Angels supervisor Brad Ausmus held a brief team assembly earlier than batting practice Saturday, possibly to 
cope with the group’s slow play all through an 8-recreation stretch wherein the Angels misplaced six video games.
“I assume our gamers are very targeted, they pass about their business the proper manner, and I have definitely zero difficulties with the attempted degree or the worrying,” Ausmus stated. “We just had a crappy week. We’ve got to place the crappy week behind us.”
The crappy week was given worse. Not simplest did the Angels lose to the Cleveland Indians 7-2 at Progressive Field on Saturday night, they lost their most dependable beginning pitcher when Felix Pena suffered a proper knee sprain inside the second inning and needed to be carried off the sector.
Pena, who’s 8-3 with a 4.Fifty eight earned-run common in ninety-six 1/three innings and threw the final seven innings of a combined no-hitter in opposition to Seattle on July 12, underwent an MRI check, the results of which had been no longer to be had.
“I’m no longer overly optimistic based on his reaction,” Ausmus said while requested to evaluate the severity of Pena’s harm. “He’s pitched pretty properly for us. We’re taking some hits in the starting rotation. We’ve were given to discover another manner.”
The infield might take successful too. Shortstop Andrelton Simmons, who sat out five weeks of May and June because of a left ankle sprain, changed into scratched after injuring his left foot within the batting cage and underwent an MRI test.
“He didn’t foul a ball off of it,” Ausmus stated. “It turned into bizarre damage. We’re no longer certain exactly what it’s miles. That’s why we’re getting it checked.”
There have been outs within the second inning whilst Jose Ramirez hit a difficult grounder that first baseman Albert Pujols gloved near the outfield grass.
Pena, the only Angels starter to remain within the rotation for the complete season, needed to lunge a chunk for Pujols’ underhand turn. Pena twisted his left ankle on the bag however started hopping on his left foot, an illustration the proper-hander suffered a proper leg injury.
“It didn’t appear out of the regular aside from him happening after he hit the pinnacle of the bag,” Ausmus said. “There become no obvious leg distortion or anything.”
It has become clear as Pena grimaced in pain and remained on the sphere for a couple of minutes that the damage becomes critical.
The Angels had determined earlier than the sport to name up left-hander Patrick Sandoval, a former Mission Viejo High standout, from triple-A Salt Lake to make his huge league debut in Cincinnati on Monday, advertising that was expected to push struggling left-hander Jose Suarez again to the minor leagues.
With Pena possibly headed for the injured list, Suarez changed into pushed back to Tuesday.
Sandoval, 22, become acquired from Houston for catcher Martin Maldonado on July 2018. He turned into 4-7 with a 5. Seventy-one ERA in 20 starts for double-A Mobile and Salt Lake, striking out 98 and taking walks forty-two in eighty 1/three innings.
Trevor Cahill replaced Pena and took a blended no-hitter into the fifth inning, while matters unraveled. Franmil Reyes doubled with one out, and Jason Kipnis hit a towering -run domestic run to center subject.
Cahill (3-7) hit Kevin Plawecki with a pitch. Justin Anderson gave up a single to Tyler Naquin and a 3-run home run to Francisco Lindor that made it 5-zero. Cleveland, that is a primary league-satisfactory 36-15 since June four, scored two runs within the 8th, one on Carlos Santana’s domestic run against Cam Bedrosian.
Justin Upton, who is batting .153 with 25 strikeouts in 17 games given that July 13, drove in both Angels runs with a 6th-inning sacrifice fly and an 8th-inning single, but the Angels had been held to a few runs or less for the fourth time in five days.
“We’re in sort of a lull offensively,” Ausmus said, “and had been for touch while.”
