Angels lose in 10 innings, despite Shohei Ohtani’s grand slam and a triple play

ANAHEIM — The Angels had all the elements for an entertaining and encouraging victory, even before they turned up the electricity with a triple play to escape a jam in the top of the ninth inning.

And then it ended with more disappointment, as the Angels lost, 9-6, in 10 innings to the Tampa Bay Rays on Friday night.

The Rays knocked in their free runner and then a couple of insurance runs charged to Carlos Estévez in the top of the 10th, and then the Angels came up empty in the bottom of the inning.

Estévez has allowed 11 runs in seven innings in his last seven games, including two blown saves and a loss.

“I feel fine, body wise, arm wise,” Estévez said. “But I believe I gotta fix some things on my stuff. The fastball, I have to get more on a line with it, not too spread out. I gotta double check on those things.”

It spoiled a night that had all good vibes from a Shohei Ohtani grand slam, along with the return of the Angels’ No. 1 prospect and the debut of their No. 2 prospect.

Catcher Logan O’Hoppe, who is still considered the Angels’ No. 1 prospect, had been out for four months after shoulder surgery. He was joined in the lineup by first baseman Nolan Schanuel, who was drafted in the first round just 40 days ago.

They were two of the four players who collaborated on the defensive play of the game, in the ninth inning.

Estévez had allowed back-to-back singles to start the inning, putting runners at the corners. He then got Harold Ramirez to hit a grounder to shortstop Luis Rengifo. He flipped to Brandon Drury at second, and Drury fired to Schanuel at first for the second out. Yandy Diaz then broke from third as soon as Drury threw to first. Schanuel made a strong throw to O’Hoppe, who put the tag down to completed the Angels’ first triple play since 1997.

“That was insane,” Estévez said. “I think the only other time I’ve been part of a triple play was in Little League when I was 11. That was insane. It was really cool to be part of. It was amazing to see how smooth it was.”

The Angels, though, couldn’t parlay that into a run in the bottom of the inning, despite a leadoff walk from Rengifo. Pinch-runner Andrew Velazquez stole second immediately, but the Angels couldn’t even get him to third.

Manager Phil Nevin said he didn’t want to bunt Velazquez to third with Randal Grichuk because Grichuk hasn’t bunted much, and then the Angels would have only gotten one chance to drive in the run with Schanuel before Ohtani would have been intentionally walked.

“We certainly had our opportunities there,” Nevin said. “They certainly did as well early in the game. We just didn’t push a run across. I thought the at-bats were really good during the game. A couple got away there in the ninth inning. That’s what happens when games get like this.”

Before the game began, the Angels were excited by O’Hoppe’s return and Schanuel’s debut.

Nevin made a point of telling Schanuel before the game not to put too much pressure on himself to turn around the slumping club.

“Don’t feel like you’re coming here to be a savior for us,” Nevin said he told the 21-year-old. “Come here and have fun and play ball. … We’ve got dudes we pay to be impact guys and make a difference in here and they’re gonna be hitting behind you.”

A few hours later, Schanuel worked an eight-pitch walk in his second major league plate appearance, and Ohtani followed with a grand slam, putting the Angels up 5-1 in the second inning.

Schanuel collected his first hit in the seventh inning. He also snagged a line drive and turned an unassisted double play.

“I thought he put together some really good at-bats,” Nevin said. “Huge walk in front of Shohei’s grand slam. It’s been a shot in the arm with some young guys here. The base hit was a big at-bat. Finishing off the triple play, that is just great field awareness and instincts. Made a nice play on the line drive as well. So that was a nice nice first day for him.”

It looked like it was going to come in a victory, when Ohtani hit hit grand slam. The Angels had a four-run lead for the first time since Aug. 8. That game was the only time this month when they had a lead that big.

At least they held on to win that one, against the San Francisco Giants.

Tyler Anderson gave it back in a few innings. He gave up three runs in the fourth, after three straight soft hits with two outs. In the fifth, he issued a leadoff walk and then was pulled.

The run came around to score against José Soriano, tacking a fifth run to Anderson’s line.

After posting a 4.01 ERA over five games, Anderson has now allowed 12 runs in 8⅔ innings in his last two games.

“I felt my stuff was OK,” Anderson said. “Command wasn’t good. Just a frustrating outing.”