Anthony Rendon leaves the game against the Reds with a hamstring injury

CINCINNATI — It was a rough night for the Angels on Saturday, and it started right away with Anthony Rendon suffering a left hamstring strain in the first inning of the game.

Rendon, who has been on fire after a slow start to the year, hit a ground ball to Elly De La Cruz and beat her on an infield single but hurt his left hamstring while running for first base. Head athletic trainer Mike Frostad and manager Ron Washington met him first and he was cleared for junior shortstop Zach Neto.

A day later, Rendon was placed on the 10-day disabled list with a left foot strain, and veteran shortstop Ehire Adrianza was optioned to Triple-A Salt Lake.

It worked well in a 7-5 loss to the Reds at Great American Ball Park, as left-hander Patrick Sandoval struggled and gave up five runs in the opening inning, including hitting Tyler Stephenson. It’s unclear how much time Rendon will miss, but it’s a blow to the Angels, especially considering how well he’s been on base as the club’s leading hitter. He will be further evaluated by team doctors on Monday when the club returns to Anaheim, according to Washington. Rendon was still nervous after the game.

“(I feel) it’s not very good,” Rendon said. “Confusion. Anger. Crazy. Any of those adjectives you want to use.”

Rendon, 33, started the season 0-19 in his first five starts but hit .357/.413/.411 (20-for-56) with three doubles and three RBIs in his last 14 games, including . his infield single on Saturday. He was acting as a catalyst at the top of the lineup in front of Mike Trout and was starting to get it going offensively.

“I think that’s one of the most frustrating parts, isn’t it?” Rendon said. “I’m starting to hit the ball more, and when I missed I was starting to get holes. Like earlier in the season, I was blocking it and they were catching it. I think that’s the most frustrating part, I was getting into holes and of course this happens.

It’s another injury for Rendon since he joined the Angels on a seven-year, $245 million contract before the 2020 season. He played in 52 of the club’s 60 games in 2020 but was limited to 58 of 162 games in 2021, 47 in ’22 and 43 in ’23. He’s making $38.5 million this year and again in ’25 and ’26.

In 2021, Rendon missed time with a left hamstring strain in April, a left knee sprain in May, a hamstring strain in June and a left hamstring strain in July, but it’s unclear if the injury this is similar. He also underwent surgery on his right hip that August.

Rendon did not recall the hamstring injury.

“I don’t know,” Rendon said. “Most of my career, it’s been four times. I’ve never dealt with a hamstring.”

In ’22, it was his right hand that required season-ending surgery in June. And last year, Rendon suffered a strained left thigh in May before suffering a season-ending concussion on a foul ball in July.

With Rendon out, the Angels called Adrianza. He was signed to a Minor League contract during Spring Training and is off to a hot start with Triple-A Salt Lake. He went 2-for-4 on Friday and is hitting .349 with a .992 OPS in 14 games with the Bees.

Adrianza can play all four infield positions and could see action in the third row alongside Luis Rengifo and Miguel Sanó. Brandon Drury also has experience at third base, although he hasn’t played since joining the Angels last year. Rengifo replaced Rendon at third but made a costly throwing error to first.

Sanó is off to a good start offensively and came close to helping the Angels bounce back Saturday after Sandoval allowed seven runs on six hits and five walks over four more innings. Sanó went 3-for-4, including his first homer of the season, a two-run shot in the sixth inning.

Sandoval was upset about his departure and said it was difficult to see Rendon go down with an injury to start the game.

“It hurts,” Sandoval said. “That guy means a lot to this team. To see him work his way back from all these injuries and the work ethic he has, the passion he has for the game and the passion he has as a leader for this team and helping everyone here, it’s heartbreaking.”