Angels’ 8-1 loss to Twins complicates playoff picture

It was a goosebump-inducing Sunday for Angels catcher Jett Bandy, the former Thousand Oaks High School standout whose first big league hit was a home run off Minnesota Twins All-Star Glen Perkins in Target Field.

“I’ll never forget anything about the moment,” Bandy said after his pinch-hit, ninth-inning shot to left field. “I’ll try to cherish it as much as possible. I’m still kind of high off it right now.”

While Bandy was making memories, the rest of the Angels were trying to purge the game from their memory banks.

The Angels could not solve rookie right-hander Tyler Duffey, who allowed three hits and struck out seven in seven scoreless innings to lead the Twins to an 8-1 victory, and as a result, their pursuit of a playoff spot got more complicated.

The Angels, who won three of four from the Twins, fell 2 1/2 games behind Houston for the second American League wild-card spot with 13 games left. Minnesota is also 2 1/2 games back.

The Angels open a critical three-game series at Houston on Monday night with Jered Weaver, who is 2-0 with a 1.71 earned-run average in three starts against the Astros this season, taking the mound.

The Angels won two of three from Houston in Anaheim last weekend, coming within one out of a sweep. The Astros swept a three-game series from the Angels at home in late July and have recovered from a five-game losing streak with wins over Oakland Saturday and Sunday.

“Are they make-or-break games? Mathematically, no, but possibly, yes,” Angels left fielder David Murphy said. “The bottom line is we know they are important. We know what’s at stake. We’re going to treat it as a valuable series, but at the same time, not put additional pressure on ourselves. We’re going to play baseball like we usually do.”

They can’t afford to play like they did Sunday, when they failed to advance a runner into scoring position until the eighth inning and Matt Shoemaker lasted only 3 2/3 innings in his return from a forearm strain, giving up four runs and six hits, including two homers, striking out one and walking two.

Shoemaker gave up a solo homer to Torii Hunter in the second and a two-run shot to Eddie Rosario in the third. Eduardo Nunez singled with two outs in the fourth, stole second and scored on Hicks’ RBI single to make it 4-0, and that was it for Shoemaker.

“He went three-plus innings and had eight baserunners,” Manager Mike Scioscia said. “It comes down to getting ahead of counts and putting guys away. He had a couple of guys 0-2 and 1-2 and walked them.”

Duffey had no such problems, using a 90-mph fastball from a three-quarter arm slot and what Murphy described as a “slurve” to blank the Angels.

“His mechanics were a little funky, so it’s hard to pick up his arm slot,” Murphy said. “And any time an offense is seeing a pitcher for the first time, the pitcher definitely has the advantage.”

The task gets no easier Monday night, when the Angels face Houston ace and Cy Young Award candidate Dallas Keuchel.

“Every game is huge, especially when you’re playing the team right in front of you,” slugger Albert Pujols said. “Beating them once is almost like winning two games. You don’t have to lean on someone else to help you, because you’re facing the guys you need to beat.”

Up next

Weaver (7-11, 4.74 ERA) will oppose Keuchel (17-8, 2.56 ERA) at Minute Maid Park on Monday at 5 p.m. PDT. TV: FS West; Radio: 830, 1330.

mike.digiovanna@latimes.com

Twitter: @MikeDiGiovanna