Angels loyal to opener despite Pena's struggles

ANAHEIM -- While right-hander Felix Peña had some initial success pitching after an opener, he’s scuffled this month and was hurt by a three-run homer in a 7-2 loss to the A’s on Friday night at Angel Stadium.

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After the Angels decided to use an opener before Pena's appearances on April 24, he had a 3.13 ERA in his first six outings. But since then, he's posted a 7.97 ERA in five outings in June with 18 runs allowed in 20 1/3 innings, including the three runs he surrendered over five innings against Oakland, as the Angels saw their winning streak snapped at four games.

"I haven't had the consistency that I've wanted,” Pena said through an interpreter. “But I've tried to stay strong mentally, keep that tough mindset and work hard. I can't change how I go about things."

Pena took the mound with the Angels already in a hole, as opener Noe Ramirez allowed a two-run homer to Matt Olson with two outs in the first. It snapped Ramirez’s scoreless streak at 16 1/3 innings dating back to May 29, and ultimately saddled him with his first loss. It was just the fourth time a team scored on an Angels opener in 16 games (the Halos are 9-7 in such games), which is why manager Brad Ausmus still believes the strategy itself is working.

“There’s no question that overall it’s gone well,” Ausmus said. “I think the concept is sound. The ball four just misses off the corner for a walk. Olson comes up and hits a two-run homer. That same call could go the other way, and we’re not even discussing the opener because it would have gone well again. There’s plenty of logic behind it.”

It was Olson who also clobbered a three-run shot off Pena in the third after he gave up a two-out single to Mark Canha and walked Matt Chapman. It was the third homer of the series for Olson and the sixth homer allowed by Pena over his last five outings.

Pena gave up the homer on a 3-2 slider below the zone, but Olson is known as a good low-ball hitter.

"It was just a couple of mistakes, home runs to Olson, that put us behind the eight ball," Ausmus said. "Olson is a good down-ball hitter, but it seems like he’s just seeing the ball really well right now."

Pena had trouble with his control, walking four, but he struck out seven and allowed just one hit outside of the three-run blast. His ERA increased to 4.73 ERA in 16 appearances this year, and it’s fair to wonder if he’d be better served in a full-time relief role in the second half of the season.

The Angels, though, don’t have a starter ready to step in just yet, as JC Ramirez is still on a rehab assignment after undergoing Tommy John surgery last year, while Matt Harvey has yet to start a second rehab stint dealing with an upper back strain. Ramirez has also allowed 17 runs in 17 innings in the Minors so far, while Harvey making an effective return as a starter is far from a sure thing, as evidenced by his 7.50 ERA in 10 starts prior to his injury.

Pena didn’t receive much run support Friday night, as the Angels didn’t get on the scoreboard until the sixth on a two-out RBI single from Albert Pujols off veteran right-hander Mike Fiers. And the bullpen didn’t help Pena’s cause either, as Luke Bard served up a two-run shot to Canha in the seventh.

With the three homers allowed, the Angels have surrendered 138 on the year, which is the fourth most in the Majors. It puts them on pace to serve up 269 on the year, which would shatter the club record of 228.

"We have given up too many home runs," Ausmus said. "We can’t do anything about the first 83 games. But the goal is to be better at that. Not only from a starting-pitching perspective but just in general. It’s usually pitch execution more than selection. Location, or missed location, that’s what it boils down to."