David Huff has rough first start for Angels

NEW YORK >> David Huff didn’t exactly make the most of a good opportunity.

Huff, recalled to make a spot start in place of injured Nick Tropeano, gave up five runs in a 6-3 loss to the New York Yankees on Tuesday night.

It was Huff’s first start in the majors since April 14, 2015.

“They say it’s like riding a bike, but sometimes it’s a little tougher than that,” Huff said. “I’m still getting used to it. Hopefully the next time out I’ll be better.”

There’s no guarantee when that next time will be though.

With Tim Lincecum starting at least once more at Triple-A, the Angels will need another starter in the big leagues in this spot on Sunday. Huff could have helped himself be in position to make that start with a good outing Tuesday.

“I haven’t been told anything,” Huff said. “I’ll get ready for the next time until they tell me differently.”

The 31-year-old joueyman from Huntington Beach was making his first appearance with the Angels, who signed him as a free agent last month.

The Yankees tagged him for three runs on five hits in the first iing, including a two-run homer by Carlos Beltran.

“It was a good pitch selection, but it was just in the middle,” Huff said of his misplaced changeup.

Huff gave up another run in the second and one in the third on Starlin Castro’s homer off the right field pole.

“It just seemed like David couldn’t establish really anything, getting ahead in the count or bringing his secondary pitches in,” manager Mike Scioscia said. “He couldn’t use both sides of the plate like he can when he’s good. And consequently those guys got some pretty good looks at him.”

The Angels also played a sloppy defensive game. Huff made an error on a throw to first after fielding a bunt. Rafael Ortega made a wild throw that allowed ruers to take an extra base. Shortstop Gregorio Petit failed to catch a perfect throw from catcher Carlos Perez on a stolen base attempt in the seventh. Had he held the ball, Brett Gardner would have been out and the iing would have been over. Instead, the iing continued and the Yankees scored an insurance run.

The only offense the Angels could manage came in the fifth iing.

Petit drove in a run and then Kole Calhoun hit a two-run homer in the iing, pulling the Angels within 5-3.

After that, Michael Pineda retired the last seven batters he faced.

“We got in some good counts with him and made him work, but when push came to shove he threw some good slides and got out of some jams,” Scioscia said.

The Angels bullpen kept the game close enough to at least force New York to go to two of its three top relievers: Andrew Miller and Dellin Betances.

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Getting those pitchers into a game the Yankees led 5-0 is something of an accomplishment for the Angels, and it could pay dividends in the final two games of the series if either becomes unavailable.