HYAN-JIN RYU (9-1) will start for the Dodgers Monday night against the Angels in Anaheim (Shutterstock/Shea Huenang)

One step forward, two steps back.

That seems to be the story for the Los Angeles Angels these days. With Sunday’s 9-3 loss to the Seattle Mariners, the Halos lost a series at home in Anaheim to the worst team in the American League West.

That setback dropped the Angels’ record to 31-35. That’s fourth place and 13.5 games out of first place, not to mention two games out of third.

On Sunday, the Angels fell behind early and never led. The Mariners scored in each of the last four innings to pull away. The Halos were outhit 13 to 7 overall. Only Cesar Puello and Griffin Goodwin had more than one hit. The heart of the Angel lineup –Mike Trout, Shohei Ohtani and Albert Pujols – was 0-for-10, although Trout did walk twice and scored a run.

Jose Suarez (1-1) left in the fifth inning having given up four hits and two runs, but the reliever who really stumbled was Nick Tropeano, who worked 3.2 innings and was touched for seven hits and five earned runs, including three home runs.

Things might not get much better today (Monday) when the Angels host the Dodgers in the first game of a two-game set.  The Dodgers (45-21 and in first place in the National League West) will send their ace – Hyan-Jin Ryu (9-1) – to the mound, while the Angels counter with Griffin Canning (2-2) taking the turn for the Angels in a 7:07 p.m. game.