THE GAME: The Angels managed just five hits in a 2-0 loss to the Chicago Cubs on Saturday afternoon in Mesa, Ariz. The Angels brought the go-ahead run to the plate in the ninth inning after drawing a pair of two-out walks, but Kyren Paris struck out to end the game, which lasted 2 hours, 14 minutes.
PITCHING REPORT: LHP Reid Detmers was charged with one run in 2 1/3 innings. He was pulled after issuing a one-out walk in the third, and the runner came around to score when RHP Eric Torres gave up a triple. “I really liked the fact that he’s landing a lot of those big curveballs early and then he had a strikeout with one late,” Angels manager Phil Nevin said. “The slider he’s landing. He left some arm side. Velocity was good on all pitches. Good body of work.” .… RHP Chris Devenski pitched a perfect inning. A non-roster invitee, Devenski has allowed two runs in three innings this spring. … LHP Matt Moore gave up a leadoff double but escaped without allowing a run. Moore struck out Ian Happ with one out and a runner at third. … RHP Mason Erla worked two scoreless innings. Erla, who was at Double-A last season, has not allowed a run in three innings this spring.
HITTING REPORT: Jo Adell struck out for the seventh consecutive time in his first at-bat, then ended the streak with a broken-bat groundout. He also popped out to shallow left field, not deep enough to drive in the runner from third with one out. Adell hit a homer in his first at-bat of the spring, but he’s now 2 for 14 with eight strikeouts. “There’s some things he’s been working on this offseason that he’s trying to translate into a game and it’s difficult,” Nevin said. “We’ll give him a lot of bats. It’s close. I feel like he’s really close. He’s swinging at the right pitches. When he gets the barrel on them, it will be a lot better.” … Mickey Moniak tripled off the fence in right field. Moniak is 3 for 12 this spring. … Kevin Padlo lined a double into right center. It was the fourth double this spring for Padlo, who is 5 for 15. Padlo is a non-roster invitee who has been playing first and third. Padlo’s double led off the seventh, but the Angels could not even move him to third. … Andrew Velazquez had his first hit of the spring, a single into right field. He then took second when the right fielder bobbled the ball. Velazquez is 1 for 11 this spring, including 1 for 8 batting right-handed against right-handed pitchers. Velazquez has abandoned switch-hitting.
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DEFENSE REPORT: First baseman Trey Cabbage missed a pickoff throw for an error. Cabbage also made a sliding catch of a foul pop. … Second baseman Michael Stefanic went to his left to snag a grounder, but he slipped and couldn’t get a throw to first in time. He alertly threw to third to get the lead runner, who had rounded the bag too far. … Adell raced back for a line drive over his head in left field. He leaped but did not get a glove on the ball. It was ruled a double.
UP NEXT: Angels vs. Reds, noon PT Sunday, Tempe Diablo Stadium, Bally Sports West, 830 AM; Angels at Rangers, noon PT, Surprise Stadium.