The Angels were due for a day like Sunday. After a torrid 10-game winning streak, when seemingly every part of the team was playing near its peak, the Angels put up a dud. The pitchers labored, the hitters went quiet, and Astros starter Dallas Keuchel took a no-hitter into the seventh inning in the Angels’ 6-1 loss.
The game was all but over by the third inning, when starter Hector Santiago failed to record a single out. The Angels trailed by just three, but it would be a long day for the bullpen.
Never before has a major league pitcher recorded so few outs (six) while throwing as many pitches as Santiago (82) — at least since pitch counts have been tracked.
Santiago surrendered three runs and walked five in two innings of work. Vinnie Pestano saved him more damage. He stranded all three runners he inherited after Santiago loaded the bases with no outs. The parade of long relievers and young arms that followed gave up three more runs.
Even the red-hot Angels bats went cold. Keuchel, the Astros’ impressive young left-hander, gave up one run and three hits in seven innings. He walked one and struck out four.
In the sixth inning, with temperatures nearing triple digits and the Angels’ hit count still stuck at zero, Angels Manager Mike Scioscia faced a dilemma. Ideally, he’d like to rest his starting players when possible. But he also wanted to break up the no-hitter. Ultimately, he made some moves in the sixth inning, and kept Mike Trout in the game.
Trout’s hit in the seventh broke up the no-hitter. Tony Campana relieved him of his duties the following inning.
Entering Sunday, the Angels averaged just under nine runs per game during their 10-game winning streak.
With the Athletics winning on Sunday, it’s the first time since Aug. 25 that the Angels have lost on the same day Oakland has won.
zachary.helfand@latimes.com
Twitter: @zhelfand
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