Johy Giavotella fails while on the spot for LA Angels of Anaheim

anaheim >> The Angels had their hottest hitter at the plate with a chance to win the game.

Twice.

Both times, though, Johy Giavotella failed to so much as put the ball in play, striking out to scuttle two of the Angels’ best chances in what would be an 8-6, 13-iing loss to the Houston Astros on Sunday.

Giavotella got one more chance in the 13th – after Carlos Correa’s pinch-hit three-run homer against Mike Morin had put Houston on top. Giavotella represented the tying run with two outs, and he again struck out.

“He’s one of our guys in those situations,” Manager Mike Scioscia said. “Very rarely is he not going to put the ball in play. Unfortunately, he had three opportunities this afteoon and couldn’t. That’s not like Johy.”

Giavotella was 27 for 69 (.392) over his previous 18 games, certainly giving the Angels confidence that he could get the job done.

But Giavotella left six ruers on base in his final three trips, on a day that the Angels stranded 14.

“We definitely put ourselves in a number of good places to win the ballgame,” Scioscia said. “Unfortunately, we couldn’t get the run in. We’ll tu the page and be ready for tomorrow.”

The Angels have actually fared well in those situations this season. Coming into Sunday’s game, their .289 average with ruers in scoring position ranked fourth in the majors. Their 59 percent success rate at driving in ruers from third with less than two outs was the best in the majors.

Those numbers would certainly both come as a shock to anyone who watched Sunday’s 4-hour, 57-minute marathon. The Angels were 2 for 15 with ruers in scoring position. They were 2 for 4 in getting home ruers from third with less than two outs, the most painful failure coming in the 11th iing.

Kole Calhoun, who had homered in the first iing, tripled with one out in the 11th against sidearming Pat Neshek.

The Astros then intentionally walked Mike Trout and Albert Pujols to load the bases for Giavotella.

In the seventh, Giavotella had gotten Trout home from third with a safety squeeze, temporarily putting the Angels up, 5-4. Giavotella said that wasn’t as enticing of an option this time because the infield was in and the Astros only needed a force at the plate.

Instead, he was trying to just put something into the outfield. He struck out.

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In the ninth, with ruers at first and second, he battled Scott Feldman through a nine-pitch at-bat, finally striking out on a foul tip.

“I want to be up there every time that situation arises,” Giavotella said. “When the game is on the line, I want to be up there. That’s what I prepare for. Unfortunately, tonight they made some quality pitches against me. I just didn’t come through.”