Bullpen wastes Oliver’s effort

There was one problem with Darren Oliver’s giving the Angels four superb one-run, five-hit innings in a spot start against the Minnesota Twins on Saturday night.

The veteran left-hander couldn’t replace himself.

Oliver handed the ball and a one-run lead to a shaky bullpen in the fifth inning, and the relievers made another mess of things.

Kevin Jepsen walked the first two batters of the fifth inning, setting the stage for a five-run rally that led the Twins to a 9-2 victory at the Metrodome and sparking another postgame meeting between Angels Manager Mike Scioscia and pitching coach Mike Butcher.

“D.O. pitched well, but it magnifies him not being in the bullpen; there’s a void there,” Scioscia said. “It seems like we patch one hole and another springs up. We’re going to re-evaluate some things, see if we can get a little more continuity in the bullpen.”

Four Angels starters -- John Lackey, Ervin Santana, Kelvim Escobar and Dustin Moseley -- are on the disabled list, and the Angels are still reeling from the loss of Nick Adenhart, the 22-year-old pitcher who was killed in an April 9 traffic accident.

But the rotation has actually been a strength; Angels starters have a major league-low 2.74 earned-run average.

The bullpen, expected to be a strength, has been torched to the tune of an 0-5 record and 8.31 ERA, with virtually every reliever, except Oliver, struggling.

Oliver may get one more start, but the Angels may call up a minor league starter so they can move Oliver back to the bullpen.

Triple-A right-hander Anthony Ortega and double-A right-hander Sean O’Sullivan are the leading candidates. There’s an outside chance hard-throwing double-A right-hander Jordan Walden could get the call. The Angels must determine who is most ready for the challenge.

“Right now, we’re looking from extended spring training up to [triple-A] Salt Lake, Scioscia said. “We know D.O. in the rotation is going to be short-term because of what he means to our bullpen.

“There are some [minor league] kids with good arms; we’re not sure if it’s going to help us or them, short and long term, for them to pitch here. We’re going to see what gives us the best look, short term and long term.”

The Angels were confident Jepsen, who has a 94-mph fastball and a sharp, over-hand curve, would give them a good look coming out of the bullpen, but the rookie right-hander has been a major disappointment so far.

Torii Hunter hit a two-run home run in the second inning, and the Angels had a 2-1 lead when Jepsen replaced Oliver to start the fifth inning. Wild high with his fastball, Jepsen walked Carlos Gomez to open the inning and walked Nick Punto on four pitches.

Brendan Harris’ single loaded the bases, Justin Morneau hit a run-scoring single and Jason Kubel hit a two-run double. Morneau scored on a wild pitch, and Kubel scored on Mike Napoli’s passed ball for a 6-2 lead.

The Twins scored three more runs against Rafael Rodriguez and Rich Thompson in the sixth inning, two on Delmon Young’s single.

Jepsen fell to 0-2 with a 19.29 ERA. He has given up 10 earned runs, 11 hits and walked five in 4 2/3 innings.

“He’s got to keep taking the ball, keep grinding,” Oliver, 38, said of Jepsen, 24. “That happens, especially with a hard thrower like that. It’s tough when you lose a little confidence. You’ve got to stay positive. You know it’s going to change in the end.”

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mike.digiovanna@latimes.com