MIAMI—Taylor Ward homered, Nolan Schanuel extended his career-starting consecutive on-base streak to 35 games, and the Los Angeles Angels beat the Miami Marlins 10–2 on Wednesday, April 3, winning a fourth consecutive game after having opened the season with two losses in Baltimore.
The Angels will host the Boston Red Sox in Friday’s home opener.
The Marlins, meanwhile, are off to a 0–7 start, the first winless seven-game homestand in franchise history.
Angels starter Patrick Sandoval struck out seven over 5 2/3 innings and overcame an outing in which he allowed five runs in 1 2/3 innings on opening day in Baltimore. Sandoval (1–1) limited the Marlins to two runs and four hits.
“Felt a lot better about that one,“ Sandoval said. ”Kept the ball in the zone and good things happened. Just build off of it. Have to keep this one going.”
The left-hander absorbed a 101.9 mph comebacker to his left foot hit by Miami’s Vidal Brujan in the third inning but remained in the game.
Ward had three hits and two RBIs. Zach Neto had two hits and two RBIs.
Schanuel extended his streak when he was hit by a pitch in the ninth inning. He is third on the all-time major-league list for consecutive games reaching base to start a career.
Alvin Davis (1984) is first at 47 games, and Truck Hannah (1918) second at 38 games. Schanuel had a sacrifice fly in the seventh inning.
Miami extended its franchise record for worst start, a mark established the day before.
“The season feels long already in that clubhouse because it’s seven games and no wins,” Marlins Manager Skip Schumaker said. “It is really early. However, these games do count. We’ve got to figure it out if we want to get where we want to get to.”
Marlins starter A.J. Puk (0–2) completed four innings and allowed four runs (two earned) and five hits. The left-hander struck out five and walked three.
Miami narrowed a 4–0 deficit on RBI singles from Josh Bell and Jake Burger in the third inning but couldn’t keep pace the rest of the way.
Ward, whose homer came in the eighth inning, started the scoring with an RBI single in the first. Brandon Drury then drove in Mike Trout with a fielder’s choice. Trout finished 1 for 4.
Ward and Aaron Hicks scored on an error by Brujan in the third.
Trainer’s Room
Angels: Infielder Luis Rengifo exited in the fifth inning after feeling light-headed. ... Third baseman Anthony Rendon was given the day off. Rendon is in a season-starting 0-for-19 skid.Up Next
Angels: Right-hander Griffin Canning (0–1, 9.00) will start Friday against visiting Boston. The Red Sox will go with right-hander Kutter Crawford (0–0, 0.00).Marlins: Left-hander Ryan Weathers (0–1, 6.75) will start the opener of a three-game series in St. Louis on Thursday. RHP Lance Lynn (0–0, 0.00) will start for the Cardinals.
