The Angels went full-on Little League mode on Sunday, and it cost them in a series-ending 2-1 loss to the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park.
Ian Kinsler walked as the second better in the bottom of the first, and Miguel Cabrera followed with a walk. Just in case the 3-2 pitch from Hector Santiago to Cabrera was called a strike, catcher Hank Conger threw down to second to try to get out Kinsler in what he hoped would be an inning-ending double play. Instead, the pitch was called ball four, meaning Kinsler was given second automatically. But he advanced to third because Conger’s throw went into center field, and he came home to score after both Mike Trout and Santiago made throwing errors.
Three throwing errors on one darn play. And a play where a throw wasn’t even necessary at that.
So the Angels gave the Tigers a run in the first, and then another error in the sixth gave them the winning run.
Conger was at it again, this time throwing a ball into right field while trying to pick off Austin Jackson at first. The Angels thought Jackson would be running with two outs and did a pitch out, but Jackson didn’t go. Instead of holding the ball, Conger tried back-picking him and threw the ball into right field. Nick Castellanos followed with an RBI single to make it 2-1.
Knowing Mike Scioscia, Conger’s playing time behind the dish just shrunk immensely.
