Rendon's hamstring tear presents challenge for Angels

ANAHEIM -- It was a tough day for the Angels on Friday.

Third baseman Anthony Rendon met with reporters before Friday’s 5-3 loss to the Twins at Angels Stadium and said he was diagnosed with a high-grade partial tear in his left hamstring. He said there is no timetable for his return but it’s expected to be a lengthy absence.

Rendon sustained the injury while beating out an infield single on Saturday in Cincinnati and had no prior issues with his hamstring. He underwent testing and received multiple opinions before announcing the extent of his injury on Friday. It’s another significant injury for Rendon, who has yet to play in more than 60 games in a season with the Angels after signing a seven-year, $245 million deal before the 2020 season.

“I’m definitely not going to be back in the 10-day window,” Rendon said. “It’s been four years running now. So I was angry for a few days, frustrated, mad, everything you could imagine because the game keeps getting taken away from me, right? I want to win, and I want to be out there. I do everything in my power to stay out there, and it seems like nothing is working.”

Rendon, 33, was hitting .267/.325/.307 with three doubles and three RBIs in 19 games before being placed on the 10-day injured list on Sunday. He had been heating up after starting the season in an 0-for-19 slump, hitting .395 (17-for-43) over his last 11 games.

With Rendon out, Miguel Sanó has become the club’s regular third baseman. However, Luis Rengifo, Brandon Drury and Ehire Adrianza can also play third.

Sanó has been in a slump offensively, striking out in 10 of his last 12 at-bats. He’s been dealing with left knee soreness and Adrianza served as a pinch-hitter for him in a key situation in the sixth after Sanó was 0-for-2 with two strikeouts. But Adrianza struck out against right-hander Bailey Ober with runners at the corners to end the inning. He also came to the plate with two runners on in the eighth and struck out looking to end the inning.

Angels general manager Perry Minasian, however, said before the game he’s confident in his club’s depth despite not knowing exactly how long Rendon will be out.

“There’s no timeframe," Minasian said. “He’s got a tear. We’ll take it day by day and see how it goes. Hamstrings are tricky. It’s obviously unfortunate. He was just starting to swing the bat well. But that’s why we have the depth that we have. Guys like Sanó, Rengifo and Drury can step up.”

Rendon said he’ll continue to get treatment at Angel Stadium and plans to be around the team as much as possible as he rehabs his injury. The 12-year veteran is considered a clubhouse leader.

“It’s always important to have a guy with his wisdom, knowledge and experience around,” Angels manager Ron Washington said. “The young kids definitely need his experience. It’s going to help us go in the right direction.”

But without Rendon, the offense has scuffled and the Angels didn't get a hit against Ober until Rengifo dropped in a single to open the sixth. Mike Trout has replaced Rendon as the leadoff hitter and homered on Tuesday and Wednesday but went 0-for-3 on Friday, including grounding out to third to end the game and strand two runners on base. Trout is 2-for-21 with runners in scoring position this year.

"I think he might be putting too much pressure on himself," Washington said. "Even as good a baseball player as he is, that happens. He just has to relax and not try to put his team on the back. I'd take a single or a double there but I know he was trying to win the ballgame. He's just got to relax."

The Angels have lost seven of eight, including four out of five without Rendon, and have scored three runs or fewer in five of their last eight contests. They went 2-for-8 with runners in scoring position while also playing sloppy defense behind lefty Patrick Sandoval, who gave up four runs (three earned) on nine hits over 5 2/3 innings.

"Despite all that, we still had ourselves in a position to win that game," Washington said. "We just have to get our offense going earlier. It's the second game in a row we went into the sixth with a no-hitter. But from the sixth to the ninth, we fought."