LA Angels' bullpen melts down in loss to New York Yankees

NEW YORK >> Three Angels relievers provided ... whatever the opposite of relief is.

Starter Jered Weaver had a predictably tough game, but still walked off the mound in the sixth iing with the score tied before the Angels had a bullpen meltdown.

In a span of 11 batters, the Angels went from a tie to a seven-run deficit.

Jose Alvarez, Cam Bedrosian and Greg Mahle recorded four outs allowed six runs — plus one of Weaver’s — in the Angels’ 12-6 loss to the New York Yankees on Wednesday night.

The Angels have lost the first three games of this four-game series, and it reached the piacle of ugliness late Wednesday.

Weaver, who came into the game with an 8.71 ERA in five starts at the Yankees’ nine-year old ballpark, struggled again. He gave up two homers and had allowed five runs by the time he trudged off the mound.

However, the game was 5-5 because the Angels hitters had been having a good night. The bullpen just needed to hold the Yankees.

Alvarez, a lefty, was up first, to face the left-handed Brett Gardner and the switch-hitting Carlos Beltran. Gardner singled and Beltran, who hit a go-ahead homer off Alvarez on Monday, singled to drive in a run. It was the third straight outing in which Alvarez had given up at least one run.

The right-handed Bedrosian was next. He retired his two righties, but in between he gave up a two-run single to the left-handed Brian McCa, making it 8-5.

Mahle, a lefty, started the seventh. He gave up three hits, including two-run homers to Chris Parmalee, a lefty, and Beltran. Mahle has now allowed runs in four of his last six outings.

The tough night for four pitchers spoiled a nice night for the lineup, which has been consistently more productive than expected for most of the season.

Jefry Marte, who got a start over C.J. Cron, hit a homer. Gregorio Petit hit a two-run homer and had his fourth straight multi-hit game.

Mike Trout had three hits, including his 13th homer of the season.

All told, the Angels banged out 14 hits.

Advertisement