José Rojas’ first major league hit is one of few highlights in Angels’ loss
KANSAS CITY — The Angels finished an injury-riddled trip with a 6-1 loss to the Kansas City Royals on Wednesday, dropping their first series of the season to split the six-game swing.
“This was kind of an awkward road trip,” manager Joe Maddon said after his team fell to 7-5. “We had the opportunity to really have a great road trip, but it was adverse. The things that happened made it much more difficult.”
Here are three observations from Wednesday’s game.
More missed chances
The holes in the Angels’ lineup — which was without Anthony Rendon (groin), Max Stassi (thumb), Justin Upton (back) and Juan Lagares (calf) — became apparent Wednesday, as the team matched its season-low in hits (six) and runs.
They squandered scoring opportunities in the third, coming up empty after loading the bases with one out, and the eighth, leaving runners on the corners. Their run came in the sixth, when Mike Trout singled and scored from first on a Jared Walsh double.
The Angels can articulate many reasons why they’d like to reach the postseason, and high on the list is getting superstar Mike Trout on that stage.
Canning solid in defeat
Griffin Canning took the loss despite giving up just two runs in five innings with five strikeouts. He leaned heavily on his slider and also mixed in some sharp changeups and curveballs.
His one big mistake came on a third-inning cutter that Salvador Perez hit for a home run, part of his eight-hit, four-RBI outburst in the series.
Rojas gets first hit
José Rojas is the pride of his Mexican immigrant parents, a role model to siblings and a relentless worker on the field. Now, he’s also a member of the Angels.
One Angels bright spot on Wednesday: Rookie José Rojas recorded his first MLB hit, snapping an 0-for-17 start to the season with a ninth-inning double into right-center field.
“Definitely felt like a slow-motion moment,” Rojas said. “Felt like a sigh of relief.”
Go beyond the scoreboard
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