Early success from Padres' pitching isn't enough to hold off Angels in fifth spring game

Through seven innings, no one could score a run on Tuesday. At Peoria Stadium, the Padres were looking to jump above .500 in the spring standings, but a late two-run push from the Angels was all that Anaheim needed to stave off San Diego.

The Padres, falling to 2-3 in spring training, lost a tough 2-1 game to the Angels behind a pair of brutal runs scored in the top of the eighth inning. Angels' Bryce Teodosio broke the scoreless tie in the eighth on a sacrifice fly to score Denzer Guzman to set up an eventual game-winning run from Kyren Paris. Paris crossed home plate after Nelson Rada was hit by Miguel Cienfuegos' pitch, giving the Angels a 2-0 lead.

Gavin Sheets gave the Friars a last-minute run in the bottom of the ninth inning on an RBI groundout to score Leodalis De Vries. De Vries, who is another top prospect who doubled already this spring, set up the run with a two-bagger earlier in the frame.

Jake Higginbotham was tabbed with the loss for San Diego. He was responsible for both runs scored by Los Angeles (3-1) after surrendering three walks and a hit by pitch in the eighth inning. Up until that point, San Diego's staff was lockdown on the mound. Stephen Kolek started for the Friars, firing two scoreless innings with two strikeouts.

Harold Chirino, Adrian Morejon, Yuki Matsui, and Omar Cruz followed Kolek's scoreless trend by tossing one shutout frame each before handing the ball to Higginbotham. Bradgley Rodriguez threw the final inning for San Diego, striking out one Angel.

The Padres only collected five hits at the plate. Alongsie De Vries, Manny Machado and Tirso Ornelas each roped a double. Ornelas is now 4-for-9 (.444) this spring with three runs scored, two doubles, and one home run. Brandon Lockridge and Tyler Robertson registered the other two hits for San Diego, piecing a single each.

After a 2-0 start to spring training, the Padres have lost three games in a row. They will look to snap losing streak on Wednesday against the White Sox in a 3:05 p.m. start.