Angels fall in pitcher's duel with Pirates, 1-0

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Walbert Urena gave the Los Angeles Angels everything they could desire in their series finale against the Pittsburgh Pirates, but an error sealed their 1-0 loss on Sunday at PNC Park. Urena, the Angels' right-hander, was nearly perfect, allowing only three hits and a walk over eight innings with four strikeouts.

His only blemish came in the third inning when Henry Davis, the Pirates' left fielder, turned a fastball into a ninth homer of the season, the only run either team needed. Urena stranded all the Pirates' hits, allowing them no outs to score. He finished the game with a 9-10 record and a 2.74 ERA. The Pirates' ace, Paul Skenes, matched Urena pitch for pitch into the eighth, working 5 1/3 scoreless innings, scattering four hits, a walk, and two strikeouts.

Skenes' performance helped the Pirates' bullpen seal the game, with Gregory Soto, Carmen Mlodzinski, and Camilo Doval collectively recording 2 2/3 innings without a run. The Angels' best chance came in the fifth inning when Zach Neto was hit by a pitch and Mike Trout followed with a line-drive double. However, the Pirates' defense executed a flawless relay, stranding Trout one out later.

The Angels had minimal success throughout the game, with Wade Meckler, Neto, and Christian Moore each adding a single, and Josh Lowe drawing two walks. The Angels' lone additional base hit came from pinch-hitter Kyren Paris, who drew a walk after a replay confirmed the initial call. Despite the loss, Los Angeles remains atop the series with a 2-1 record.

The loss drops the Angels to 54-89 on the season, while the Pirates' standing improves to 10-11. The Angels now face the Red Sox in a Labor Day series opener, with the first pitch scheduled for an early 10:35 a.m. PT start.