Indians, Bieber, dingers, injuries all sweep away Angels

Indians 6, Angels 2

It wasn’t easy to wake up to the news that Griffin Canning, Andrelton Simmons, and Félix Peña were placed on the Injured List. For Canning, it’s an inflamed elbow. We know what that could mean. Simmons has a foot injury that could prevent him from playing elite defense. Peña tore his ACL and is out 6-9 months.

But still, the Angels must play the games. Jaime Barria took the mound and pitched somewhat abbreviated. During his outing, he called for the trainer and briefly went into the clubhouse. He returned to finish out his hard 3 ²⁄₃ innings of work. Luke Bard is just back from Triple-A Salt Lake. He was hit in the back by a ball and suffered a shoulder bruise.

The score never really got out of hand, but you never really sensed that the Angels were in the game. In the first, Oscar Mercado launched a solo shot out to center. In the third, Francisco Lindor took a near-identical pitch and put it in basically the same place. Even when Albert Pujols went the other way for an RBI single, Jason Kipnis responded with yet another solo homer. From there, the ball couldn’t be stopped from rolling.

After JC Ramirez was somewhat effective in his three innings of work, Brad Ausmus tried to get Hansel Robles an inning of work, and the Angels closer couldn’t get out of the inning. He was pulled more because of a pitch count limit than because he was struggling, but a walk and a double doesn’t inspire much confidence when he has to slam the door.

Kole Calhoun added a meaningless homer. Meanwhile, Shane Bieber polished off his 107 pitch complete game.

The Angels are below .500 once again, show very little signs of returning above, and face an incredibly tough September.

Is it too late to cancel the season?