Tropeano grinds out 5 frames despite rough 2nd
ANAHEIM -- After using 10 pitchers in Thursday’s 10-8 loss in 16 innings, including Friday’s scheduled starter Griffin Canning, the Angels turned to right-hander Nick Tropeano to try to give them some much-needed length on Friday.
Tropeano, who was recalled from Triple-A Salt Lake before the game, went five innings on 103 pitches, but gave up seven runs in a 9-3 loss to the Orioles at Angel Stadium. Tropeano scuffled early, allowing one run in the first and six more in the second before settling down.
“Our job as starting pitchers is to give our team an opportunity to win, minimize damage and go deep in the game,” Tropeano said. “I didn’t do any of those.”
The impact of Thursday’s game
The Angels simply felt the aftereffects of Thursday’s marathon, as Canning and relievers Hansel Robles, Cam Bedrosian, Taylor Cole and Ty Buttrey were all unavailable.
Canning threw the final two innings on Thursday, giving up five runs in the loss, and won’t start again until Tuesday. Left-handed reliever Adalberto Mejia was also designated for assignment after throwing three scoreless innings on Thursday, as he was a causality of not having Minor League options.
Tropeano was called on to provide innings, and while he had a rough night, he did at least save the bullpen from a potential disaster by getting through five.
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“On a day where we're very short on pitching resources, he did a nice job of getting through five,” Angels manager Brad Ausmus said. “His pitch count got up quick in the first two innings, but he did settle down and it helped us out."
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Tropeano’s struggles
Tropeano had trouble from the start, hitting the first batter of the game, Jonathan Villar, with a 1-2 splitter and allowing a run in the first after a stolen base by Villar and a sacrifice fly by Anthony Santander. It snowballed in the second, when he was hurt by a two-run single from Santander on a 3-2 fastball with two outs, then a three-run opposite-field shot from Renato Nunez on a 1-1 splitter below the zone.
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“It kind of stemmed from walking people,” Tropeano said. “Two of those walks scored. It gets back to first pitch strikes, executing pitches and getting behind in the count. It wasn’t a bad pitch [to Nunez]. He put a good swing on it, but I put myself in that situation.”
Tropeano threw 61 pitches through the first two innings, including 37 in the second, but rebounded to at least get through five. However, it was still a rough showing for Tropeano, who now has a 9.88 ERA in 13 2/3 innings with the Angels this year, as well as a 7.66 ERA in 49 1/3 innings with Triple-A Salt Lake. Tropeano has had trouble regaining his form after undergoing Tommy John surgery that forced him to miss the 2017 season.
“I think last year was the same thing -- I was haunted by the big inning,” Tropeano. “I need to go back to the basics with first-pitch strikes and let my off speed and fastball do the work.”
What it means going forward
Justin Anderson and Luis Garcia each threw two innings in relief for the Angels, who still have to determine who will start on Saturday. The Angels have an open spot on their 40-man roster after the decision to designate Mejia, so right-hander Parker Bridwell could be a candidate to be added to the roster to start Saturday.
If not, the Angels could turn to a bullpen game led by long relievers Trevor Cahill and Noe Ramirez. Robles, Buttrey and Cole should also be available to pitch, while Anderson and Garcia will be unavailable. Other reinforcements such as Luke Bard or Jake Jewell could be recalled as well.
Ausmus was asked if the club’s pitching is in better shape for Saturday than it was on Friday.
"We don't have a starter yet," Ausmus said. "So slightly?"