Los Angeles Angels: 10 Games That Likely Cost Them the AL West Title

The Los Angeles Angels are faced with a near-insurmountable task over the next six games. With their agonizing 4-3 extra-inning loss on Thursday night at the hands of the Toronto Blue Jays, the Angels now find themselves five games behind the Texas Rangers in the AL West, and any combination of two Rangers wins and Angels losses will eliminate them from the race.

The Angels still have a shot at the wild card; however, with last night’s loss, that particular mountain will also be tough to climb with the Boston Red Sox holding a three-game lead with just six to play.

How did the Angels find themselves in this position? A largely inconsistent offense certainly didn’t help—several close losses were decided by the Angels’ inability to drive in runners in scoring position. As well, all too often the bullpen was called upon to protect a precarious lead, only to succumb in the end.

Instead of being at the top and being able to prepare for the postseason, the Angels will attempt the near-impossible, having to win outright for the rest of the regular season and hope that teams above them trip on their own feet.

It’s a maddening situation for sure, and one that will be sure to cause nightmares for Angels manager Mike Scioscia throughout the offseason.

Here is a look at 10 games that may have cost the Los Angeles Angels a chance at the postseason in the 2011 season.

1. Angels at Kansas City Royals: April 1, 2011

The inconsistent Angels offense showed up early in the 2011 season.

Coming off the impressive Opening Day performance of ace Jered Weaver, Los Angeles Angels starter Dan Haren put together an impressive performance of his own, going seven strong innings and allowing just one run on six hits, striking out six and not walking a batter.

However, Haren would walk away with nothing to show for his efforts—the Angels hit into three double plays and left two runners stranded on base. Reliever Michael Kohn would lose the game on his second pitch of the ninth inning, giving up a solo home run to Royals first baseman Kila Ka’aihue for the walk-off game-winner, 2-1.

2. Angels vs. Boston Red Sox: April 21, 2011

The Los Angeles Angels were coming off a very successful road trip with a three-game sweep at the Chicago White Sox and taking two of three from the Rangers in Arlington, TX.

Coming back home with a record of 12-6, the Angels faced the Boston Red Sox in the first of a four-game series. On the bump for the Angels was 21-year-old Tyler Chatwood, making just his third career start.

Chatwood pitched six gritty innings, allowing just two runs on six hits, striking out three and walking five. He showed great poise in working out of several jams throughout his outing.

The Sox started Josh Beckett, who stymied the Angels until the bottom of the seventh, when Bobby Abreu drew a walk and Torii Hunter took a Beckett offering and deposited it over the left field fence to tie the game at 2-2.

It would stay that way until the top of the 11th, when the Red Sox would plate two runs against reliever Rich Thompson, giving them a 4-2 victory.

The extra-inning loss clearly deflated the Angels, who went on to get swept by the Red Sox in the four-game series, the first time Boston had achieved that feat since June 1980.

3. Angels at Oakland Athletics: May 16, 2011

It’s always tough when a team battles back from a deficit only to give the game back again. That’s exactly what happened on this particular night.

The Angels had battled back from a 3-0 deficit, plating two runs in the sixth and two more in the seventh on a two-run single by Howie Kendrick to take a 4-3 lead.

However, in the bottom of the ninth, closer Jordan Walden allowed a single to Coco Crisp, who then stole second and scored on Daric Barton’s sharp single to center to tie the game at 4-4, sending the game into extra innings.

The A’s then faced Fernando Rodney in the bottom of the 10th. After striking out Hideki Matsui, Rodney walked the next two batters and then threw a wild pitch to Mark Ellis, putting runners on second and third.

Angels manager Mike Scioscia then placed Kendrick, who was playing left field, in the infield, using a five-man alignment to prevent a ground ball from getting through. The tactic seemed to work, as Ellis hit the ball directly to Kendrick. However, Kendrick’s throw home to get Kurt Suzuki sailed high, and Suzuki slid across the plate with the game-winning run.

4. Angels vs. Tampa Bay Rays: June 8, 2011

Once again, the Los Angeles Angels fought back from a 3-0 deficit to tie a game, only to lose it in extra innings.

This time, designated hitter Bobby Abreu cleared the bases with a three-run double in the bottom of the eighth off Cesar Ramos, spoiling a great effort by Rays starter James Shields.

However, in the top of the 10th, Angels reliever Fernando Rodney walked catcher John Jaso and then allowed an infield single to pinch-hitter Evan Longoria, putting runners on first and second with no one out.

With Reid Brignac batting, Jaso then stole third in a bold baserunning move, his first steal of the season. Brignac then laid down a perfect squeeze bunt down the first-base line, plating Jaso with the go-ahead run.

It was the first time the Rays had ever swept the Angels on the road in their history.

5. Angels vs. Detroit Tigers: July 6, 2011

Ordinarily, when the Los Angeles Angels are able to score four or more runs, they are highly likely to come out as winners. However, on this particular afternoon, walks and a costly error did them in.

Looking to sweep the Detroit Tigers at home, the Angels took an early three-run lead in the bottom of the first against Tigers starter Brad Penny.

However, Angels pitchers proceeded to give up eight walks, and a costly throwing error by third baseman Alberto Callaspo led to unearned runs, allowing the Tigers to avert a sweep and walk away with a 5-4 victory.

“It was a tough day,” Angels manager Mike Scioscia said after the game. “You aren’t going to give that team over there in Detroit eight walks and make an error that’s going to get the middle of their lineup back up. We shot ourselves in the foot a little bit today.”

6. Angels at Cleveland Indians: July 25, 2011

In another maddening effort, the Los Angeles Angels let another one get away.

After designated hitter Bobby Abreu hit a two-run homer in the top of the eighth inning to give the Angels a 2-1 lead, the bullpen gave it right back and then some.

Angels starter Dan Haren certainly did his part, allowing just one run on three hits in 7.2 innings, striking out 10. However in the bottom of the ninth, closer Jordan Walden gave up a leadoff single to Michael Brantley, who then stole second. After Asdrubal Cabrera struck out, Travis Hafner doubled in Brantley with the tying run, giving Walden his seventh blown save in 30 chances.

Walden then walked Carlos Santana and hit Jack Hannahan with a pitch, loading the bases. In came Hisanori Takahashi, and manager Mike Scioscia once again employed a five-man infield. The ploy seemed to work, as Travis Buck tapped a one-hopper to a drawn-in Torii Hunter, who forced Orlando Cabrera at home.

However, the next batter, Jason Kipnis, drove the ball between first and second, driving home Santana with the winning run and giving the Indians the come-from-behind 3-2 victory. It was the first hit of Kipnis’ major-league career.

7. Angels at Toronto Blue Jays: Aug. 14, 2011

The Los Angeles Angels were looking to end a quick six-game Eastern swing road trip on a good note and were heading home to face the Texas Rangers in a crucial four-game series, trailing in the AL West by three games.

Things looked good for the Halos, who held a 4-3 lead heading into the bottom of the ninth. Starter Dan Haren once again did his job, keeping the Angels in the game with a strong seven-inning effort, allowing three runs on five hits. Reliever Scott Downs worked out of trouble in the eighth after allowing two hits as well.

However, in the bottom of the ninth, closer Jordan Walden again blew a save, his eighth of the season. Walden allowed a double to center fielder Colby Rasmus, who then scored on a double by rookie Brett Lawrie.

In the bottom of the 10th, Fernando Rodney walked both Yunel Escobar and Jose Bautista, and Hisanori Takahashi gave up a single to Edwin Encarnacion to score Escobar with the winning run.

It was the fifth time that the Angels held a lead after eight innings only to lose this season.

8. Angels vs. New York Yankees: Sept. 11, 2011

Los Angeles Angels center fielder Peter Bourjos has supplied the Halos and their fans with a collection of highlight-reel plays throughout the season, but on this day, his crucial error cost the Angels an important victory.

In the top of the seventh, with the Halos holding a 5-4 lead, Angels starter Ervin Santana gave up a leadoff single to Brett Gardner, who then went to third on Derek Jeter’s single, putting two runners aboard with no one out. Scott Downs was called upon in relief, and Downs struck out Curtis Granderson.

Yankees first baseman Mark Teixeira then lifted a lazy fly ball to center. Bourjos drifted over but then lost it in the sun, dropping the ball and scoring Gardner. Bourjos then missed the cutoff man with his throw, allowing Jeter to score from first with the eventual winning run.

The loss dropped the Angels 2.5 games behind the Texas Rangers, who had beaten the Oakland A’s 8-1.

9. Angels at Toronto Blue Jays: Sept. 19, 2011

On Monday night, the Los Angeles Angels fell victim once again to the Toronto Blue Jays at the Rogers Centre in extra innings, and two costly errors were the culprit.

Badly needing a win to make up ground to the idle Texas Rangers in the AL West, the Angels fell victim to a throwing error by starter Jerome Williams in the seventh and a fielding error by shortstop Erick Aybar in the bottom of the 10th.

Right fielder Torii Hunter had a chance to keep the game tied in the 10th, but his throw to home plate to get Mike McCoy sailed wide, and the Angels fell victim to the Blue Jays’ 10th extra-inning victory at home against no losses.

10. Angels at Toronto Blue Jays: Sept. 22, 2011

With a golden opportunity to make up ground in the AL wild-card race to the idle Boston Red Sox, the Angels let another extra-inning game get away from them.

The Angels entered the bottom of the seventh inning with a 3-1 lead. After starter Ervin Santana allowed a solo home run to Eric Thames, Angels manager Mike Scioscia lifted Santana and called on Bobby Cassevah.

Cassevah walked Jose Bautista and then induced first baseman Adam Lind to hit a grounder to Mark Trumbo at first. The ball caromed off Trumbo into short center field for an error, and while Peter Bourjos threw Lind out at second, Bautista advanced to third on the play.

Cassevah then threw a wild pitch, plating Bautista with the tying run.

Angels relievers kept the Blue Jays at bay until Garrett Richards gave up a home run to Edwin Encarnacion on a 3-2 pitch to lead off the bottom of the 12th inning, giving the Blue Jays a 4-3 victory and putting the Angels’ postseason hopes in severe jeopardy.

Doug Mead is a featured columnist with Bleacher Report. His work has been featured on the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, SF Gate, CBS Sports, the Los Angeles Times and the Houston Chronicle. Follow Doug on Twitter @Sports_A_Holic.