Angels give shaky Tyler Skaggs no run support in return, loss to A's

ANAHEIM >> The expectation was for Tyler Skaggs to aid the Angels’ playoff push, not upset their improbable balance.

The rust on his left arm was apparent in his first start since April 28 and the Angels’ attempt to move into possession of a wild-card berth during an opportunistic homestand was lost with a 5-0 loss to the Oakland A’s on Saturday night.

Skaggs (1-2) threw 83 pitches in just four iings as the AL West’s last-place team ended the Angels’ win streak at four games. The Angels, who began Saturday night two games out of the AL’s final wild-card spot, finish their three-game series with the A’s on Sunday and close out their nine-game homestand with three against the Orioles.

A surge from the Angels’ offense – it scored five or more runs in seven consecutive games – ended with a simultaneous swoon by the defense Saturday night.

After Skaggs allowed three runs on six hits with a pair of walks and two wild pitches in four iings, a pair of Angels errors in the sixth iing gave Oakland a 5-0 lead.

The Angels, who were shut out for the first time sine July 7, advanced just one ruer past second base while A’s starter Paul Blackburn (3-1) scattered five hits over 6 2/3 iings with no walks.

There was reason to believe the Angels momentum would continue with the return of Skaggs after he posted a 1.42 ERA in his last three major league starts before an oblique strain landed him on the disabled list April 28.

To the contrary, there were plenty of reasons for concern after Skaggs’ shaky rehabilitation outings for Triple-A Salt Lake, where he allowed 10 runs on 14 hits in three starts that totaled 10 iings.

In addition, it’s difficult to know what to expect from the pitcher who missed nearly two years after undergoing Tommy John surgery August 13, 2014 and experiencing shoulder trouble after recovering from the elbow surgery. He returned in July of last season and posted a respectable 4.17 ERA in 10 starts in 2016.

“We had high expectations he was going to come in and make his pitches,” Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. “Couple of his outings in Triple-A obviously some things got away from him. Tonight was not exactly what we needed, but in between, before he lost some of the feel of his curveball, he made some really good pitches, good velocity all night.”

The first pitch of the game was ominous for Skaggs, who gave up his first run in equally concerning fashion.

The A’s Rajai Davis led off the game with a single, stole two bases and scored on a wild pitch.

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Davis’ run in a 21-pitch first iing was the limit of the damage until a two-run, two-out rally in the fourth iing ended Skaggs’ night.

After retiring the first two batters of the iing, a double, a walk and a pair of singles by the A’s earned them a 3-0 lead. Dustin Garneau’s bases-loaded single scored both runs in the iing that escalated Skaggs’ pitch count to 83.

“I got two quick outs and probably let my mind slip away,” Skaggs said. “Tried to throw a few change-ups and got out of my game instead of just pounding the zone with fastballs and that’s my mistake.”

Things unraveled for the Angels in the sixth iing when a pair of throwing errors with two outs cost them a run each and increased the A’s lead to 5-0.

With ruers on first and second, Angels third baseman Yunel Escobar sailed a throw to second base into right field, allowing one run across.

The A’s victimized the Angels on a double steal one batter later, prompting a throw to second base and an errant throw home by Kaleb Cowart.

The A’s bullpen allowed just one hit in 2 1/3 iings of relief.

Kole Calhoun was the only player in the top six of the Angels batting order to collect more than one hit. Mike Trout is just two hits from reaching 1,000 in his career after going 1 for 4 with an infield single on Saturday.

Ben Revere went 2 for 3 to extended his hit streak to 10 games, but the Angels left fielder will be replaced in the lineup when Cameron Maybin returns next week.