ANDREW HEANEY pitched six innings for the Angels in their 4-2 loss to the Rockies on Tuesday (Flickr/ Kent Kanouse).

The Angels began their two-game set in Denver on Tuesday with a “rocky” start – pardon the awful pun – in losing to Colorado 4-2.

A home run by Justin Upton and a strong pitching part by Andrew Heaney were not enough to stop the Halos from losing and tumbling into second place in the American League West at 21-14, a half-game behind the Houston Astros.

The Angels trailed 4-0 before Upton’s seventh home run of the year in the top of the eighth cut the home team’s lead in half, but that was all.

Heaney (1-2) worked six strong innings, giving up five hits and two runs. He struck out five batters and walked three.

On Tuesday, Jaime Barria (2-1) will make the start for the Angels.