Los Angeles Angels send Cleveland Guardians to fifth loss in a row

ANAHEIM, Calif. — Mike Trout homered and drove in three runs, and Patrick Sandoval pitched seven innings of two-hit ball Tuesday night as the surging Los Angeles Angels defeated the Guardians 4-1 for their third consecutive victory.

Trout drove a slider from Triston McKenzie (0-2) into the bullpen in left field for a two-run homer in the third inning to give the Angels a 3-0 lead. He was inches from a second home run in the fifth, but the ball hit the wall in the left-field corner for an RBI double to score Shohei Ohtani.

Trout, a three-time American League Most Valuable Player, is 14 for 34 during a nine-game hitting streak.

Sandoval — who struck out nine — has not allowed an earned run in three starts this season. A left-hander, Sandoval retired his first six batters before Ernie Clement walked leading off the third and Myles Straw singled with two outs. Sandoval (1-0) then set down 12 in a row before Owen Miller lined a single to center with two outs in the seventh.

The Guardians have dropped all five games on their road trip but averted a second consecutive shutout in Anaheim when Straw began the ninth inning with a base hit and scored on José Ramírez’s one-out double off Jimmy Herget.

Raisel Iglesias struck out Franmil Reyes and Miller for his fourth save.

McKenzie allowed four runs and seven hits in 5⅔ innings. He struck out six. A right-hander, McKenzie retired the first four Angels batters before Anthony Rendon hit a one-out double in the second and scored on Brandon Marsh’s base hit up the middle.

web acc

Besides hitting two doubles, Rendon made a nice defensive play at third base in the fifth inning. Rendon made a diving stop on a sharp grounder hit by Clement and made the throw in time to get him at first.

The Guardians had two great defensive plays. Right fielder Oscar Mercado made a diving play on a sinking line drive by Andrew Velazquez in the seventh inning, and shortstop Amed Rosario made a nice throw from shallow center that Austin Hedges fielded to get Trout out at home. Rosario took the relay throw after Straw chased down Jared Walsh’s double at the center-field wall.

Trainer’s room

Guardians outfielder Steven Kwan was out of the lineup for the second consecutive game due to right hamstring tightness.