Change in mindset helps Sandoval bounce back with 10 K's

ANAHEIM -- After going 1-4 with a 6.33 ERA through his first six starts despite earning the honor of being the Angels' Opening Day starter this season, left-hander Patrick Sandoval vowed to bring a different mentality into his outing against the Phillies on Wednesday afternoon.

Sandoval wanted to be more aggressive on the mound and wear his emotions on his sleeve, much like he did during his breakout 2022 season that saw him post a 2.91 ERA in 27 starts. That shift in mindset seemed to pay off, as Sandoval struck out 10 over five solid innings in a 2-1 loss at Angel Stadium. It marked the fourth time in 91 career starts that Sandoval reached double digits in strikeouts and was the first time since July 9, 2022 against the Orioles.

“I’m just trying to get back to who I am as a pitcher,” said Sandoval, who gave up two runs on four hits and two walks. “I don’t want any outside influences to dictate how I pitch or how I go about my work.”

Sandoval’s biggest issue was his pitch count, as he consistently got ahead of hitters but had trouble putting them away quickly. He threw first-pitch strikes to 15 of the 21 batters he faced, which is an improvement on his first-pitch strike percentage of just 54.3 percent entering his outing.

Sandoval threw 20 pitches in the first inning and 43 more in a laborious second frame, but he recovered to get through five innings. He loaded the bases with two outs in the second when he walked Cristian Pache on six pitches after previously giving up singles to J.T. Realmuto and Whit Merrifield.

Sandoval appeared to get out of the inning by getting Kyle Schwarber to hit a grounder up the middle on a 3-2 slider, but shortstop Zach Neto couldn’t get a good read on the grounder and overran it after it appeared to take an awkward bounce off the mound. Neto tried to dive back for the ball, but it got past him for a two-run single.

“I was playing right up the middle, and I couldn’t really see it off the bat,” Neto said. “They said the ball hit the landing spot in the hole, which made it go the other way. So I didn't see it until it already got past me.”

It was yet another hard-luck play behind Sandoval, but the left-hander didn’t let it unravel this time. He escaped the inning without further damage by getting Trea Turner to fly out to center and settled down over the next three frames.

“To be honest with you, I didn't think he was going to make it through the second,” Angels manager Ron Washington said. “So that was an outstanding job.”

Sandoval relied heavily on his slider, throwing it 36 times, including getting 10 called strikes with it. His changeup was also effective, as he threw it 27 times and registered four whiffs on nine swings. He threw just 22 fastballs among his 102 offerings.

“I feel like I’m at my best when I’m using any pitch in any count,” Sandoval said. “And I don’t shy away from using whatever I want.”

Sandoval kept the Angels in the game, but the offense couldn’t get much going against Phillies ace Zack Wheeler despite working long at-bats to get his pitch count up. Wheeler, who entered with a 1.93 ERA in six starts, threw 106 pitches over five innings. The Halos scored their lone run against him on a solo homer from Ehire Adrianza in the second.

They had opportunities, including in the eighth, when they put together three hits but saw Taylor Ward get caught stealing at second base after he misread a sign. Pinch-hitter Cole Tucker came to the plate with two on and two out but flied out to right to end the scoring threat.

The Angels also had runners at first and third with one out in the ninth, but Jo Adell struck out and Ward’s deep drive to left died at the warning track. The club went 0-for-10 with runners in scoring position and hasn’t won a series since April 1-3 in Miami. But Ward said there are still positives to take away from playing the red-hot Phillies close during the three-game set.

“I think a lot of us are struggling, and so once we get back to what we’re supposed to do in the big leagues, things will turn around,” Ward said. “I think the last few days was a good step in that direction. We just have to get back to doing our thing.”