Angels struggle offensively in 4-1 loss to Rangers

A team can cover up a lot of mistakes with one big swing. The Angels have a diminished capacity to do that this year, at least based on the early returns.

The Angels rank last in the American League in home runs. On a night when one big swing could have revived them, the Angels went quietly in a 4-1 defeat to the Texas Rangers.

The Angels got a well-pitched game, but not a well-played one. They went hitless with runners in scoring position. Their lone run scored on a groundout. They botched a rundown in the ninth inning that gave the Rangers an insurance run.

You don’t need to hit home runs to win, of course. The Kansas City Royals finished next-to-last in the league in home runs last year, and they finished the year with a parade. The Angels, under new General Manager Billy Eppler, are doing their best to borrow the “contact hitting” and “stellar defense” pages from the Royals’ playbook.

However, that is a work in progress. In the meantime, is there enough power to win?

“Our power last year really came from a handful of guys, not even a handful of guys,” Manager Mike Scioscia said, citing Mike Trout, Albert Pujols and Kole Calhoun. “Those guys are still in the lineup.”

Trout hit 41 home runs last year. He is on pace for 35 this year.

Pujols hit 40 last year. He is on pace for 32 this year.

Calhoun hit 26 last year. He is on pace for 11 this year.

The Angels ranked 10th in the AL in home runs last year, 12th in runs. They rank 11th in runs this year.

“I would say we have as much power as we did last year,” Scioscia said, “with the potential to hit a little higher, because we have contact hitters that are tough outs. I think we can be more productive.”

Trout has 10 home runs and Pujols nine; the other seven batters in Tuesday’s lineup have combined for 10.

“I think we all bring a lot more to the table than power numbers,” Calhoun said.

Injuries are not a significant issue, at least on the offensive side. The missing starters — shortstop Andrelton Simmons (.219) and the left-field platoon of Daniel Nava (.222) and Craig Gentry (.147) — have combined for two home runs in 193 at-bats.

The replacements, shortstop Gregorio Petit (.289) and left fielder Rafael Ortega (.260), have held their own.

The Angels have won eight of their last 12 games.

“We’ve been doing a good job on the offensive end for the last couple of weeks, with a lot of the guys that are playing,” Scioscia said.

The Angels got six solid innings out of Jhoulys Chacin, who gave up three runs and five hits.

Chacin, imported by Eppler from the Atlanta Braves two weeks ago because the Angels desperately needed a healthy arm, had one quality start in five tries for the Braves.

For the Angels, Chacin has produced two quality starts in three tries.

The Rangers’ pitcher, Martin Perez, was better. He pitched six scoreless innings, but the Angels let him off the hook in the sixth inning.

The Angels, trailing, 1-0, had runners at first base and third base and none out. Calhoun grounded to first baseman Mitch Moreland, who threw out Shane Robinson trying to score from third base. Trout struck out, Pujols walked to load the bases, and Johnny Giovatella struck out.

“You hope — first and third, nobody out — at least you come out of the inning tying the ballgame,” Scioscia said.

In the eighth inning, the Angels trailed, 3-0. They had two on and one out, and a home run would have tied the score. Pujols grounded out, a run scored, and Giovatella flied out.

There would be no home runs on this night, again, for a team that slipped back to four games under .500.

bill.shaikin@latimes.com

Twitter: @BillShaikin