NOAH SYNDERGAARD pitched well for the Angels on Tuesday but they lost 2-1 (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

Just three hits as Halos lose again

By a staff writer

Casey Stengel used to chant, “You can’t hit a homer with a bat on your shoulder.” If he were managing the Los Angeles Angels today he might say, “You can’t win the race if you can’t get on base.”

With just three hits and two walks to their names, the Halos wasted a quality pitching start by Noah Syndergaard and lost 2-1 to the Miami Marlins on Tuesday at LoanDepot Park, extending their losing streak to four games.

They’re now 37-45 and sinking deeper into fourth place in the American League West.

Syndergaard (5-7) pitched five strong innings and yielded just five hits, but two of them were home runs. He struck eight batters and walked just two.

The Marlins got a strong pitching effort as well, from Sandy Alcantara (9-3). He yielded just two hits in eight innings as Miami won its sixth straight game and improved its record to 39-40, still fourth in the National League East.

The Angels scored their sole run in the top of the ninth as Taylor Ward’s sacrifice fly brought in Michael Stefanic from third.

Mike Trout partially shook off his recent slump with a single and a walk. He struck out twice.

The two-game series wraps up on Wednesday with Shohei Ohtani (7-4) getting the start for the Angels. Trevor Rogers (4-6) will start for the Marlins.

Dodgers pulling away in NL West

By David Arthur/Orange County Tribune

Everybody loves a horse race, although if you’re way ahead of the field, you might not mind trotting the rest of the course.

With Tuesday’s 5-2 win over the Colorado Rockies at Chavez Ravine, the Los Angeles Dodgers (51-29) are continuing to put distance between themselves and the rest of the National League West. 

MAX MUNCY homered for the Dodgers in their 5-2 win over the Rockies (Flickr/Ian D’Andrea).

Combined with the San Diego Padres’ 5-2 loss to the Seattle Mariners, the Blue Crew has a 5.5-game lead. Over the last 10 games, the second place Padres and third place Giants combined won four of 16 games.

Against the Rockies – who had tormented them just a week or so ago – the Dodgers jumped out to a 4-1 lead highlighted by a two-run home run by Max Muncy, his eighth homer of the season. and a solo shot by Mookie Betts, his 18th.

Ryan Pepiot (1-0) worked five innings for the winners, giving up four hit and one earned run. He struck out six and walked one batter.

On Wednesday, the two teams meet again, with Mitch White (1-1) making the start for LAD against Jose Urena (0-0).