Suarez's rough start presents Halos with rotation decision

PHOENIX -- After an encouraging run in long relief in May, lefty José Suarez was rewarded with a chance to make his first start of the year with fellow lefty Reid Detmers trying to figure things out at Triple-A Salt Lake.

Suarez, though, struggled, allowing four runs over 2 2/3 innings in a 9-4 loss to the D-backs on Tuesday at Chase Field. He gave up six hits, including four for extra bases, and walked one to fall to 1-1 with a 7.08 ERA in 34 1/3 innings this year. He said he dealt with some nerves but believes he can build on his outing, although it’s not guaranteed his next one will come in a start.

“I was excited because I hadn’t started a game since last year,” Suarez said through interpreter Manny Del Campo. “I have more in the tank. I was very excited but now I know I can keep going and everything will be good.”

The Angels will now have to decide how they will handle that spot in the rotation, as Detmers also had a rough showing in his first start at Triple-A on Friday, while right-hander Chase Silseth began a rehab assignment with Salt Lake on Tuesday, but was hit hard.

Detmers gave up seven runs, including four homers, over five innings and is expected to remain in the Minors until he gets things rolling. Silseth, who has been out since April 7 with right elbow soreness, surrendered six runs on four hits and five walks and is likely to need another rehab start. But the Angels will need to make a decision on who will start on Sunday against the Giants, and their options appear a bit limited.

“We’ve got to wait and see how everything goes,” manager Ron Washington said. “We’ve got to go through the rest of the rotation and see where we are. I can't answer that right now.”

Suarez, 26, had a 10.13 ERA through nine appearances in March/April but turned it around with a 2.87 ERA over his next seven outings, dating back to May 3. It gave him the chance to make a spot start against the D-backs on a pitch count limit of roughly 65-75 and five innings.

But Suarez had trouble from the start, walking the first batter he faced in the first inning. He was hurt by a pair of triples from Randal Grichuk and Corbin Carroll in the second that allowed the D-backs to get out to an early 2-0 lead.

The Angels rallied to tie it thanks to back-to-back RBI doubles from Taylor Ward and Kevin Pillar with two outs in the third.

Suarez, however, couldn’t give the Angels a shutdown inning after scoring, as he gave the lead right back to the D-backs on a homer from Grichuk. The two-run shot, which came on a 3-2 fastball over the heart of the plate, ended Suarez’s night after 65 pitches. He had issues getting ahead of hitters, throwing first-pitch strikes to just five of the 14 batters he faced.

“We were just in some counts we had to work out of, but it wasn’t due to a lack of effort,” said catcher Logan O’Hoppe, who exited after being hit in the groin area by a foul ball in the sixth inning. “He was trying to make his pitches, but it just didn't go our way. It was a frustrating night, overall, for sure.”

It forced the Angels to dip into their bullpen early in the game, with fellow long reliever Carson Fulmer going 2 2/3 innings and allowing two runs on two hits. The club had to use four relievers in the loss in the series opener, including top setup man Hunter Strickland for 1 2/3 frames, which could affect the rest of the series.

But the Angels are coming off an off-day on Monday and Washington was still mostly encouraged by what he saw from Suarez. He believes nerves played a part in his outing but shouldn’t be an issue if they need to turn to him again.

“I don’t know exactly what his emotions were starting right there but I did see him competing and that’s what I liked,” Washington said. “It certainly hurt him not getting ahead of hitters but he was competing and that’s what I was looking for.”