Jose Suarez’s rocky start sinks Angels in loss to Astros
4 years ago
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Los Angeles Angels shortstop David Fletcher makes a throw from his back on a base hit by the Houston Astros’ Carlos Correa in the bottom of the first inning during the first game of a doubleheader on Tuesday, August 25, 2020, at Minute Maid Park. (Kevin M. Cox/The Galveston County Daily News via AP)
Jose Suarez #54 of the Los Angeles Angels throws to first base in an attempt to throw out Yuli Gurriel #10 of the Houston Astros (not pictured) in the first inning during game one of a doubleheader at Minute Maid Park on August 25, 2020 in Houston, Texas. Suarez’s throw was wild and two runs scored. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images)
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Los Angeles Angels’ Jason Castro (16) scores as Houston Astros catcher Martin Maldonado, left, waits for the ball during the fifth inning of the first game of a doubleheader baseball game Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2020, in Houston. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke)
Mike Trout #27 of the Los Angeles Angels pops out in the fourth inning against the Houston Astros during game one of a doubleheader at Minute Maid Park on August 25, 2020 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images)
Jason Castro #16 of the Los Angeles Angels singles in the fifth inning against the Houston Astros during game one of a doubleheader at Minute Maid Park on August 25, 2020 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images)
Manager Joe Maddon #70 of the Los Angeles Angels takes the ball from Jose Suarez #54 as he is taken out of the game in the second inning as Jason Castro #16 and Anthony Rendon #6 look on during game one of a doubleheader at Minute Maid Park on August 25, 2020 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images)
Houston Astros starting pitcher Cristian Javier looks up as he leaves the mound after being pulled in the during the sixth inning of the first game of a doubleheader baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2020, in Houston. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke)
Los Angeles Angels right fielder Brian Goodwin, right, watches his one run double in front of Houston Astros catcher Martin Maldonado, left, during the inning of the first game of a doubleheader baseball game Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2020, in Houston. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke)
Jason Castro #16 of the Los Angeles Angels singles in the fifth inning against the Houston Astros during game one of a doubleheader at Minute Maid Park on August 25, 2020 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images)
Shohei Ohtani #17 of the Los Angeles Angels scores on a single by Jason Castro #16 in the fifth inning against the Houston Astros during game one of a doubleheader at Minute Maid Park on August 25, 2020 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images)
Houston Astros’ Jose Altuve, bottom, and Carlos Correa, top, celebrate after scoring on the throwing error by Los Angeles Angels starting pitcher Jose Suarez during the first inning of the first game of a doubleheader baseball game Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2020, in Houston. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke)
Los Angeles Angels starting pitcher Jose Suarez throws against the Houston Astros during the first inning of the first game of a doubleheader baseball game Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2020, in Houston. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke)
Los Angeles Angels’ Jason Castro follows through on an RBI single in front of Houston Astros catcher Martin Maldonado during the fifth inning of the first game of a baseball doubleheader Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2020, in Houston. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke)
Jose Suarez #54 of the Los Angeles Angels pitches against the Houston Astros in the first inning during game one of a doubleheader at Minute Maid Park on August 25, 2020 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images)
Jose Altuve #27 of the Houston Astros scores in the fourth inning on a double during game one of a doubleheader against the Los Angeles Angels at Minute Maid Park on August 25, 2020 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images)
Los Angeles Angels’ Mike Trout, left, looks on as teammate Tommy La Stella (9) touches home plate after his home run during the sixth inning of the first game of a doubleheader baseball game against the Houston Astros Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2020, in Houston. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke)
Houston Astros’ Yuli Gurriel (10) watches his RBI double in front of Los Angeles Angels catcher Jason Castro during the fourth inning of the first game of a baseball doubleheader Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2020, in Houston. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke)
Shohei Ohtani #17 of the Los Angeles Angels scores on a single by Jason Castro #16 in the fifth inning against the Houston Astros during game one of a doubleheader at Minute Maid Park on August 25, 2020 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images)
Angels starting pitcher Jose Suarez throws against the Houston Astros during the first inning of the first game of a doubleheader Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2020, in Houston. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke)
Shohei Ohtani #17 of the Los Angeles Angels scores on a single by Jason Castro #16 in the fifth inning against the Houston Astros during game one of a doubleheader at Minute Maid Park on August 25, 2020 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images)
Cristian Javier #53 of the Houston Astros pitches in the fifth inning against the Los Angeles Angels during game one of a doubleheader at Minute Maid Park on August 25, 2020 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images)
Angels manager Joe Maddon spent part of Monday in the outfield with young starting pitcher Jose Suarez. The goal was to instill some confidence in the 22-year-old lefty that he could figure out his early-season struggles.
And when Suarez retired the first batter of the first game of a doubleheader against the Houston Astros in one pitch, you might have thought Tuesday was Suarez’s day.
But everything unraveled quickly from there as Suarez gave up five runs in the first inning and failed to record an out in the second as the Angels fell 6-3 to the Astros.
The damage was done through a series of small cuts. Astros second baseman Jose Altuve hit a single and was followed by Carlos Correa’s infield single despite a diving effort by David Fletcher.
Yuli Gurriel hit a dribbler up the third-base line. Suarez fielded the ball, and rather than hold it and allow Gurriel to take first, the pitcher tried to get the out. The throw sailed away from first baseman Albert Pujols and into foul territory, allowing two runs to score.
The Astros (17-13) went on to score three more in the inning, including two on a bases-loaded single by Jack Mayfield.
Suarez walked the first two batters to open the second inning, and that was it for his day. He’d thrown 40 pitches, 20 for strikes, while giving up five hits and four walks.
Following the game, Suarez was optioned by the Angels, which called up pitcher Luke Bard.
“I told him, ‘The biggest mistake you made was throwing that ball to first base,’” Maddon said. “Had he just put that in his pocket, you have the bases loaded, he had the chance to work his way out of it. But once that occurs, I’m sure his mind began racing some more.”
He was replaced by Jaime Barria, the Angels’ extra man for the doubleheader. Barria retired the next three batters to prevent any further damage to Suarez’s line, and pitched five innings total, giving up just one run while striking out three.
But the damage was already done, especially since it wasn’t until the fifth inning that the Angels (9-22) got their first hit off Astros starter Cristian Javier, an RBI single by Jason Castro that drove in Shohei Ohtani.
The Angels’ top six batters went a combined 2 for 17 at the plate, the hits coming on a Tommy La Stella home run in the sixth inning and a Pujols single in the seventh. Even hot-hitting Anthony Rendon saw his 14-game hitting streak come to an end in the seven-inning game.
