson then struck out Cam Smith.
Anderson said he felt like he carried some positive momentum from his previous outing, when he gave up two runs in three innings against the Chicago Cubs. He felt a particular adjustment with his changeup was helpful.
“A little adjustment I made my delivery last start just made it seem like guys are having a harder time picking it up, and I can land it more consistently,” Anderson said.