Angels closer Huston Street takes a (rough) road less traveled

It’s rare for Angels closer Huston Street to blow one save, but to blow two in a row? That hadn’t happened since July 13 and 19, 2008, when Street was pitching for the Oakland Athletics, but it happened in back-to-back games this week.

One night after suffering his first blown save of the season but getting the win after the Angels staged a ninth-inning comeback against Seattle, Street got a blown save and a loss Thursday night, the Houston Astros rallying for three runs in the ninth inning of a 3-2 victory in Angel Stadium.

With a 2-0 lead, Street gave up singles to Colby Rasmus and Chris Carter. Jason Castro flied to center, but Jake Marisnick hit a run-scoring single to left, and Preston Tucker, in his major league debut, hit an RBI single to right for a 2-2 tie.

Marisnick took third on Tucker’s hit, and Tucker took second on right fielder Kole Calhoun’s throw to third. Jonathan Villar walked to load the bases, and speedy leadoff man Jose Altuve beat out a fielder’s choice grounder to second to score Marisnick with the winning run.

It was tough for Street to beat himself up afterward, because the Astros hadn’t really beaten him up. Three of the hits, Street said, were broken-bat singles.

“I really felt like the Rasmus ball was the only one hit really well, but that’s baseball,” Street said. “I left a couple pitches up, and a couple others kind of found holes. They were broken-bat hits that found some green grass. Give them credit for taking good at-bats.”

Manager Mike Scioscia said Street “has had trouble bringing the pitches he needs to into games” in his last two outings, but the veteran right-hander said his command and stuff are there.

“Look at how the ball was coming off the bat tonight—there weren’t doubles flying to the gaps,” Street said. “I didn’t make any really bad pitches, I just left a few up. I have to trust my stuff and keep going out there, because I feel like if I throw the ball like I did tonight, more often than not, I’ll get good results.”

Scioscia doesn’t have any long-term concerns about Street. “He’ll get it right,” he said. “This guy’s stuff is still good. He’s one of the best closers in baseball. He’ll be there for us.” Neither does catcher Chris Iannetta.

“There’s nothing wrong with Streeter—he did his job,” Iannetta said. “He did exactly what he needed to do. I don’t think there was one hard-hit ball. It’s not like they were squaring him up. He’s going to go out there and do the exact same thing and get the save or the win the next time out.”