March 1: The ups and downs of Los Angeles Angels pitching
By Bill Felber
Jose Suarez gave Angels fans hope, Jacob DeGrom looked sharp in his debut, and Lewis Brinson looked good. Here’s your MLB spring training recap for March 1.
The Los Angeles Angels played two MLB spring training games Sunday, and in both of them, the biggest news was made on the mound. One game provided an emotional lift to rotation hopes shaken by developments in the training room. The other was a one-person disaster.
Winner: Jose Suarez, Los Angeles Angels pitcher
The injury reported Saturday to projected starter Griffin Canning created even more questions for the Angels’ already suspect rotation. In that context, Jose Suarez’s start in a split-squad game against the Rockies Sunday could not have been better timed.
Suarez, whose chances to make the team could only have been enhanced by Canning’s questionable status, stared down the Rockies through three full innings Sunday. In a 42-pitch outing, he allowed no hits and just one baserunner, a walk to the first batter he faced.
Loser: Neil Ramirez, Los Angeles Angels pitcher
Suarez had it a lot better than his spring teammate, Neil Ramirez. A six-year veteran of seven teams, Ramirez is in Angels camp hoping to make an impression as a non-roster invitee.
Sunday in the Angels other split-squad game against the White Sox, Ramirez made an impression alright, but not in the way he hoped.
Coming in to start the fourth inning of a scoreless tie, Ramirez retired the first batter he faced, and then went into destruct mode. Nomar Mazara walked, Yermin Mercedes doubled Mazara home, Nicky Delmonico doubled Mercedes home, Cheslor Cuthbert doubled Delmonico home, and Luis Gonzalez and Andrew Romine both walked to load the bases. Adam Engel and Nick Madrigal completed the nightmare with back-to-back run-producing base hits.
It was at that point that Angels manager Joe Maddon displayed mercy, ordering Ramirez’ removal to safer environs. The final damage amounted to eight earned runs on five hits and three walks.
Just to rub it in, the Angels deployed seven other pitchers Sunday, all of whom shut out the White Sox. The final score was Sox 8, Angels 7.