Veteran southpaw Tyler Anderson has been a model of consistency for the Los Angeles Angels this season, but even he isn’t immune to the occasional rough outing. On Wednesday night, Anderson experienced his toughest start in over a month, as the Angels fell 9-2 to the Toronto Blue Jays, completing a three-game sweep at Angel Stadium.
Anderson, who entered the game with a 9-10 record and 3.06 ERA, struck out eight batters over 5 2/3 innings, but he allowed a season-high seven runs on six hits and four walks, falling to 9-11 with a 3.30 ERA in 24 starts this year.
“Not good,” Anderson acknowledged after the game. “But I felt a lot better than it looked and worked out. It sounds stupid to say, but I feel like I pitched better than the outcome. Essentially, like if I take how I pitch today most games, I’ll end up being OK. It just seemed like untimely pitching. When they had hits, they were all at the right times.”
The Blue Jays jumped on Anderson early, with Ernie Clement belting a two-run homer in the second inning. In the third, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. – who has been the hottest hitter in baseball over the last month – drove in a run with an RBI single.
The game slipped away from the Angels in the fifth, as Daulton Varsho smacked a three-run blast off Anderson to extend Toronto’s lead to 6-0. It marked just the third time this season that Anderson has allowed multiple home runs in a start.
“The first one wasn’t really too much of a missed location,” Anderson said. “It was an 0-0 changeup in the zone. But the one to Varsho hurt in that situation. Maybe [should’ve been] a little more down. Obviously, the two homers are big, and then double down the line, but I feel like for the most part, the balls weren’t really smoked. Just found good spots.”
Angels manager Ron Washington acknowledged that the Blue Jays did a good job of being patient against Anderson’s off-speed pitches.
“When he left something up over the plate, they weren’t missing it,” Washington said. “They know he’s a change of speed master and they were in the box not jumping out there. It was waiting to see the ball and swinging. They had a good approach against him tonight.”
The Angels’ offense was also held in check, managing just two runs on the night, including a solo shot from Matt Thaiss in the fifth inning. Washington opted to rest several key starters, including catcher Logan O’Hoppe, shortstop Zach Neto, and right fielder Jo Adell, ahead of Thursday’s off-day.
Despite the lopsided defeat, Anderson remains a vital part of the Angels’ starting rotation, and the team will look for him to bounce back in his next outing.
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