NEW YORK — Just when the Angels were on their way to another huge missed opportunity, they caught a break.
New York Yankees shortstop Anthony Volpe booted a routine double play ball – twice – and it allowed the Angels to score the go-ahead run in the eighth inning.
That was the crack in the door the Angels needed to squeak out a 3-2 victory on Wednesday night, as they took the first three games of this four-game series in the Bronx.
Starter Jack Kochanowicz gave up only two solo homers in 5⅓ strong innings, and then four relievers shut down the Yankees the rest of the way.
The Angels (36-37) could have had a comfortable lead if they had capitalized on any of their first six at-bats with runners in scoring position. Their only runs were on solo homers from Nolan Schanuel and Jo Adell.
When Adell came to the plate with the bases loaded and one out in the eighth, it looked like he had spoiled the rally by hitting into a double play.
The ball was hit right at Volpe, who bobbled it. Once he didn’t field it cleanly, the double play was gone. Volpe then made a bad throw to second and the Yankees didn’t get an out.
Even though the Angels still had the bases loaded with one out, they couldn’t get an insurance run, which left no margin for error for the bullpen.
Ryan Zeferjahn, working for the third day in a row, started the inning by walking Jasson Dominguez and hitting Austin Wells. He then got Trent Grisham on a pop-up.
As Aaron Judge came to the plate, Connor Brogdon came out of the bullpen. Brogdon threw one pitch to Judge, who hit a fly ball to center field.
Brogdon then got Cody Bellinger on a foul ball, with third baseman Luis Rengifo making a nice running catch.
Closer Kenley Jansen worked the ninth to convert his 15th save of the season.
An all-around night of good Angels’ pitching began with Kochanowicz.
Kochanowicz struck out a career-high eight in his 5⅓ innings. He did not give up a hit besides the homers by Jazz Chisholm Jr. and Cody Bellinger.
For Kochanowicz, who has been inconsistent all season, this is now two strong starts in a row. He allowed only two runs on Friday in Baltimore before a rain delay ended his night in the fifth inning.
Kochanowicz threw his changeup 21 times, the most he had used the pitch since last month’s game at Dodger Stadium, which was his best game of the season.
The Yankees whiffed on seven of their 14 swings at his changeup, including both of his strikeouts of Aaron Judge.
The Yankees had a total of 12 whiffs against Kochanowicz, which was one shy of the career high he reached when he pitched against the Yankees last month in Anaheim.
After Kochanowicz was done, left-hander Brock Burke and right-hander Hector Neris got the Angels through the sixth and seventh innings, keeping the score tied.
More to come on this story.