HOUSTON — Rarely does the Third Time Through Order bite a pitcher so quickly or dramatically.
Angels right-hander Jack Kochanowicz had little trouble with the Houston Astros the first two times through the order, but then he couldn’t get anyone out immediately after the lineup flipped.
Kochanowicz was ultimately charged with six runs in the Angels’ 14-3 loss to the Houston Astros on Friday night.
The last three runs tacked to his record came when left-hander Garrett McDaniels gave up a grand slam to the first batter he faced in relief of Kochanowicz.
The game ended up being Exhibit A for the way many teams now manage their pitchers. Analytics have shown that pitchers generally struggle once hitters see them for the third time in a game, which is why teams now pull their starters quicker than ever before.
Usually, though, the decline in effectiveness doesn’t hit so abruptly.
Kochanowicz was cruising the first two times through the Astros’ lineup. He gave up three singles and a walk, leading to one run, against the first 18 Houston hitters. That included two quick outs to start the fifth inning.
Leadoff hitter José Altuve then hit a line drive at third baseman Luis Rengifo, who couldn’t make the backhand play. It was ruled a hit. Kochanowicz then walked Isaac Paredes.
Yordan Alvarez, one of the most dangerous hitters in the majors, then hit a ground ball just past diving shortstop Tim Anderson, as the tying run scored.
Kochanowicz then gave up a clean single to Christian Walker, driving in the go-ahead run, and he walked Jeremy Peña to load the bases.
Manager Ron Washington then summoned McDaniels to face Yainer Diaz. Although McDaniels had done well to escape a jam in his previous outing in Tampa, this time he gave up a grand slam, putting the Angels in a 7-2 hole.
Right-hander Michael Darrell-Hicks entered in the sixth for his major-league debut, and he gave up four more runs.
The Astros tacked on three more runs with a pair of homers in the eighth.
Prior to all that, the only real highlight for the Angels was Mike Trout blasting a solo homer, his team-leading sixth of the year.
More to come on this story.
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