Sandy laments 'embarrassing and unacceptable' control issues

ANAHEIM -- It was a typical start for Angels lefty Patrick Sandoval, and it again left him frustrated.

Sandoval was mostly solid, allowing two runs over five innings, but he didn't receive any run support in a 4-0 loss to the Twins in the series opener on Friday night at Angel Stadium. Sandoval has posted a 3.42 ERA with 106 strikeouts in 100 innings but has a record of just 3-8 on the year, as the Angels' offense has averaged 3.3 runs per game over his 19 outings. He’s also had trouble with his control, which has led to him constantly working hard to get out of jams.

"This season has been pretty frustrating for me pitching-wise,” Sandoval said. “I either lose it in an inning or a couple at-bats in a row. I've been able to limit damage this year, which is a positive, but I have to pitch better."

This theme played out once more against Minnesota, as Sandoval walked four and needed 95 pitches just to get through five innings. He gave up five hits, including a two-run homer to Gilberto Celestino in the second inning on a 1-1 slider that caught too much of the zone. It was just the fifth homer allowed by Sandoval this season and the first since July 2.

"I'm not happy with how I threw the ball today,” Sandoval said. “Four walks is embarrassing and unacceptable. Props to the defense playing behind me and making some plays. I was just fighting myself the whole game.”

Sandoval's lack of control has been an issue for a while now, as he's walked at least two batters in each of his last 12 starts, including four in back-to-back outings. It's one reason why he's only reached the six-inning mark once over his last eight outings.

"The walks have just been atrocious,” Sandoval said. “It's definitely something I need to improve."

His command problems were evident early, as he walked Byron Buxton to lead off the game but got out of the inning unscathed after getting Jose Miranda to ground into an inning-ending double play. He wasn't as fortunate in the second, when he allowed a two-out single to Gio Urshela before the homer to Celestino.

Sandoval got help from his defense in the third after issuing a leadoff walk to Sandy León, who advanced to second with two outs on a grounder from Carlos Correa. Miranda followed with a single to left, but Jo Adell threw out León at home to end the inning. It was the second outfield assist of the season for Adell and his first one from left field.

“It was nice to see,” Angels interim manager Phil Nevin said of Adell’s throw. “He’s been out there working every day. He’s out there taking balls live and working on his throwing. I’m just proud of the way he’s going about his business and you’re seeing the improvements in left field.”

Sandoval ran into trouble again in the fourth, when he gave up a two-out double to Urshela and walked Celestino on four pitches. But he got the left-handed-hitting Max Kepler to fly out to left to escape the inning. His final frame was similar, as he again walked León and gave up a single to Correa to put two runners on with one out. Sandoval then buckled down and got Miranda to fly out to center before striking out Jorge Polanco.

"He teetered,” Nevin said. “He walked the No. 9 hitter twice. He was behind in the count a lot and his pitch count rose. But he got through five and it was a 2-0 game, so we still had a chance to win the ballgame there if we could get something going offensively. We just didn't."

The Angels recorded just four hits on the night with David Fletcher and Luis Rengifo picking up two apiece. Their best opportunity came with two outs in the sixth, when Taylor Ward came to the plate against Twins starter Tyler Mahle with two runners in scoring position. Ward hit a deep drive to right-center field only to see it get caught by Kepler at the wall.

“It seemed like the good at-bats we took, we drove the ball the other way,” Nevin said. “Fletch did it twice and Rengifo was able to get the head out on a ball. We had a really good matchup with Ward in the sixth with two runners on. He hit a pitch on the screws, but just right at them. If it's a couple of degrees higher there, it's a tie game."