Slumping Angels held to three singles in shutout loss to Cubs

The Angels were shut out for the third time in the last five games. They had only three, just one before the ninth inning.

CHICAGO — After the Angels strung together quality at-bats to score seven runs on Saturday, Ron Washington said he hoped it was a sign of good things to come, rather than an off day for the Chicago Cubs pitchers.

On Sunday, the Angels were back to their slump.

The Angels had just three singles in a 5-0 loss to the Cubs on Sunday, the third time they were shut out on in the last five games.

Cubs starter Hayden Wesneski zipped through the Angels in just 69 pitches through the first six innings, allowing only a Brandon Drury first-inning single.

In the seventh, the Angels threatened after Taylor Ward reached on an error and Willie Calhoun walked. But Logan O’Hoppe tapped a bouncer back to the mound and then Zach Neto hit a flyout.

The Angels didn’t get another hit until Ward’s infield single with two outs in the ninth. Ward, who had slid hard into the wall trying to catch a foul ball earlier in the game, then left the game.

Kevin Pillar’s infield single and an O’Hoppe walk loaded the bases for Neto, who struck out to end the game.

The poor offense meant the Angels had to be perfect on the mound and in the field, and they weren’t.

José Soriano gave up three runs in five innings in his second start after being out with an abdominal infection.

Soriano should have allowed only one run in the third inning, but Neto misplayed a grounder. Neto fielded the ball behind second, and at first looked to get the force there, but Drury had started too far in the hole to get there. By the time Neto realized he had no play at second, he had no play at first.

Soriano gave up another run in the fifth, but he avoided further damage with a double play.

Left-hander Matt Moore gave up a two-run homer to Michael Busch in the seventh inning, increasing the deficit to 5-0.

More to come on this story.