CLEVELAND >> All Angels manager Phil Nevin could do was watch from the dugout and hope one of his pitchers could take him to the bottom of the ninth.

The Angels had a comfy four-run lead in the eighth inning of Saturday’s game against the Guardians, and Nevin opted to keep reliever Andrew Wantz on the mound after he recorded all three outs in the seventh inning. Nevin wanted another inning from Wantz, who hadn’t pitched in four days and was one of the most refreshed relievers in the Angels’ bullpen.

That decision, however, proved costly for the Angels.

Wantz surrendered four straight singles before Ryan Tepera allowed two home runs in a disastrous eighth inning of their 8-6 loss at Progressive Field. Nevin hoped to bring closer Carlos Estévez in for the ninth inning for a save opportunity, but he never had a chance to call him due to the wreckage from the bullpen.

“(Wantz) probably just got a little tired,” Nevin said. “With four straight hits, you’ve got to stop the bleeding and find some more outs. Tep’s been in those situations before, but it just didn’t work out this time.”

Tepera allowed a three-run home run from Josh Naylor to give the Guardians the lead and Andrés Giménez added a solo home run two at-bats later for insurance.

The Angels’ ugly eighth inning wiped out the positives they had built in the previous innings, such as the splendid season debut from left fielder Mickey Moniak on his 25th birthday, a quality game from the defense and a smooth outing from starter Reid Detmers.

Moniak, in particular, was a standout player despite the loss. Called up Friday from Triple-A Salt Lake, he led off the game with a home run and was the Angels’ top generator on offense, going 3 for 4 with three runs, two stolen bases and a walk. He also scored runs in the third and seventh innings.

“It felt good,” Moniak said. “Main focus ever since coming into spring training was to try to help the team win, and it felt like I did that today. That’s just baseball, and it didn’t fall in our favor, but it felt good to be back here and get my feet wet.”

Neto contributed two big plays with his glove, which he applied on Guardians second baseman José Ramírez for a quick tag on a big pickoff attempt that went for an out in the fourth inning.

He also made a sliding, juggling catch in shallow left field on shortstop Andrés Giménez in the seventh inning. He then immediately rose to his feet and fired the ball back to first base to double up right fielder Gabrial Arias, who ran too far to second base and wasn’t anticipating Neto to secure the catch.

Another big defensive moment was when Hunter Renfroe threw out Amed Rosario with a laser from right field in the first inning. Renfroe caught a flyout and unleashed the ball to Anthony Rendon at third base to cut down Rosario on his attempt to tag up from second.

The double-play ended an inning where the Guardians had runners on second and third with one out.

“That was probably our cleanest defensive game of the year,” Nevin said. “We played a really good defensive game.”

Detmers helped the Angels sail through the first five innings, allowing two runs on six hits and two walks while striking out three batters.

All of that work, though, was wasted when Nevin’s hopes to reach the bottom of the ninth came undone.

“Got to find guys to get the outs to get to Estey, really,” Nevin said.

The Angels also replaced third baseman Anthony Rendon in the sixth inning after he left with left groin tightness. Nevin said Rendon told him “I don’t think I could move to get a ball right now” when Nevin was on the mound to replace Detmers in the sixth inning.

Rendon, whom Nevin said was already scheduled for an off-day in the third game of the series, will be re-evaluated Sunday.