Angels lose again after Patrick Sandoval, Tanner Bibee duel
Josh Naylor’s second eighth-inning home run in two days sparks the Guardians to a 4-3 win after former Mission Viejo High teammates Sandoval and Bibee pitch well
The Angels’ Shohei Ohtani reacts after striking out in the fourth inning against the Cleveland Guardians on Sunday, May 14, 2023, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/David Dermer)
Angels starting pitcher Patrick Sandoval delivers to the Cleveland Guardians’ Steven Kwan during the first inning of a baseball game, Sunday, May 14, 2023, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/David Dermer)
Cleveland Guardians starting pitcher Tanner Bibee delivers during the first inning of their game against the Angels, Sunday, May 14, 2023, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/David Dermer)
The Angels’ Shohei Ohtani swings during the first inning of a baseball game against the Cleveland Guardians, Sunday, May 14, 2023, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/David Dermer)
Angels starting pitcher Patrick Sandoval throws to the plate during the first inning of a baseball game against the Cleveland Guardians, Sunday, May 14, 2023, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/David Dermer)
Cleveland Guardians first baseman Josh Naylor scores a run on a fielding error by Los Angeles Angels shortstop Zach Neto during the second inning of a baseball game, Sunday, May 14, 2023, in Cleveland. Will Brennan was out at second base on a fielders choice. (AP Photo/David Dermer)
Cleveland Guardians starting pitcher Tanner Bibee delivers to the Angels’ Hunter Renfroe during the first inning of a baseball game, Sunday, May 14, 2023, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/David Dermer)
Angels starting pitcher Patrick Sandoval throws to first base to force out the Cleveland Guardians’ Jose Ramirez during the third inning of a baseball game, Sunday, May 14, 2023, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/David Dermer)
Los Angeles Angels’ Shohei Ohtani reacts after striking out during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Cleveland Guardians, Sunday, May 14, 2023, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/David Dermer)
Los Angeles Angels’ Shohei Ohtani reacts after striking out during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Cleveland Guardians, Sunday, May 14, 2023, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/David Dermer)
Angels starting pitcher Patrick Sandoval throws to the plate during the second inning of their game against the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field on May 14, 2023 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Lauren Leigh Bacho/Getty Images)
Cleveland Guardians starting pitcher Tanner Bibee throws out the Angels’ Matt Thaiss at first base during the sixth inning of the game at Progressive Field on May 14, 2023 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Lauren Leigh Bacho/Getty Images)
The Angels’ Shohei Ohtani strikes out during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Cleveland Guardians, Sunday, May 14, 2023, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/David Dermer)
The Angels’ Shohei Ohtani walks to the dugout after striking out during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Cleveland Guardians, Sunday, May 14, 2023, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/David Dermer)
Cleveland Guardians shortstop Amed Rosario, right, tags out the Angels’ Matt Thaiss at second base during the eighth inning on Sunday, May 14, 2023, in Cleveland. Gio Urshela was safe at first on a fielder’s choice and Taylor Ward scored. (AP Photo/David Dermer)
Angels starting pitcher Patrick Sandoval throws to the plate as the Cleveland Guardians’ Steven Kwan bats during the first inning of the game at Progressive Field on May 14, 2023 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Lauren Leigh Bacho/Getty Images)
Cleveland Guardians starting pitcher Tanner Bibee, center, is removed from a baseball game by Manager Terry Francona, right, during the eighth inning of a game against the Angels, Sunday, May 14, 2023, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/David Dermer)
Cleveland Guardians relief pitcher James Karinchak pumps his fist after the Angels’ Mike Trout flew out during the eighth inning on Sunday in Cleveland. (AP Photo/David Dermer)
Angels relief pitcher Carlos Estevez reacts after a hit by the Cleveland Guardians’ Josh Bell during the eighth inning of a baseball game, Sunday, May 14, 2023, in Cleveland. The Guardians won 4-3. (AP Photo/David Dermer)
The Cleveland Guardians’ Josh Naylor watches the flight of his three-run home run during the eighth inning of their game against the Angels on Sunday in Cleveland. (Photo by Lauren Leigh Bacho/Getty Images)
The Cleveland Guardians’ Myles Straw scores on a three-run home run by Josh Naylor during the eighth inning of their game against the Angels on Sunday in Cleveland. (Photo by Lauren Leigh Bacho/Getty Images)
The Cleveland Guardians’ José Ramírez scores on a three-run home run by Josh Naylor during the eighth inning of their game against the Angels on Sunday in Cleveland. (Photo by Lauren Leigh Bacho/Getty Images)
Cleveland Guardians’ Josh Naylor runs the bases after hitting a three-run home run off Los Angeles Angels relief pitcher Carlos Estevez during the eighth inning of a baseball game, Sunday, May 14, 2023, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/David Dermer)
Cleveland Guardians’ Josh Naylor runs the bases after hitting a three-run home run off Los Angeles Angels relief pitcher Carlos Estevez during the eighth inning of a baseball game, Sunday, May 14, 2023, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/David Dermer)
Angels left fielder Taylor Ward catches a ball hit by the Cleveland Guardians’ Andres Gimenez during the eighth inning of a baseball game, Sunday, May 14, 2023, in Cleveland. The Guardians won 4-3. (AP Photo/David Dermer)
The Angels’ Shohei Ohtani watches the ball after hitting a single during the ninth inning of a baseball game against the Cleveland Guardians, Sunday, May 14, 2023, in Cleveland. The Guardians won 4-3. (AP Photo/David Dermer)
The Angels’ Shohei Ohtani watches the ball after hitting a single during the ninth inning of a baseball game against the Cleveland Guardians, Sunday, May 14, 2023, in Cleveland. The Guardians won 4-3. (AP Photo/David Dermer)
The Angels’ Zach Neto scores on Shohei Ohtani’s RBI single during the ninth inning of their game against the Cleveland Guardians on Sunday in Cleveland. (Photo by Lauren Leigh Bacho/Getty Images)
The Angels’ Shohei Ohtani steals second base during the ninth inning of a baseball game against the Cleveland Guardians, Sunday, May 14, 2023, in Cleveland. The Guardians won 4-3. (AP Photo/David Dermer)
Angels star Shohei Ohtani leads off of second base during the ninth inning of their game against the Cleveland Guardians on Sunday in Cleveland. (Photo by Lauren Leigh Bacho/Getty Images)
The Angels’ Shohei Ohtani looks at Cleveland Guardians third baseman Jose Ramirez before being tagged out during the ninth inning of a baseball game, Sunday, May 14, 2023, in Cleveland. The Guardians won 4-3. (AP Photo/David Dermer)
Cleveland Guardians relief pitcher Emmanuel Clase celebrates after the final out of their 4-3 victory over the Angels during the ninth inning on Sunday in Cleveland. (Photo by Lauren Leigh Bacho/Getty Images)
CLEVELAND — In a pitching duel between two former Mission Viejo High teammates, Angels left-hander Patrick Sandoval did everything he could to give the Angels a shot to win in the late innings against the Cleveland Guardians on Sunday.
Sandoval battled against Guardians right-hander Tanner Bibee, his high school teammate in 2015, and allowed three runs in 7-2/3 innings, but it wasn’t enough to lift the Angels over an equally dominant Bibee in a 4-3 loss on Mother’s Day at Progressive Field.
Guardians first baseman Josh Naylor hit a three-run home run in the eighth inning to put the Guardians ahead 4-1 after Sandoval left the game. It was his third consecutive game with a home run and his second straight day with a go-ahead, three-run shot in the eighth inning against the Angels.
Angels manager Phil Nevin opted to intentionally walk Guardians All-Star third baseman José Ramírez prior to Naylor’s at-bat. Ramírez’s walk was the final batter Sandoval faced before he was pulled for closer Carlos Estévez.
“I’m not going to let José Ramírez beat me,” Nevin said. “I said that before the series started, and I had my best against (Naylor) with where we’re at right there. I felt good about the matchup. He just got into another one.”
Sandoval gave the Angels what they needed for a chance to win the series, but the Angels struggled to collect hits against Bibee, a top prospect who built a career-best effort in his fourth major league start.
Bibee also lasted 7-2/3 innings and allowed one earned run on two hits, no walks and seven strikeouts.
Despite taking the loss, his second of the year, Sandoval was proud to see his high school friend pitch well. The two were on the Mission Viejo team that won the CIF Southern Section Division 2 title in 2015, the year Sandoval was drafted by the Angels.
“It was very cool,” Sandoval said. “It was a proud moment for me to see a former teammate make it to the big leagues, and the way he pitched was cool.”
Sandoval attempted to pitch through the eighth, but a sacrifice bunt by Guardians second baseman Steven Kwan advanced center fielder Myles Straw to second base after a lead-off single.
Sandoval grabbed one more out on a groundout before Nevin chose to walk Ramírez and pull Sandoval after 98 pitches.
Estévez entered to face Naylor, who had hit home runs in the eighth inning in each of the first two games of the series. Estévez was aware he needed to be careful with Naylor, but he missed his spot on the second pitch of the at-bat with an 88 mph changeup.
“I just missed my spot,” Estévez said. “I threw it middle-middle, and this is the big leagues. You make a mistake, you pay for it. Definitely was not trying to go middle-middle, of course. I tried to go down and away, but I left it up and he caught it.”
The mistake handed Sandoval his only two earned runs of the game. The run he allowed in the second inning was unearned due to an error by shortstop Zach Neto, who had a ball bounce off his glove with two outs and created the opportunity for Naylor to score from second base.
Despite the loss, it was still a decent outing for Sandoval. He collected his fourth quality start of the year.
He just happened to do it against a high school friend who was up to meet the challenge.
“It would’ve been nice if he chose someone else to pitch like that against,” Sandoval said with a chuckle.
The Angels mounted a comeback against Guardians All-Star closer Emmanuel Clase in the ninth inning and scored two runs. They even had Shohei Ohtani on second base as the tying run with one out, but they were unable to bring him home, spoiling a chance to win their first series in Cleveland since 2013.
