Jered Weaver, Angels help add to Marlins’ woes in 2-1 win

The Florida Marlins broke up the monotony of a dismal June with the hiring of 80-year-old interim Manager Jack McKeon, whose introductory news conference Monday injected some much-needed humor into one of baseball’s bleakest situations.

The respite was temporary. The Marlins went back to their losing ways Monday night, falling to the Angels, 2-1, in Sun Life Stadium, extending their losing streak to 11, which tied a franchise record set twice in 1998, and losing for the 21st time in 23 games.

Just like Angels Manager Mike Scioscia said “nobody is going to feel sorry for us” when his team lost eight of nine from May 31 to June 8, Jered Weaver and the Angels took no pity on the Marlins.

The right-hander gave up one run and five hits in seven innings, striking out six and walking one, to improve to 9-4, and Torii Hunter knocked in the runs with a single in the sixth inning and a slow roller to third base in the eighth.

Scott Downs retired the side in order in the eighth inning, and closer Jordan Walden struck out two of three batters in the ninth for his 17th save.

“I have the utmost respect for Jack McKeon, and I’m sure he’s going to work hard to get them going in the right direction,” Scioscia said. “But we have to worry about what we’re going to bring to the park every day. They have some good players who can take it to you. We have to put our game together.”

They didn’t on offense Monday, going one for 11 with runners in scoring position, an area the Angels have struggled in all season.

But on a warm and muggy night and with the game delayed 1 hour 43 minutes because of rain, Weaver was his normally sharp and durable self, throwing 121 pitches, 88 for strikes. It marked the fourth time in five starts Weaver has thrown 120 pitches or more.

“If everything feels good, why not?” Weaver said, when asked whether he was concerned about his high pitch counts. “I don’t feel any wear and tear. I feel good.”

Weaver said he is superstitious about his jersey, preferring to finish with the one he starts with, but he was so drenched by the fourth inning he changed his shirt.

“If there’s one thing I can’t handle, it’s humidity, and it was definitely hot out there,” Weaver said. “I was sweating more than I usually do, but I felt strong in that last inning, and we got that big run in the eighth.”

With the score tied, 1-1, Maicer Izturis opened the eighth with a single against reliever Steve Cishek and took third on Erick Aybar’s single to right field. Aybar stole second, and with the infield in, Hunter hit a slow roller to third baseman Jose Lopez, whose only play was to first. Izturis scored for a 2-1 lead.

The Marlins scored on Dewayne Wise’s sacrifice fly in the second inning, but Angels left fielder Bobby Abreu, not known for his defensive prowess, saved two runs in the fifth when, with runners on first and third and two outs, he made a long run into the corner to catch Gaby Sanchez’s fly ball on the warning track.

The Angels tied it in the sixth when Aybar bunted for a single, was balked to second, took third on a passed ball and scored on Hunter’s single to center field against starter Anibal Sanchez.

The Angels, who lost a game in Seattle on Wednesday when a potential inning-ending grounder bounced off the second base bag and over Aybar’s head for a game-winning single, caught a bag break in the eighth.

Gaby Sanchez smoked a two-out grounder that appeared headed to right field for a double, but the ball hit the bag and ricocheted to first baseman Mark Trumbo, who snagged it and stepped on first base.

mike.digiovanna@latimes.com