Angels stumble, loose to Blue Jays 5-4

By Bill Shaikin
August 15, 2011

TORONTO — The timing could be better. The fate of the Angels' season could be decided in the next two weeks, at a time the team is sputtering badly.

The Angels stumbled home Sunday after a 5-4, 10-inning loss to the Toronto Blue Jays, defeated in four of their last five games. The Angels play seven of their next 12 games against the Texas Rangers, starting Monday in Anaheim.

"It's make or break here coming up," Angels pitcher Dan Haren said.

At first glance, that comment appears curious. The Angels have 41 games to play, and they trail Texas by four games.

However, after the seven games against Texas coming up, the Angels have three left against the Rangers — the final three games of the season.

"We can't afford, at this point, to dig ourselves a hole any deeper," Haren said.

On the television recap, Sunday's loss was tagged on the bullpen. The Angels handed a 4-3 lead to All-Star closer Jordan Walden in the ninth inning.

Walden ended up with his eighth blown save — tops in the major leagues — by giving up consecutive doubles to Colby Rasmus and Brett Lawrie.

"I missed with a couple fastballs," Walden said. "I should have kept them down. One of those days, I guess."

In the 10th inning, Fernando Rodney faced three batters and walked two, and Hisanori Takahashi gave up a game-winning single to Edwin Encarnacion.

To Manager Mike Scioscia, the failure of the bullpen reflects the failure of the offense.

"The margin by which we've been getting leads has been very tight," Scioscia said. "For our long-term success, you've got to get through a game and have enough of a lead where each pitch is not critical."

Torii Hunter hit a two-run home run Sunday, and Peter Bourjos doubled and tripled, but the Angels had six hits in all, and 16 in the three-game series. In a three-game series the previous weekend against the Seattle Mariners, the Angels scored four runs.

Erick Aybar was one for 22 on this trip. Howie Kendrick was one for 21, Mark Trumbo two for 18 and Vernon Wells two for 23.

The Rangers have scored more runs than the Blue Jays. No surprise there. The Rangers also have given up fewer runs, so an offense that has yet to get on track this season might well struggle to do so in the games that could define the season.

"We're still trying to build momentum and put together some good all-around games," Scioscia said.

He added: "It's silly to say, 'Do you want to win?' Of course, you want to win. It's silly to say, 'Do you need to win?' Of course, we need to get some momentum going. For us, what's important is that there are some things we need to do a little bit better."

For the Angels, a two-week run now could erase the underachievement of the first four months.

"If you're within striking distance, and you play the team leading the division seven times in the next two weeks, it's great," Hunter said. "It's giving you a chance.

"It's not going to be easy."

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