Sandoval's struggles mount in shortest outing of season 

ARLINGTON -- Over his previous five starts, Angels starter Patrick Sandoval was nearly untouchable. Through 29 innings, the southpaw struck out 27 batters and yielded just six runs in posting a 1.86 ERA over that stretch.

During his outing against the Rangers on Monday night, though, Sandoval was not nearly as crisp. The California native struggled mightily with his command and surrendered a career-high six walks and five runs in the Halos’ 12-0 loss to open a three-game set at Globe Life Field.

Sandoval went just 2 2/3 innings in his shortest outing of the season, logging 83 pitches and was unable to find his groove.

“I played like crap tonight,” Sandoval said. “I just didn’t pick up my teammates. It’s tough whenever you go out like that and get pulled in the third inning. Putting your team in a hole like that, it’s tough.

“I definitely have to be better and pitch better.”

With Sandoval unable to consistently locate pitches, the Rangers, who boast an American League-best .293 batting average against left-handers, took full advantage.

Though he was able to escape a bases-loaded jam in a 27-pitch first inning, Sandoval wasn’t quite as lucky in the second and third innings, as the Rangers tacked on five runs.

Marcus Semien helped Texas draw first blood with a two-run single in the second inning and the Rangers nearly batted around as they sent nine to the plate in a three-run third inning.

“He was just scattered,” Angels manager Phil Nevin said. “The walks hurt him today. It hurts your pitch count and the ability to go deep in the game. [Eighty-three] pitches through three innings is just too much. He just wasn’t able to find the plate tonight.”

When asked if there was a certain pitch that wasn’t working for him, Sandoval didn’t mince words on his performance.

“None of them [worked], really,” Sandoval said. “I haven’t checked the numbers yet, but I think I threw more balls [40] than strikes [43]. A ton of pitches in 2 2/3 innings and walking batters is not a recipe for success.”

For a struggling Angels team fading fast in the postseason chase, Sandoval’s uncharacteristically poor start was not what the club needed from its ace. The Halos (59-61), who have lost eight of their last 10 games, now find themselves seven back of an AL Wild Card spot.

Making matters worse, the Angels’ offense mustered just one hit and struck out 12 times in the lopsided loss.

“There wasn’t anything good about today,” Nevin said. “I’ll just leave it at that. It’s not just one player, it was everybody.”

The Angels had no answers for recent Rangers trade acquisition Max Scherzer, as the three-time Cy Young Award winner posted a season-high 11 strikeouts in seven innings of one-hit ball. It was the first time the Halos were limited to just one hit since a 10-0 loss to the Mariners on July 19, 2019.

“Around the third [inning] is when I kind of locked in completely,” Scherzer said. “I was working with [catcher Mitch Garver] and just started to locate everything. Located all the pitches. I felt like I had a good rhythm with Garv. We were in good rhythm tonight.”

Part of the reason the Angels’ offense faltered, at least from Nevin’s perspective, was spending too much time on the field during Sandoval’s struggles on the mound.

“Anytime you have to stand on the field for 25 to 30 pitches every half-inning on defense, trust me, it’s hard to go up and have a good at-bat,” Nevin said. “Especially against a guy that’s going to the Hall of Fame.”