OAKLAND, Calif. — Griffin Canning has strung together two strong outings, and the Angels haven’t won either one of them.
Canning gave up two runs in six innings, but the Angels lost, 2-1, to the Oakland A’s on Saturday afternoon, dropping the first two in a series against the team with the most losses in the majors.
Last Sunday, Canning gave up two runs in seven innings of a loss to the New York Mets. The bullpen gave up a one-run, eighth-inning lead in that one. This time, the Angels hitters couldn’t even get the bullpen a lead.
The Angels loaded the bases with one out in the first inning and managed just one run, when Luis Rengifo hit a popup to shallow left and shortstop Nick Allen stumbled after making the catch.
In the seventh, the Angels had a chance at a rally, but pinch-runner Andrew Velazquez was caught stealing third with no outs. Shohei Ohtani then hit a popout with two on, and Brandon Drury hit a flyout to end the inning.
The only two runs that Canning allowed came on a 1-and-2 hanging change-up to Brent Rooker, who drilled a two-run homer in the fourth inning.
Canning struck out seven and didn’t walk any, allowing just four hits. He struck out the final three batters he faced, going through the middle of the Oakland order in the sixth inning.
Canning has a 4.30 ERA through a career-high 104 2/3 innings, with 18 starts and two relief appearances.
After missing a season and a half with a back injury, Canning has clearly re-established himself as a potential piece of the future rotation.