Angels strike out 15 times in shutout loss to Orioles

BALTIMORE — The first two hitters of the game reached base for the Angels on Friday night.

The next three struck out.

It was an ominous start to what would continue to be a frustrating, rainy night for the Angels, who wasted numerous opportunities on their way to a 2-0 loss to the Baltimore Orioles.

The Angels struck out 15 times, including six with runners in scoring position. The Angels went 0 for 8 with runners in scoring position, and they hit into two double plays.

Top prospect Christian Moore, who came up twice with a runner in scoring position, went 0 for 3 with a strikeout in his major league debut.

Even though the Angels (33-35) outhit the Orioles 8-6, they couldn’t overcome the two solo home runs that starter Jack Kochanowicz allowed.

Kochanowicz lasted only 4⅓ innings because his night was ended by a 69-minute rain delay in the fifth inning. There was also a 67-minute delay before the first pitch.

Of some consolation to the Angels, Kochanowicz was mostly sharp before the rain came.

Kochanowicz threw two bad pitches. He hung a slider to Ryan O’Hearn in the second and he misplaced a changeup to Ramon Laureano in the fifth, and both pitches wound up on the other side of the fence.

Besides those two solo homers, the only hit Kochanowicz allowed was an infield hit. He struck out two and didn’t walk anyone.

Kochanowicz recorded seven outs on six grounders. He needed just 53 pitches to get 13 outs.

Kochanowicz couldn’t match 41-year-old Orioles right-hander Charlie Morton.

After Zach Neto led off the game with a walk and Nolan Schanuel singled, Mike Trout, Jorge Soler and Logan O’Hoppe struck out. The Angels had two on and no outs in the fourth, too. A strikeout and two groundouts spoiled that chance.

The Angels struck out 10 times in five innings against Morton. Even after the second delay ended Morton’s night, the Angels could do nothing with the Baltimore bullpen.

More to come on this story.