Jack Kochanowicz Struggles Continue In 9-5 Loss Against Tigers
The Los Angeles Angels failed to take the rubber match against the Detroit Tigers in a 9-5 loss. Jack Kochanowicz allowed seven runs on nine hits, two walks, and one homer in three innings in a disastrous outing for the young right-hander. Carson Fulmer came in for the right-hander for the remainder of the game to stop the bleeding. However, outfielder Riley Greene was able to get the best of Fulmer, hitting a two-run homer to right field, giving Detroit a 9-3 lead in the sixth inning, as well as the game-ending dagger. The Angels wouldn’t go out down six runs as Luis Rengifo hit a two-run shot over the right field wall, giving some hope late. That hope would not come, as the Angels would go down in the ninth inning.
The Halos managed to get seven hits, two of them homers by the bats of Nolan Schanuel and Rengifo, putting the Angels in a spot to score and get ahead in the run column. Just when the Halos looked to gain momentum with runners on base, a groundout or a double play was hit for an out, killing any momentum for the Angels' lineup to capitalize on. For Tiger batters, on the other hand, made the most of their opportunities and made them early as the Tigers were able to get on the board with a double and a couple of RBI singles from Zach McKinstry and Greene, respectively. The Tigers would get their most significant lead of the game in the fourth when the team nearly batted around the lineup as they scored four runs to go up 7-0 with a Gleyber Torres RBI single and a Kerry Carpenter three-run home run to cap off the explosive inning and end Kochanowicz’s day on the mound.
For the Angels, the team lacked consistent hits and unreliable starting pitching to win the series against Detroit. Sure, there were moments of the game where the Angels looked good enough to be able to win against a postseason-caliber team, and maybe just get the chance to snowball those moments into something big, but that never came. The Tigers' consistent offense was potent against the struggling Kochanowicz and carried it over against Fulmer to a point that no Angels pitcher was going to keep at bay. The Angels now see themselves behind six teams for a wild-card spot, including the Minnesota Twins, who decided to become sellers at the trade deadline, while the Angels were keen on being buyers.
The Angels will be heading back to Anaheim for a “Freeway Series” matchup against the Los Angeles Dodgers. This series will be an exciting rematch for both teams, as the Angels were able to bring out the brooms in Chavez Ravine as they swept the Dodgers in a three-game series. The upcoming series could be the final straw for the struggling Angels, or a chance to beat a World Series-favorite Dodgers team once again and get some much-needed good mojo back.
