Klassen Fails Again In Second Start For Angels As Reds Even Series With a 7-3 Win

Klassen Fails Again In Second Start For Angels As Reds Even Series With a 7-3 Win

The Los Angeles Angels went wild today, and not in a good way. Prospect George Klassen had another bad start today, walking five and giving up five runs in his first two innings. To add injury to insult, Klassen had to leave the game in the third due to a bruised fingernail as the Angels ended up losing the middle game of their three-game series against the Cincinnati Reds, 7-3.

Klassen’s meltdown in his second start of the year also included a home run by Spencer Steer as he left the Angels down 5-0, but they did mount a comeback of sorts. The Halos tallied a single run in the third on an RBI groundout by Nolan Schanuel that scored Zach Neto, and the next inning an RBI double from a slumping Mike Trout scored Neto again along with Yoan Moncada.

That made it 5-3, but that was as close as the Angels got. Cincy starter Brandon Williamson gave up the first three runs, and after that a string of five Reds relievers combined to shut out the Angels the rest of the way.

The Reds also added a pair of insurance runs in the eighth inning off Angels relievers Ryan Zeferjahn and Chase Silseth as Silseth followed Klassen’s lead by losing the plate completely. He walked four and got just one out as he came in to try and pick up Zeferjahn, with both runs scoring on wild pitches. The first one scored Noelvi Marte, while the second plated Elly De La Cruz to finish the scoring for the day.

There were few bright spots for the Angels in this one. Trout broke out of a massive slump with his RBI double, although he’s been showing signs with some long fly balls and hard-hit outs, and Zach Neto had two more hits to continue his recent surge. Vaughn Grissom made his first start as an Angel after being brought up from Triple-A Salt Lake, but his lone contribution in four trips was a walk.

Brent Suter also did some fine relief work when he stepped in for Klassen, holding the Reds scoreless for 3-2/3 innings to give the Angels a chance to try and draw even, but this game was all about being down five runs right out of the gate.

The Angels are having all kinds of problems with their fifth starter spot, and it’s fair to ask if Klassen will get another shot. He did some strong work in spring training, but the Angels will likely continue to hold auditions until Grayson Rodriguez returns from the IL, although the last reports had him playing catch and weeks away from taking the mound in a real game.