ANAHEIM >> Angels starter Reid Detmers walked off the mound in the sixth inning on Thursday night, still looking for his first victory of the season. The Angels had a one-run lead, and Detmers left runners at first and third.

Fortunately for Detmers and the Angels, right-hander Chris Devenski was about to do what has become his specialty this season.

Two pitches later, Devenski escaped the jam, stranding both runners. Devenski had stranded the last 14 runners he’d inherited and 17 of the 20 this season entering Friday.

The major league average strand rate is 68%. Devenski is at 85% this season and 78% for his career.

As a team, the Angels have stranded just 57% of the runners they’ve inherited, tied for the worst rate in the majors. Devenski represents their best hope to improve that.

“I think you just go out there and make your pitches and focus on executing,” Devenski said. “Those are big situations. I like those situations. I feel an extra little boost of adrenaline so I can use that to my advantage.”

Manager Phil Nevin said he thinks Devenski’s experience helps him to be successful in those spots. Devenski is a 32-year-old who has pitched in the postseason with the Houston Astros and Philadelphia Phillies.

“He throws strikes and he understands the situation,” Nevin said. “He’s just really smart understanding the situation, where they can potentially hit a ball if he throws it in the right place. He’s been there. He’s done that.”

Nevin said he also trusts veteran right-hander Jacob Webb with runners on base. Webb has inherited six runners and three of them have scored, all of them on a grand slam he allowed to Alex Bregman last weekend in Houston.

Nevin is trying to avoid bringing his other relievers in with runners on base. Rookies Ben Joyce, Sam Bachman and José Soriano have never done it, not even in the minors. Lefty Aaron Loup has obviously done it plenty of times, but until he gets back to pitching at his normal level, he probably won’t be used with the game on the line.

Rengifo’s production

For most of this season, Luis Rengifo was doing a good job of drawing walks, but he was unproductive when he did put the ball in play.

Over the six games leading into Friday, Rengifo was 8 for 19 (.421) with two home runs and a double ... and no walks.

Prior to this stretch, Nevin suggested that there might be a give-and-take with Rengifo’s approach. He was being more patient, but that meant he was not starting his swing early enough to catch balls out in front of the plate, where the damage is done.

Now, Nevin said he doesn’t think Rengifo has changed his approach as much as pitchers have changed theirs.

“They saw him being more selective, so they’re going to come out and be more aggressive,” Nevin said. “In turn, he’s come around and been more aggressive in the zone. ... When he gets it, he’s not missing it right now.”

Also

Third baseman Gio Urshela was a late scratch from the lineup on Friday because of back tightness, Nevin said. ... Left-hander Matt Moore (oblique) “should start throwing here in the next day or two,” Nevin said. It’s still unclear how long it will be before he returns, though. “Once he gets ramped up, it will be pretty quick,” Nevin said.