Double-play ball strikes Angels again

MILWAUKEE — Even after their starter, Nick Tropeano, gave up 1,272 feet worth of home runs at Miller Park on Tuesday night, the Angels found themselves with a premium opportunity to take control of their game against the last-place Brewers, with the bases loaded, none out and their deficit at only one run in the top of the seventh inning.

Their arch nemesis, the double-play groundout, struck again, sending the Angels to a 5-4 defeat that gave them back-to-back losses to begin this three-game series.

Andrelton Simmons worked a walk, Carlos Perez singled and C.J. Cron took first base on four consecutive balls against Brewers reliever Michael Blazek. But Cliff Pennington managed only a harmless flair, which settled into the glove of second baseman Yadiel Rivera. Leadoff hitter Yunel Escobar followed by seeing a 1-1 fastball down the middle and chopping it into the ground, producing a three-hopper that went for a tailor-made 6-4-3 double play.

It was the second double play the Angels hit into on Tuesday — the first came with Albert Pujols swinging at a 3-0 pitch — and the 31st time it happened this season, more than any other team in the Majors. The Angels have also struck out far fewer than any team in the game, and a high degree of contact tends to produce an inordinate amount of double plays.

“They’ll be part of it,” Angels manager Mike Scioscia …

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