The Los Angeles Angels experienced a tough start to their Cactus League season, suffering a significant loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers with a score of 15-2. The game took place on March 2, 2024, at the Tempe Diablo Stadium, where a sellout crowd of 9,631 fans witnessed the disappointing performance.
Pitching Woes for the Angels
The Angels’ pitching staff struggled throughout the match, beginning with right-hander José Soriano, who was charged with four runs in his brief outing. Soriano managed to record only two outs, yielding three singles—each grounded—and issuing two walks alongside two strikeouts. He threw 31 pitches in the first inning before being replaced. Manager Kurt Suzuki remarked on Soriano’s performance, stating, “His stuff was good. He gave up some ground balls with two strikes that found holes. It’s one of those days where you really can’t control some of that stuff. But I thought overall he looked good.”
Left-hander Mitch Farris followed Soriano but also faced difficulties, allowing five runs on four hits while retiring just one batter in the second inning. The Angels’ pitching continued to falter as Sam Aldegheri gave up one run in 1.1 innings, while Sammy Natera Jr. conceded another run at the start of his inning but struck out three consecutive batters to limit further damage. Right-hander Najer Victor, who is preparing to pitch for Great Britain in the World Baseball Classic, managed to pitch a scoreless inning, showcasing a fastball that averaged 97 mph. However, Angels minor-league right-hander Keythel Key allowed four runs in the ninth inning.
Offensive Highlights and Defensive Struggles
Despite the heavy loss, there were a few bright spots for the Angels’ offense. Outfielder Jorge Soler made an impact early, hitting a double off the left-field fence during his first plate appearance and recording an infield single with a powerful 103 mph line drive. Jo Adell came close to hitting a two-run homer, but instead reached second base on a two-base error when Dodgers left fielder Teoscar Hernandez dropped the ball.
In another notable moment, Zach Neto successfully challenged a strike call on a low pitch, although he struck out in both of his at-bats. Catcher Logan O’Hoppe contributed to the scoreboard with a single that drove in a run and was also hit by a pitch during the game.
Defensively, the Angels faced challenges as well. Third baseman Yoán Moncada struggled to make a play on a ball hit to his backhand, which was ruled a double. Moncada also committed an error when he bobbled a routine ground ball, further contributing to the team’s difficulties.
The Angels are set to face the Arizona Diamondbacks next, with right-hander Alek Manoah taking the mound. The game is scheduled for March 3, 2024, at Salt River Fields in Scottsdale, with the first pitch at 12:10 p.m. PT.
