Bullpen Effort Falls Short as Angels Drop Fifth Straight

On August 1st, 2026, the Los Angeles Angels suffered a 3-1 defeat to the Milwaukee Brewers, marking their fifth consecutive loss as they prepared to face the Brewers in a three-game series. The Angels faced a significant challenge when José Soriano was scratched from his scheduled start due to uncertainty surrounding the MLB Trade Deadline.

Brent Suter, in his first appearance as a starter, took the mound with a 1-2 record and a 4.26 ERA under his belt. Despite Suter's effort, the Angels struggled to score, with Mike Trout's early single and Jorge Soler's RBI double providing the only runs in the first inning. The Brewers capitalized on the Angels' struggles, loading the bases in the second inning after three walks, but veteran relief pitcher Brett Kerry came to the rescue, delivering a clean fourth inning before surrendering a game-tying home run in the fourth.

Veteran catcher Travis d'Arnaud and manager Kurt Suzuki praised Kerry's composure and control on the mound, calling his performance "awesome" and "great." However, Milwaukee's pitching staff, led by Samy Natera Jr., proved to be too effective, as the Angels failed to score another run. The game remained close until the top of the eighth inning when Brice Turang's RBI single secured Milwaukee's 3-1 victory.

Despite the loss, d'Arnaud commended the Brewers' pitching and overall team performance, stating that they are a first-place, playoff team. The Angels will look to bounce back on Sunday, with Jacob Misiorowski facing Walbert Ureña in the next matchup.