Marte and the bullpen pool together to earn a disheartening 3-2 loss

Garrett Richards held Texas to just a lone hit through over 7 innings and Mike Trout fell just a double shy of the cycle as the Angels took Game 2 and then quickly regifted it right to the Rangers.

It’s hard to believe that a pitcher could almost completely face the minimum over his entire phenomenal start and still not come away with a win. But this is your 2018 Los Angeles Angels. You had better believe that they will find every single way to wrench victory away from themselves and bestow it ever so graciously upon the opposition.

It all began with a Shin Soo Choo liner directly to Jefry Marte. You’re going to stand up in disbelief when you hear that he made an error and allowed Choo to reach first. Cue a signature wild pitch and some well placed outs, and suddenly, the Angels are only winning by 1. The run was scored unearned and it would come back to haunt us. Oh, and it was Garrett’s 11th unearned run allowed this season which happens to lead all of baseball. The defense has just been absolutely stellar behind him.

Of course, no game is complete without the 9th inning experience. Blake Parker also is a fan of the wild pitch, and practically handed a doubling Jurickson Profar 3rd. Justin Upton seemingly saved us on a strike to second base, but the timing challenge went in the Rangers’ favor, sending the game into extras. This sealed the deal and the following inning’s Alvarez meltdown was all too expected.

We will absolutely take this fantastic outing from Richards (especially against a Hamels who generally decimates us anyway) and it was fun to see Trout steal second on a pickoff. Kinsler continued his hot hitting and Simmons is still a boss. There are silver linings galore to be found in this game. Unfortunately, we wouldn’t need them if our outlook wasn’t so overcast.