SF Giants’ rally falls short as Angels win series opener at Oracle Park

SAN FRANCISCO — Heliot Ramos hit a three-run homer in the Giants’ five-run eighth inning on Friday night to cut the deficit to two, but Carlos Estévez finished off San Francisco in the ninth for his 11th save as the Los Angeles Angels won the series opener at Oracle Park 8-6.

Giants starter Spencer Howard (0-1) was tagged for four runs in 2 1/3 innings, walking four and allowing seven hits. The Angels knocked around reliever Randy Rodriguez for four more runs.

Howard made his fourth appearance for the Giants as either a starter or featured pitcher as the team deals with several injured starters.

“I felt what the line reflects,” Howard said. “But certainly, you learn much more from the ones that don’t go your way. So I think productive outing, in a way, even though I didn’t give us a very good opportunity to win.”

Wilmer Flores had his 1,000th career hit with a single to lead off the fourth inning, later scoring the Giants’ first run.

Mickey Moniak had three hits and Tyler Anderson limited the Giants to a run in five-plus innings to lead the Angels.

Anderson (6-6), who pitched for the Giants in 2020, has held opponents to one run in five of his last six starts.

The Angels scored a run in the third, three in the third and four in the fourth. The Giants had a five-run eighth.

In the third, Taylor Ward scored from first on a bloop double to right by Kevin Pillar after Austin Slater’s throw to second was wide. Moniak, who is on a season-high six-game hit streak, then doubled in two runs to make it 4-0.

Zach Neto drilled a two-run homer to deep left-center field in the fourth. Moniak also tripled and scored in the inning to make it 8-1.

ETC.:

Giants: SS Nick Ahmed (wrist) was reinstated from the 10-day injured list. Manager Bob Melvin said he could be sharing playing time with Brett Wisely, who filled in well for Ahmed at shortstop. … The Giants optioned infielders Casey Schmitt and Marco Luciano to Triple-A Sacramento. … 1B LaMonte Wade Jr. (hamstring), who is aiming to return by next Thursday when the Giants play the Cardinals at Rickwood Field in Birmingham, Ala., recently ran the bases at “70%,” according to Melvin, and may be a close call for playing in that game. … LHP Blake Snell (groin) will throw a bullpen session Saturday. Melvin is hopeful Snell will return by the end of the month.

UP NEXT

RHP Keaton Winn (3-7, 6.94 ERA) was set to start for the Giants on Saturday against LHP Patrick Sandoval (2-8, 5.23 ERA).