THE GAME: The Angels took an early four-run lead, but then had to come from behind three times, including two runs in the bottom of the ninth, to pull out an 11-10 victory over the Seattle Mariners in their first Cactus League game of the spring Saturday at Tempe Diablo Stadium.
PITCHING REPORT: RHP Jack Kochanowicz started with a perfect inning in the first, but then he allowed two runs in the second. His defense didn’t help him, as the Angels failed to get an out on a rundown, and had two catchable balls drop in the outfield. Kochanowicz, who is normally a groundball pitcher, was disappointed that the balls were in the air. He said he needed to work on “getting the sinker down in the zone a little bit more.”… LHP Garrett McDaniels worked a perfect inning. McDaniels is in camp as a Rule 5 selection. … RHP Caden Dana gave up three runs in 1⅔ innings. Dana gave up a two-run double on the 12th pitch of his matchup against Nick Dunn in the fifth inning. … Right-hander Victor Mederos pitched a perfect inning, striking out one.
HITTING REPORT: Logan O’Hoppe had two hits, including an RBI double to start the scoring in the Angels’ four-run first inning. … Jorge Soler also reached base twice, driving in a run with a single in the first and drawing a walk in the third. … The Angels had five hits in the first inning, and then only one more over the next four innings. They retook the lead with two runs in the sixth, including RBI singles by Nelson Rada and Kyren Paris. … After falling behind in the top of the seventh, they went back on top with three in the bottom of the inning. Yolmer Sanchez drove in two and then Rada knocked in the go-ahead run with a sacrifice fly. … In the ninth, Rada started the rally with a two-out bunt single. Christian Moore then singled. Kyren Paris followed with an RBI single, and Moore scored on the Mariners’ fourth error of the game.
DEFENSE REPORT: The Angels botched a rundown play in the second inning. The runner at first broke for second, but the runner at second stayed at the bag. The Angels tried for both runners, but ultimately no one was covering third so the lead runner advanced. The Angels had a similar rundown later in the game and executed it correctly. … LF Taylor Ward appeared to lose a ball in the sun. He was charged with an error. … RF Mickey Moniak failed to come up with a sliding catch. … 2B Tim Anderson was moving toward second to cover the bag on a stolen-base attempt when the ball was hit up the middle. He gloved it, touched second with his glove, and threw to first to complete an inning-ending double play. … CF Jo Adell made a diving attempt but couldn’t reach the ball that Dunn hit in the fifth. Adell played right field last year, but this spring the Angels are giving him a chance to play center because Mike Trout is moving to right.
UP NEXT: Angels (LHP Reid Detmers) at Cleveland Guardians (RHP Ben Lively), 12:05 p.m. PT Sunday, at Goodyear Ballpark, FanDuel Sports Network West, 830 AM