Wednesday’s matchup between the Texas Rangers and Los Angeles Angels in Anaheim ended in a disappointing 7-2 loss for the Rangers, largely due to Michael Lorenzen’s continuous struggle with his pitching control.

The game started off rocky for Lorenzen when he hit the Angels’ leadoff batter, Logan O’Hoppe, in the second inning. Although O’Hoppe was caught stealing second thanks to a sharp throw by catcher Jonah Heim, Lorenzen’s control issues persisted as he walked the next two batters.

This lapse set the stage for the Angels, with Zach Neto hitting an RBI single and Mickey Moniak delivering a crushing blow with a three-run homer off a 1-0 four-seam fastball, rocketing the Angels to a 4-0 lead. Neto wasn’t done, driving in another run with an RBI double in the third to extend the Angels’ lead to 5-0.

Reflecting on his performance and the game’s outcome, Lorenzen commented, “Hate to lose, but sometimes it takes getting punched in the face like that to make a change.”

This recent performance highlights a troubling trend for Lorenzen, who has issued 13 walks over his last three starts, covering a total of 15 innings. He has failed to pitch beyond the fifth inning in his past four starts— a stark contrast to earlier in the season when he consistently lasted at least six innings over his first nine starts.

Lorenzen’s 2024 struggles draw unfortunate parallels to his 2023 season where after a strong first half that earned him an All-Star selection with the Detroit Tigers, he faced challenges following a trade to the Phillies in August. Over his final seven starts of 2023, he recorded a 5.23 ERA.

On a brighter note for the Rangers, Leody Taveras put them on the scoreboard with a two-run home run in the fifth inning, a 401-foot shot, marking his second homer this season to travel over 400 feet. Despite the Rangers’ loss, Taveras has been a consistent performer, reaching base in 16 of his last 19 games.

Another glimpse of hope was reflected on Tuesday night when Adolis García hit a decisive go-ahead homer in the eighth inning, marking his ninth career home run in such late stages of the game that gave the Rangers the lead, tying him for sixth-most in club history with Adrián Beltré. Since 2021, García has notably contributed six of the Rangers’ 11 go-ahead homers in the eighth inning or later on the road.

The Rangers look to regroup and refocus as they enjoy a rest day on Thursday before heading into a weekend series against the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park. The series kicks off at 7:10 p.m. Friday with Rangers’ left-hander Andrew Heaney (3-9, 3.80 ERA) slated to start against a yet-to-be-announced Astros pitcher.