ANAHEIM -- For some starting pitchers, it’s the first inning that brings them the most trouble. And for others, it’s later in the game as they start to feel more fatigued and face hitters multiple times.
But for Angels right-hander José Soriano, it’s been the fourth inning that has plagued him this year and it happened yet again in a 7-3 loss to the Rays on Tuesday night at Angel Stadium. Soriano started with three hitless frames but gave up seven runs in his fourth and final inning. It dropped the Angels to 55-59 and five games out of the third and final AL Wild Card spot.
“The first three [innings] were nice, vintage Sori, and then maybe got a little stubborn there on some of the pitches,” said interim manager Ray Montgomery. “I didn't mind how he was throwing the ball. It just seemed to spiral a little bit.”
It’s been part of a season-long trend for Soriano, who has a 9.00 ERA in the fourth inning with 23 runs allowed in 23 innings but a 3.00 ERA in all other frames, including a 3.75 ERA in the first inning and zero earned runs allowed in 9 1/3 innings after the sixth.
The fourth inning is usually when the second time through the order begins, so it’s something Soriano will have to work on going forward. But it wasn't an issue last year, when he had a 4.15 ERA in the fourth that was only slightly higher than his overall 3.42 ERA in 113 innings.
“The simple answer is, I don't really know beyond the second time you start seeing guys, obviously there's a little familiarity,” Montgomery said. “I mean, the first three innings his stuff is as good as we've seen all year. And I, personally, expected that to just kind of continue. You want to see him make pitches to get out of it. And he just didn't.”
Soriano said he’s not sure why he’s had such a rough time in the fourth inning this year and doesn’t believe it’ll be an problem going forward.
“I don't think there's any issues,” Soriano said through interpreter Manny Del Campo. “This is baseball, one day you can be the best and the next day you can be the worst.”
But it’s also been part of a larger trend for Soriano, who has either been dominant in his starts or struggled mightily, without much in between. It's why he has a 1.33 ERA in his seven wins but a 6.75 ERA in his nine losses.
Catcher Logan O’Hoppe, though, said he believes Soriano has pitched well this season with his 4.01 ERA in 24 starts and took umbrage with talks about Soriano being inconsistent.
“I thought he’s had some good starts,” said O’Hoppe, who was thrown out at home after a rough send by third-base coach Bo Porter in the fifth. “I think everyone's had good and bad moments in here. I don't think it's a pattern. I don't think it's common for him to start off hot and then fall off. I thought it just got away from it tonight.”
After cruising early, Soriano was hit hard immediately in the fourth, giving up a leadoff single to Yandy Díaz before Brandon Lowe connected on a two-run homer to center. It snowballed from there, as Junior Caminero singled, Josh Lowe doubled and Jake Mangum brought home two runs with a single.
He got Jonny DeLuca to fly out for the first out, but then gave up a double to Hunter Fedducia before Taylor Walls dropped down a squeeze bunt that Soriano couldn't handle. Chandler Simpson followed with an RBI double before Díaz plated the seventh and final run on an RBI groundout.
He’s also had a tough time pitching at home this season for whatever reason, as he’s posted a 5.56 ERA in 13 starts at Angel Stadium compared to a 2.48 ERA in 11 road starts. He had the same issue last year with a 4.50 ERA in 10 outings at home compared to a 2.74 ERA in 12 appearances away from Angel Stadium. But it wasn’t the case in his rookie season in relief in ’23, he had a 1.71 ERA in 21 innings at home but a 5.57 ERA in 12 away frames. So Soriano believes it’s just a coincidence.
“I don't believe in those things,” Soriano said. “I think it's just part of baseball. Sometimes that happens and you can’t do anything about it.”