The Rays expose just about every weakness the Angels have, as they struggle offensively and starter Scott Kazmir gives up three runs and seven hits.
The rotation isn't nearly as good as they thought it would be, the bullpen has only two relievers they can rely on, and there are gaping holes in a lineup Mike Scioscia thought would be among the strongest and deepest he's had in his 11 years as manager.
The Angels have won five of the last six American League West titles, but they do not look like contenders so far this season.
The Tampa Bay Rays exposed just about every weakness the Angels have in a 7-2 victory in Angel Stadium on Tuesday night, dropping the Angels to 15-20.
Scott Kazmir threw 108 pitches in five innings — the norm for the inefficient Angels left-hander this season — giving up three runs, seven hits and walking three, and Evan Longoria greeted reliever Scot Shields with a game-breaking three-run homer in the seventh.
The Angels had two runs and six hits in 71/3 innings off Rays right-hander Jeff Niemann (3-0), and their eighth-inning rally fizzled when Rays reliever Grant Balfour struck out Howie Kendrick and got Michael Ryan to ground out with the bases loaded to end the inning.
"All the cylinders aren't clicking right now," center fielder Torii Hunter said. "When we hit, the pitching is not right, and when the pitching is right, we don't hit. Everything is not coming together like we want it to, but the season is not over."
This lineup was supposed to feature good speed at the top and power throughout, but the Angels rank 11th in the league with a .312 on-base percentage, ninth with a .389 slugging percentage, and they're hitting .250 (70 for 280) with runners in scoring position.
No. 9 hitter Brandon Wood has appeared overmatched, with 31 strikeouts and two walks in 101 at-bats, and his current three-for-30 slump dropped his average from .197 on May 1 to .168.
But the soft spots aren't only at the bottom of the order. No. 5 hitter Hideki Matsui and No. 6 hitter Juan Rivera have put a drag on the offense, and No. 2 hitter Bobby Abreu has not provided his usual production.
Matsui was batting .310 with four homers, six doubles and 11 runs batted in on April 24. Since then, he is six for 52 with no extra-base hits and four RBIs in 15 games, his average falling to .228, which raises the question:
Is the 35-year-old Japanese slugger in a prolonged slump or has age and a pair of arthritic knees finally caught up to him?
Rivera, who did not play Tuesday night, hit .287 with 25 homers and 88 RBIs last season but is batting .236 with four homers — one in his last 20 games — and 15 RBIs.
The 36-year-old Abreu was so good last season — he hit .293 with a .390 on-base percentage, 15 homers, 103 RBIs and 96 runs — the Angels gave him with a two-year, $19-million contract extension.
But Abreu's numbers are way down across the board — the right fielder is batting .257 with a .331 on-base percentage, four homers and 13 RBIs, and he is seven for 42 with no RBIs in his last 11 games.
About the only Angels who are having decent offensive seasons are Kendry Morales, Hunter and Kendrick.
"You're never going to have nine guys on board at the same time," Scioscia said. "The offense isn't flowing right now, and we're going to need that to put some pressure on clubs. It took a while to get to this spot; it's going to take a while to get out."
The same could be said for Kazmir, who remains a work in progress. Kazmir (2-3). He was able to bring his long-lost slider into the game more often and effectively Tuesday, but his fastball command was still off.
"We're still trying to unlock Kaz and get him to be the pitcher we know he can be," Scioscia said. "It was very frustrating tonight. He threw far too many pitches for five innings.
"If he wants to get back to where he was a couple of years ago, he's absolutely going to need that pitch. But it's more than just the slider. He's not getting the fastball in good zones and bringing the changeup into play like he can."
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Angels, in a weak spot, lose to Tampa Bay, 7-2
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