On Tuesday, Trout was injured as the Angels dropped their 13th game in a row.
The Los Angeles Dodgers extended their losing record to 13 games with a 6-5 loss to the Boston Red Sox in 10 innings just hours after Joe Maddon was dismissed from his managerial duties.
This is the franchise’s longest losing streak in a single season. The Angels’ woes were compounded by the fact that superstar outfielder Mike Trout was forced to leave the game due to a left groin strain. He’s on his way today.
“Mike’s doing OK. He’s feeling a little bit of soreness there in his groin today, but definitely better than it was last night. He’s gonna stay inside today, and do a lot of treatments on it. And we’re just kind of gonna see where that takes us play by the game time today,” head athletic trainer Mike Frostad told the Orange Country Register on Wednesday. “(Level of concern is) mot very high. I mean, he’s not concerned about it. He’s very upbeat. He’s moving around pretty well. And he’s really been in a great frame of mind.”
Phil Nevin, who took over for Maddon on an interim basis, made his big-league management debut Tuesday night. For a time, it appeared as if Nevin might get the win, as the Angels scored two runs in the first inning and lead 5-3 heading into the sixth. The Los Angeles bullpen, on the other hand, was unable to protect the latter lead.
Thanks to RBI singles in the sixth and seventh innings, Boston was able to tie the game late. With one out in the 10th inning, Christian Vazquez drove in Boston’s automatic runner for a one-run advantage.
With two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning, Angels pinch-hitter Kurt Suzuki seemed to drive a game-tying single up the middle, but Red Sox shortstop Enrique Hernandez, who started the game in center field, made a spectacular range play to get the last out at the first base.
The Angels are now three games under.500 for the season, while the Red Sox are two games above.500.
Trout was hit by a pitch while legging out a double in the third inning. As he approached the first base, he appeared to change his stride, and after the next hitter was struck out, he left the game with the team trainer and Nevin. Trout will very certainly be subjected to more testing and investigation to assess the extent of the injury.
Trout’s injury comes just when he appeared to be breaking out of a rut. He halted a 0-for-26 slump at the plate on Monday, and he hit his first home run since May 28 on Tuesday night. Despite his recent troubles, Trout has a season average of.
With 14 home runs and 14 doubles, he hit 284/.388/.601. Trout’s injuries have been a recurring problem in recent seasons.
He has only played 140 or more games in a season once since 2016, despite being mostly healthy throughout the significantly shortened 2020 season. Trout was limited to only 36 games last season due to a significant calf ailment.
The Angels, who already have Anthony Rendon and Taylor Ward on the injured list, can’t afford to lose Trout for an extended period of time.
The Angels will face the Red Sox again on Wednesday, hoping to snap their losing run and get their first win since May 24.
Mckourage
