MINNEAPOLIS — The Angels didn’t convert on their opportunities as well as the Minnesota Twins did.
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The Angels lost, 5-3, to the Twins on Saturday, mostly because they had just two hits in 14 at-bats with runners in scoring position, while the Twins were 3-for-4.
The Angels had 10 hits and four walks, but the only runs came on Jorge Soler’s third-inning two-run double and a Nolan Schanuel hit in the seventh.
Down by two in the ninth, the Angels got the tying run on base after a Mike Trout single and a Schanuel walk, but Soler hit a popup and Vaughn Grissom struck out.
The Twins scored the go-ahead runs in the bottom of the seventh against Angels left-hander Mitch Farris. He allowed three consecutive hits to Royce Lewis, Victor Caratini and Alan Roden, putting the Twins back on top.
Angels starter Ryan Johnson also gave up his runs in a quick burst, in the second inning. He faced the minimum three hitters in other four innings he worked.
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Johnson started the second with a four-pitch walk. He then threw the first pitch to Lewis over the plate, and he hit a two-run homer. He gave up another hit and a walk in the inning, with the third run scoring on a fly ball.
Johnson has a 3.96 ERA in five starts since re-joining the rotation on June 18.
The Angels took Johnson off the hook for the loss by tying the game.
Seven of the Angels’ nine starters reached by a hit or walk, giving them a steady stream of opportunities.
One of the players who didn’t reach base was Grissom, who came up with six runners on base.
Logan O’Hoppe, the other one who didn’t reach base, came up with four runners on. In the eighth inning, he hit a 110-mph lineout to end the inning, stranding runners at first and second.
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More to come on this story.