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August 1, 2016 of 22

Clips

(August 1, 2016)


Today’s Clips Contents

FROM THE LA TIMES (Page 3)

Tyler Skaggs provides glimmer of hope for next season for Angels

Tyler Skaggs’ feel-good start ends in loss as Angels blow three-run lead in ninth

FROM THE OC REGISTER (Page 6)

Huston Street’s blown save in Angels’ loss to Boston caps troubling stretch

Final: Huston Street blows victory for Angels, Tyler Skaggs against Red Sox

Tyler Skaggs rewards the Angel fans who welcome him back

FROM ANGELS.COM (Page 10)

Angels stung by Sox’s late homers

Two years later, Skaggs’ injury is ‘water under bridge’

Street pays for mistakes as Red Sox rally

Angels’ left-field saga continues

A’s, Angels to renew AL West rivalry in Anaheim

FROM THE ASSOCIATED PRESS (Page 18)

Pedroia’s 2-out homer in 9th rallies Red Sox over Angels 5-3

FROM ESPN (Page 20)

Trade Deadline Daily: Tigers checking in on Hector Santiago

FROM CBS LOCAL (Page 20)

Red Sox Stun Angels Behind Pedroia’s Home Run


FROM THE LA TIMES

Tyler Skaggs provides glimmer of hope for next season for Angels

Mike DiGiovanna

A playoff spot is well out of reach, but Tyler Skaggsprovided another glimmer of hope for 2017 with his second superb start since returning from elbow surgery, giving up four hits in 5 1/3 innings, striking out eight and walking two in the Angels’ 5-3 loss to the Boston Red Sox on Sunday.

Mixing a fastball that sat between 92-94 mph and changing speeds with a sharp curve, Skaggs stifled an offense that leads the major leagues with 574 runs and an .827 on-base-plus-slugging percentage.

The left-hander’s only real trouble came in the fifth inning, whenBryce Brentz and Mookie Betts singled with one out. Skaggs struck out Dustin Pedroia for the third time — all on curves, this one looking — and Xander Bogaerts swinging at a curve to end the inning.

Skaggs struck out David Ortiz to start the sixth inning and was pulled in favor of Deolis Guerra. He threw 97 pitches, 64 for strikes.

“The curveball was the key,” Skaggs said. “I threw it often. I threw it for a strike and bounced it when I wanted to. … When I threw it for a strike it was a little slower, 74-75 mph. When I wanted a strikeout I went 78-79 mph. It worked out well today.”

Missed opportunity

The Angels bunched a double, two singles and a walk in the first inning and somehow failed to score, the bizarre rally marked by two players getting tagged out at the plate.

Yunel Escobar led off with a double and Kole Calhounwalked. Mike Trout looped a single to left, and the throw home from Brentz, while several feet up the third base line, beat Escobar, who tried to sidestep catcher Ryan Hanigan.

The ball squirted out of Hanigan’s glove as he applied the tag, but Escobar was unable to reach the plate with his right toe, his momentum carrying him just beyond the dirt circle around the plate. Pitcher Steven Wright, backing up the play, retrieved the ball and tagged Escobar for the first out.

Albert Pujols blooped a single to right field to load the bases.Andrelton Simmons struck out, the ball nicking off Hanigan’s glove and rolling to the backstop. But Calhoun appeared to get a bad jump from third, and Hanigan’s throw to Wright was in time for the pitcher to tag Calhoun for the third out.


Short hops

Some heckling from fans behind the third base dugout sparked a lengthy conversation between Escobar, Manager Mike Sciosciaand umpire Joe West during the fourth inning. “There were were some people going back and forth with Yunel in the stands,” Scioscia said. “It was no big deal.” … Pujols finished July with 31 runs batted in, the fifth time in his career and first time since June 2009 he has driven in 30 runs or more in a calendar month. … Nick Tropeano, who tore his elbow ligament July 18, will visit another specialist in New York on Monday before deciding whether to undergo surgery or attempt a more conservative treatment, such as stem-cell therapy or platelet-rich plasma injections. … Utility player Cliff Pennington, out since June 1 because of a left hamstring strain, is expected to be activated for Tuesday night’s game against Oakland.

Tyler Skaggs’ feel-good start ends in loss as Angels blow three-run lead in ninth

Mike DiGiovanna

The location of the pitch was good, on the outer third of the plate, but the action on Huston Street’s ninth-inning slider to Dustin Pedroia was not.

“It wasn’t very sharp,” the Angels closer said. “It just kind of rolled in there.”

Then it rocketed out of there, Pedroia slamming the pitch over the center-field wall for a three-run home run, the decisive blow of a stunning two-out, five-run rally that gave the Boston Red Sox a 5-3 victory in Angel Stadium on Sunday.

“It’s a terrible day, and I’m frustrated by it,” Street said after equaling his career high for runs given up in an appearance. “I feel bad for [Tyler] Skaggs. That’s the thing I feel the worst about.”

Two years to the day he tore his ulnar collateral ligament on a sultry summer evening in Baltimore, Skaggs gave up four hits in 5 1/3 scoreless innings, striking out eight and walking two in his second start back from elbow surgery.

But another feel-good day story Skaggs, who gave up three hits in seven scoreless innings in his return at Kansas City last Tuesday night, quickly deteriorated into a ninth-inning horror show for Street, who inherited a 3-0 lead after relievers Deolis Guerra and J.C. Ramirez each threw 1 1/3 innings.

The Angels had scored three runs in the fifth inning against knuckleball-throwing Steven Wright when Yunel Escobar, Kole Calhoun and Mike Trout hit consecutive one-out singles for a run, Albert Pujols hit a run-scoring groundout, Andrelton Simmons walked, and Jefry Marte lined a run-scoring single to center.


But Jackie Bradley sparked Boston’s ninth-inning rally with a leadoff walk, and Aaron Hill singled to center. Street struck out Ryan Hanigan and Brock Holt, and he thought he might have whiffed Mookie Betts with a two-strike slider that was a few inches outside.

“I wanted it, but it was off the plate,” Street said. “It was a ball.”

Betts ripped a run-scoring single to right. Up stepped Pedroia, who was hitless with three strikeouts in four at-bats and was so irate over a called third strike in the fifth inning that Manager John Farrell quickly interceded and was ejected by plate umpire Gabe Morales.

Pedroia drove a 1-and-0 slider for his 12th homer and a 4-3 lead, as the heavily pro-Boston crowd in Anaheim went wild. According to ESPN Stats and Info, it was Pedroia’s second career go-ahead homer in the ninth inning or later. The first was against Street and the Colorado Rockies on June 24, 2010.

Xander Bogaerts then lined an 0-and-2 slider over the left-field wall for a 5-3 lead before David Ortiz, in his last at-bat in Angel Stadium, flied out to end an inning that was reminiscent of a game against Houston on Sept. 13, when Street gave up five runs in the ninth inning of a 5-3 loss.

“I expected to get it done today, I had no reason not to,” said Street, who was pitching on consecutive days for the first time since April 22-23. “I wasn’t tired. I felt good out there. It’s been tough to get in a groove … but I’ve been trying to find it. Sometimes every mistake you make, you get beat on.”

Street sat out five weeks in April and May because of a left-oblique strain and admitted he may have come back too soon. He is 3-2 with a 6.45 earned-run average, striking out only 14 batters and walking 12 in 22 1/3 innings and converting nine of 12 save opportunities.

Hard-throwing right-hander Cam Bedrosian, meanwhile, is 2-0 with an 0.92 ERA and has not given up a run in 22 2/3 innings of his last 24 games.

But when asked whether he would consider promoting Bedrosian to closer, Manager Mike Scioscia said, “Not right now. We need depth back there, and we need a guy in the ninth inning who’s going to hold leads. That’s where Huston comes in.”

Street praised Bedrosian — “Cam has pitched awesome,” he said — but is not ready to relinquish the ninth inning.

“That’s not my decision,” he said. “In my head, I’m going to figure out a way and get it done. That’s what I’ve done my whole career. … I’ll figure it out. I’ll find it.”


FROM OC REGISTER

Huston Street’s blown save in Angels’ loss to Boston caps troubling stretch

By JEFF FLETCHER / STAFF WRITER

ANAHEIM – Huston Street stood in the clubhouse, packed in ice from his shoulder to his thigh, as usual, and confronted the questions he knew were coming.

He had just blown a save in horrible fashion, letting a three-run lead get away in the Angels 5-3 loss to the Boston Red Sox on Sunday, begging the question of his job security.

With Cam Bedrosian riding on a two-month string of zeroes and Street enduring a two-month nightmare that just hit it ugliest moment, how much longer could Street remain the closer?

“I don’t even think about that,” Street said. “That’s not my decision. It’s not… In my head, I’m going to get it done and figure out a way. That’s what I’ve done my whole career.”

Manager Mike Scioscia, who had already elevated Bedrosian and his 0.92 ERA ahead of setup man Joe Smith on bullpen pecking order, said he’s not ready to demote Street.

“Not right now,” he said. “Cam has already worked his way to the back of our bullpen. We need depth back there. For sure, we need a guy in the ninth inning who’s going to hold leads, and that’s where Huston comes in.”

He came in with a 3-0 lead on Sunday, trying to put the finishing touches on a day that had belonged to the triumphant return of Tyler Skaggs. In his first home start in more than two years, after having Tommy John surgery, Skaggs was in line for another victory.

Then Street let it all get away.

He walked Jackie Bradley Jr. to start the inning, and a leadoff walk is one of a pitcher’s greatest sins. Then Aaron Hill dropped a single into center. Street then struck out the next two hitters.

He would not get another out.

Mookie Betts’ single drove in one run. He then threw Dustin Pedroia a 1-0 slider. It was over the outside of the plate, as Street wanted it, but it hung, and Pedroia hit it over the center-field fence, putting Boston up 4-3. Xander Bogaerts followed with another homer, making it 5-3.

The five runs equaled the most Street had allowed, matching a disastrous outing last September. That game will be best remembered because of the ball sticking in Taylor Featherston’s glove.


This one was the capper to one of the worst stretches of Street’s All-Star career. Owner of 324 saves and a 2.91 ERA, over the two months since he came back from an oblique injury he has not been the same.

Street has allowed 15 earned runs in 142/3 innings since coming off the DL. Both numbers there are issues. Street, whose season ERA stands at 6.45, has allowed far too many runs when he’s pitched, but he’s pitched far too infrequently to get into any sort of rhythm. The Angels have struggled so much the save opportunities have been sporadic.

“I’ve been trying to find it,” Street said. “I’ve been trying to find that groove. I’m going to do everything I can. Sometimes it’s just that way. Sometimes every mistake you’re getting beaten on, and I’ve got to find a way to make less mistakes. So it’s been frustrating.”

Final: Huston Street blows victory for Angels, Tyler Skaggs against Red Sox


ANAHEIM – Tyler Skaggs provided all kinds of encouragement about 2017, and then Huston Street reminded Angels fans that it’s still 2016.

And in 2016, little goes right for the Angels.

After Skaggs had his second straight scoreless outing since coming back from Tommy John surgery, Street blew a three-run ninth-inning lead in the Angels’ 5-3 loss to the Boston Red Sox.

Street, who has endured a rough season since returning from a strained oblique in late May, took the mound with a 3-0 lead.

He walked Jackie Bradley Jr. and then gave up a single to Aaron Hill. After steadying with back-to-back strikeouts, he allowed a run-scoring single to Mookie Betts.

Dustin Pedroia then hit a three-run homer to straightaway center field, putting the Red Sox up 4-3. Xander Bogaerts followed with an insurance homer, and Street was done.

Street has allowed 15 earned runs in 13 2/3 innings since coming off the DL. It was his third blown save in that span.

It spoiled a day that had belonged to Skaggs, who tossed 5 1/3 scoreless innings.

Pitching two years to the day since he blew out his elbow, Skaggs had his second consecutive scoreless outing since coming back. He had pitched seven innings without allowing a run last week in Kansas City.


Adding his final two starts at Triple-A, and Skaggs has pitched 25 scoreless innings, with 39 strikeouts.

Skaggs didn’t have much trouble with the Red Sox, including an especially impressive escape of his most serious jam. He gave up back-to-back singles in a scoreless game in the fifth, with Pedroia and Bogaerts due. He struck out Pedroia looking and then got Bogaerts swinging at his 94th pitch of the game.

That would have been his last, most likely, if left-handed David Ortiz weren’t due to start the sixth. Skaggs remained in the game and struck out Ortiz on three pitches.

The Angels then got to Boston knuckleballer Steven Wright, after wasting numerous opportunities in the early innings.

Yunel Escobar, Kole Calhoun and Mike Trout had three consecutive singles, producing the game’s first run. An Albert Pujols groundout pushed in a run, and then a Jefry Marte single made it 3-0.

For Pujols, it was his 31st RBI in July, most in the majors. It was the first time since Kendrys Morales in August 2009 that an Angels player drove in 30 runs in a calendar month.

Tyler Skaggs rewards the Angel fans who welcome him back


ANAHEIM – One of the highlights of Tyler Skaggs’ day came before he’d even thrown his first pitch.

Just walking out to the outfield to begin his warmups on Sunday, he felt the love from the Angel Stadium crowd.

“They were saying ‘Happy to have you back,’ and I saw some ‘Skaggs’ jerseys, which was a first for me,” Skaggs said. “It was an interesting day.”

In his first start at Angel Stadium after missing two years – to the day – because of Tommy John surgery, Skaggs delivered on the fans faith.

He tossing 51/3 scoreless innings, allowing four hits and striking out eight.

“He pitched a terrific game,” Manager Mike Scioscia said.

In two outings since coming back, he has not allowed a run in 121/3 innings. Adding his final two starts at Triple-A, and Skaggs has pitched 25 scoreless innings, with 39 strikeouts.


He did walk the first batter in both major league games: “I’ve just got to get the first batter out of the way,” he joked.

After that, he didn’t have much trouble with the Red Sox, including an especially impressive escape of his most serious jam. He gave up back-to-back singles in a scoreless game in the fifth, with Dustin Pedroia and Xander Bogaerts due. He struck out Pedroia looking and then got Bogaerts swinging at his 94th pitch of the game.

Both batters went to full counts before Skaggs struck them out.

“I just told myself to focus and bear down right there,” he said. “You’ve got to make a good pitch. Luckily I came out of on top.”

That would have been his last, most likely, if left-handed David Ortiz weren’t due to start the sixth. Skaggs remained in the game and struck out Ortiz on three pitches.

“I was happy Sosh let me go back out there and face the last batter, David Ortiz,” Skaggs said. “It’s his farewell tour so it was nice to go out and finish it off.”

EVENTFUL DAY FOR ESCOBAR

Yunel Escobar was in the middle of three curious moments in Sunday’s game.

In the first inning, he was trying to score from second but he missed the plate. He had tried to step around catcher Ryan Hanigan, who appeared to have the ball ahead of him, rather than sliding. Hanigan dropped the ball, but then Escobar didn’t touch the plate. Although some replays indicated Escobar might have touched the plate, the Angels said their looks showed he missed it, so they didn’t even challenge.

In the fourth inning, he had an exchange with umpire Joe West that brought Scioscia out of the dugout. Scioscia explained that Escobar had been going back and forth with some fans, who were getting on him.

Then in the ninth, after the Angels had blown the lead, he reached on a leadoff single but then did not go to second when the throw went down the right-field line. Scioscia said he didn’t think Escobar would have made it.

ALSO

The Angels are still debating how to shuffle their rotation after an off day Monday . The only certainty is that Matt Shoemaker will start on Tuesday. After that, if the Angels stayed in turn, it would be Jered Weaverand Tim Lincecum, followed by Hector Santiago and Skaggs in Seattle. However, Scioscia said the Angels might want to break up Santiago and Skaggs, so they could flip Santiago and Lincecum, which would also give Lincecum an extra day. … Albert


Pujols drove in 31 runs in July, most in the majors. It was the first time since Kendrys Morales in August 2009 that an Angels player drove in 30 runs in a calendar month. ... Nick Tropeano has another appointment on Monday to get further information to help in his decision on whether to have Tommy John surgery. … Cliff Pennington is expected to be activated on Tuesday. Pennington was eligible to be activated on Sunday, and Scioscia had indicated that he would be, but the Angels are waiting at least two more days. It’s possible that buys them time to see how Pennington fits on the roster. Infielder Yunel Escobar may not be on the roster after Monday’s trading deadline. … Ji-Man Choi was called on a rule rarely invoked. In the fifth inning, he was hit in the arm by a Steven Wright knuckleball, but umpire Gabe Morales ruled that he made no effort to get out of the way, so he did not award him first base.

FROM ANGELS.COM

Angels stung by Sox’s late homers

By Fabian Ardaya and Ian Browne

ANAHEIM -- Dustin Pedroia and Xander Bogaerts hit back-to-back homers to cap a five-run ninth inning as the Red Sox stormed back against Angels closer Huston Street for a 5-3 win in Sunday's series finale at Angel Stadium.

Down 3-0 entering the ninth, the Red Sox scratched a run off Street on a walk and two singles before the power surge. With a pair of runners on and two outs, Pedroia drove a hanging slider a Statcast-projected 417 feet to straightaway center to give Boston a 4-3 lead.

"There's 27 outs to get," said Pedroia. "I think I struck out my first three times. It's not like I was going to go cry or anything. You keep playing the game. That's the way baseball is. We're all professional and we're all going to try to win for 27 outs."

Three pitches later, Bogaerts deposited another slider a Statcast-projected 414 feet to left-center to put the exclamation point on the comeback and spoil the dominance of Angels starter Tyler Skaggs. The Red Sox's dugout erupted, as they salvaged a split of the four-game series after being in danger of losing for the eighth time in 10 games.

"It's just because we've been through a lot these few days, the past week-plus," said Bogaerts. "We've been through a lot of tough losses, and this was a special one. It can definitely change the whole season around for us. That's probably what everyone is hoping."

Skaggs, starting on the two-year anniversary of tearing the ulnar collateral ligament in his left elbow, battled through a high pitch count to turn in 5 1/3 scoreless innings. He allowed five baserunners, none reaching past second base, and struck out eight in a season-high 97-pitch outing.


"It's two years to the day," Skaggs said. "I've come a long way in those two years. I'm bigger, stronger, throwing harder. Maybe it's a blessing in disguise."

Red Sox knuckleballer Steven Wright braved a pair of early-inning rallies to keep the Angels scoreless until the fifth, when a Mike Trout line drive nicked off the top of shortstop Bogaerts' glove to bring home Yunel Escobar with the game's first run. The Angels scored twice more in the inning, knocking Wright out of the game.

It was the Red Sox's third win in their last 10 games, salvaging a series split in the four-game set. The Angels' two losses during the series were their only ones at home in 10 games since the All-Star break.

MOMENTS THAT MATTERED Welcome back: Making his first start at Angel Stadium since July 2014 and his second overall since returning from Tommy John surgery, Skaggs was nearly unhittable, pairing a mid-90s fastball with a deadly curve. He extended his streak of scoreless innings to 29 combined over his last five starts between Triple-A and the Majors. He only really faced trouble in the fifth, allowing back-to-back one-out singles before rebounding to strike out Pedroia and Bogaerts.

Farrell rung up in fifth: With the game still scoreless, the Red Sox had a golden opportunity after putting those runners on against Skaggs in the fifth. But the inning got away from Boston, starting when Pedroia was called out looking on a curveball. When Pedroia argued with home-plate umpire Gabe Morales, manager John Farrell quickly intervened and was ejected for the third time this season. Farrell likely saved Pedroia from getting tossed in the process, which wound up looming large considering what happened in the ninth.

"Given how quick his trigger was, yeah, he was on the verge [of getting ejected]," said Pedroia. "I was out obviously supporting Pedey, and to be honest from the dugout, the height of the pitch, he had every right to complain. But as quick as his trigger was, Pedey might have been very close but thankfully, Pedey comes up big in the ninth."

Street cleaning: Street's struggles have nagged him since returning from a left oblique injury. He posted a 1.17 ERA before the injury, but has an ERA of 8.62 in 17 appearances since. He gave up five runs in two-thirds of an inning on Sunday, the most he's allowed in an outing since Sept. 13 against Houston. Despite Street committing his third blown save this season in 12 chances (he had five in 45 chances last year), Angels manager Mike Scioscia said he's not ready to make a change at the closer role. Street said he believes he still has what it takes, using the weight of his 324 career saves to support it.

"Give me that next chance," Street said. "In my head, I'm going to go out there and get it done and figure out a way. That's what I've done my whole career. I've had way worse blown save seasons than this season. As far as hits and ERA, that stuff is terrible this season. It's not fun blowing a save. I'm not saying I'm done. I'm not saying I can't. I'll figure it out."


Red Sox nab two at plate in first: With runners first and second and nobody out in the first, Trout hit a single to left and Escobar was waved home. But in an effort to avoid the tag by catcher Ryan Hanigan, Escobar missed the plate. Hanigan also dropped the ball. But Wright alertly picked up the ball and tagged out Escobar, who was quite a ways from the plate. Scioscia discussed the play with Morales, but didn't ask for a review. With two outs, Andrelton Simmons struck out swinging, but the knuckleball squirted away from Hanigan, who recovered nicely and fired home to Wright for his second putout of the inning.

"The first one I really didn't know what was going on. I knew Hanny didn't make the tag because he dropped the ball," said Wright. "I didn't see the umpire make a call so I said, 'I'm better safe to grab the ball and tag him and then figure it out after that.' The second one, Hanny did a great job. He went after it and gave me a great feed, which makes it easier for me because then I'm right there on the bag and put the tag down for an out."

QUOTABLE "I just said, 'I'm only 5-foot-7, I'm going to need a trampoline to hit that damn ball. What are we doing here? This is the Major Leagues." -- Pedroia, relaying his conversation with Morales

"It just wasn't very sharp. It just rolled in there, and that happens sometimes. You're trying to locate a pitch and you don't snap it off, that's probably what it was. I didn't pull it down hard enough. I thought since I put it in that location, he couldn't hit a homer." -- Street, on the slider he threw to Pedroia for the go-ahead home run

SOUND SMART WITH YOUR FRIENDS Albert Pujols' RBI groundout in the fifth inning gave him 31 this month, the most in the Majors and the first 30-plus-RBI July since Alex Rodriguez and Delmon Youngin 2010. Pujols finished just three shy of matching Jim Edmonds and Don Baylor for the club record for July.

Trout is now hitting .318 this season after falling behind in the count, 0-2, compared to the Major League average of .166. He went 2-for-3 with a walk and his .425 on-base percentage is tied with the Astros' Jose Altuve for tops in the Majors.

Pedroia has two go-ahead homers in his career in the ninth inning or later, and both have come off Street. The other one was on June 24, 2010, at Colorado.

WHAT'S NEXT Red Sox: Lefty Eduardo Rodriguez gets the start as the Red Sox open a four-game series against the Mariners at Safeco Field on Monday night, with the first pitch scheduled for 10:10 p.m. ET. Rodriguez is 1-1 with a 3.06 ERA in three starts since returning from Triple-A.

Angels: The Angels will have an off-day on Monday, before opening a three-game set against Oakland on Tuesday. Matt Shoemaker will get the start in the 7:05 p.m. PT matchup. The right-hander has pitched like an ace since mid-May, including allowing just one run in two starts against the A's.


Two years later, Skaggs’ injury is ‘water under bridge’

By Alden Gonzalez

ANAHEIM -- When Tyler Skaggs thinks about July 31, 2014, in Baltimore, a start that began with four no-hit innings and ended with a torn ulnar collateral ligament, he recalls the high, 94-mph four-seam fastball that zipped past Adam Jones for what became his final strikeout. All of the negatives -- the Tommy John surgery it led to and the near-24-month recovery that followed -- have been tucked away somewhere else.

"Water under the bridge now," Skaggs said late Sunday afternoon, moments after the Angels' crushing, 5-3 loss to the Red Sox. "I only take the positives. I was dealing in that game, and I felt like I was starting to turn the corner. It's kind of what I focus on."

Skaggs pitched 5 1/3 scoreless innings on Sunday in his return to Angel Stadium, which marked the two-year anniversary of the game that altered his entire career. He struck out eight and stranded six -- five days after throwing seven scoreless innings at Kauffman Stadium in his first big league start since surgery -- and ended up with a no-decision only because Huston Street gave up five two-out runs in the ninth inning.

"Two years to the day," Skaggs said. "I've come a long way in those two years. I'm bigger, stronger, throwing harder. Maybe it's a blessing in disguise."

Skaggs was barely two weeks removed from his 23rd birthday on the night he was injured. He held the Orioles to only one baserunner, on a leadoff walk, in the first four innings. His stuff, Skaggs said, "was the best it's ever been," and that's probably why his elbow gave out, "because everything I was throwing was just nasty."

Skaggs couldn't feel his fingers on the changeup that struck out Delmon Young in the fifth. His forearm felt as if it was on fire when he struck out the next batter, J.J. Hardy. And when he walked the next batter, Steve Pearce, he didn't even know where the ball was going.

Skaggs motioned for his manager, Mike Scioscia, and trainer Rick Smith.

"He knew right away," Scioscia said. "I think what's vivid is just Tyler's reaction when he called us out. Instantaneously, you knew this was not good."

Garrett Richards didn't know what to think. He found Skaggs in the clubhouse later that night, "And I just remember how down he was." Richards -- drafted the same year, in 2009, and eventually rehabbing a major injury alongside him down the stretch in 2014 -- saw Skaggs in person again on Sunday and noticed a more polished pitcher.

His delivery was quieter, his emotions were controlled.


"I think this injury is something that has given him a better understanding of what makes him work, and when he's not where he wants to be, what can get him back into where he wants to be," Richards said.

"That guy has done every bit of work possible to get back. He worked his [butt] off. He deserves everything he's getting right now. It's been fun to watch him mature into the pitcher that he can possibly be."

Skaggs was making his first regular-season start at Angel Stadium since July 25, 2014, and he felt it from the fans. They told him how happy they were to have him back from the bullpen, shouted encouragement as he jogged to the field.

"I actually saw some Skaggs jerseys," he said. "That's a first for me."

Only six of Skaggs' 97 pitches were changeups. The rest were four-seam fastballs, which reached 96 mph, and devastating, biting curveballs, ranging anywhere from 75-80 mph. The 25-year-old left-hander only really faced trouble in the fifth, with two on and two outs. Then he struck out Dustin Pedroia and Xander Bogaerts, then came back out for the sixth, struck out David Ortiz and exited.

"He had a good curveball, and he didn't need any help," said Pedroia, who was nearly ejected for arguing the pitch that struck him out for the third straight time, then hit the game-winning three-run homer in the ninth. "He was pretty good."

Skaggs, a hip-hop aficionado, carefully planned the music that would blare from the Angel Stadium speakers for every inning that he pitched. The first was a song by Future, entitled "Last Breath." Towards the end of the first verse, Future raps: You should've never doubted me/Imma work 'til my last breath.

Street pays for mistakes as Red Sox rally

By Fabian Ardaya / MLB.com

ANAHEIM -- Behind in the count against Boston Red Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia in the ninth inning, Angels closer Huston Street thought his slider had enough bite to miss his bat. It didn't.

The slider instead found the barrel of the bat as Pedroia cracked a Statcast-projected 417-foot homer to give Boston the lead. Three pitches later, a mistake slider to Xander Bogaerts also found its way into the stands as the Red Sox rallied to hand the Angels a 5-3 loss on Sunday at Angel Stadium.


"It just wasn't very sharp," Street said of the pitch to Pedroia. "It just rolled in there, and that happens sometimes. You're trying to locate a pitch and you don't snap it off, that's probably what it was. I didn't pull it down hard enough. I thought since I put it in that location, [Pedroia] couldn't hit a homer."

It's been a frustrating season for Street. Given a three-run cushion to begin his outing, Street gave up five runs in two-thirds of an inning to balloon his ERA to 6.45 and give him his third blown save of the year. He's had his name tossed around in trade discussions, though he may not have many suitors left as Monday's 1 p.m. PT non-waiver Trade Deadline looms.

He hasn't pitched that often, as Sunday marked the first time since April 21-23 that he'd worked on consecutive days, and he's been battling his way to regain the form he had before sustaining a left oblique strain, the first injury of its kind for Street. Before the injury, he had a 1.17 ERA in nine appearances. In his 17 outings since, he's posted a 8.62 ERA in 15 2/3 innings.

"Some seasons are a battle, but I expected to get it done today," Street said of working back-to-back days. "I had no reason not to. I wasn't tired, I felt good out there. Since the oblique injury, it's been a tale of two seasons."

This season has also introduced something that's been rare for Street since he began closing games in the Majors -- competition. Reliever Cam Bedrosian has elevated himself into the eighth-inning setup role, posting a 0.92 ERA that's second-best among American League relievers with at least 20 innings this season. He hasn't allowed a run since May 31, a run of 24 consecutive appearances that is the fourth-longest in team history.

Angels manager Mike Scioscia said he's not ready to make a change.

"I think Cam's already worked his way to the back end of our bullpen," Scioscia said. "We need depth back there, for sure, and we need a guy in the ninth inning that's going to hold leads, and that's where Huston comes in."

Street said he still feels he has what it takes to be an elite closer in the game, and his career numbers back it up. He's at 324 career saves, just two shy of tyingRoberto Hernandez for 16th all-time. He's converted 85.9 percent of his career saves, and just a year ago had 40 saves in his 45 chances.

"Give me that next chance," Street said. "In my head, I'm going to go out there and get it done and figure out a way. That's what I've done my whole career. I've had way worse blown save seasons that this season. As far as hits and ERA, that stuff is terrible this season. It's not fun blowing a save. I'm not saying I'm done. I'm not saying I can't. I'll figure it out."


Angels’ left-field saga continues

By Fabian Ardaya / MLB.com

ANAHEIM -- When the Angels signed Josh Hamilton to a five-year, $125 million deal on in December 2012, it looked like the club was set with one of the game's best players in left field for years to come.

Two and a half years later, Hamilton is long gone and the Angels are still looking for their left fielder after announcing Thursday they had designated their two offseason acquisitions at the position -- Daniel Nava and Craig Gentry -- for assignment.

Hamilton, who is still owed $26.41 million from the Angels this season, finds himself in Texas, sitting out the rest of the season after undergoing knee surgery. In his two years with the Angels, Hamilton hit .255 with an OPS of .741 to go with 31 home runs and 123 RBIs. He struggled with injuries for much of his second season with the club, but even when his bat was in the lineup he wasn't playing at the same level that made him the American League MVP in 2010.

The names that have come since have been as numerous as they've been unproductive: Raul Ibanez, David Murphy, David DeJesus, Shane Victorino andMatt Joyce, to name a few. While some, like Joyce, have found success since leaving Anaheim, players such as Ibanez, Murphy DeJesus and Victorino have not played in the Majors since the year of their final game with the Angels.

Since Hamilton's debut with the Angels in 2013, the club's left fielders have produced a .640 OPS, the worst in baseball by 46 points during that span (the Phillies were second-worst). Last year's league-worst mark was the 10th-worst in history.

This season, with Nava and Rafel Ortega -- who is currently in Triple-A Salt Lake -- earning the majority of the starts, the Angels' OPS at the position is a league-worst .583. That's on pace for the seventh-worst mark by a left field in Major League history.

Now, with Nava and Gentry gone, Angels manager Mike Scioscia said the club with have to use a "piecemeal" approach as the make their way through the rest of the season.

Five players will likely vie for playing time at the spot when healthy -- Shane Robinson, Ji-Man Choi (Sunday's starter), Jefry Marte, Cliff Pennington andGregorio Petit. Of the five, the only one with significant playing time in the outfield is Robinson, whose career OPS is .611. Choi (.572 OPS) and Marte (.704 career OPS) are natural first basemen, while Pennington (.659 career OPS) and Petit (.690 career OPS) have been infielders during their entire careers. Before earning the start in left for Wednesday's game against the Royals, Petit hadn't played the outfield for a single inning in either the winter leagues, the Minors or in the Majors.


Scioscia said he's trying to keep as many options open as possible with his current roster, as it appears the team will not be seeking external solutions to solve the lack of production.

"We need to build versatility in as many players as we can, especially if they can matchup and help us swinging the bat," Scioscia said.

Worth noting

• Angels infielder Cliff Pennington, who was eligible to come off the disabled list on Sunday, will join the team for Tuesday's series opener against Oakland, Scioscia said.

• Angels right-hander Nick Tropeano is still collecting information and hasn't made a decision on Tommy John surgery. Tropeano received a second opinion last week in New York, confirming the diagnosis of a mid- to high-level tear in his ulnar collateral ligament.

A’s, Angels to renew AL West rivalry in Anaheim

By Jane Lee / MLB.com

A pair of American League West opponents trying to inch closer back to the .500 mark will meet on Tuesday, with the A's and Angels set to open a three-game series at Angel Stadium.

Angels right-hander Matt Shoemaker (5-11, 4.17 ERA) will be on the mound in the opener, while Oakland will counter with left-hander Sean Manaea (3-5, 4.57 ERA).

Shoemaker has pitched like an ace for much of the past two months, though he stumbled in his last outing against the Royals on Wednesday, getting knocked around for five runs and eight hits across six innings.

Manaea scattered a career-high 11 hits in Texas on Wednesday, but he racked up nine strikeouts -- also a career high -- to help limit the damage to three runs in 6 2/3 innings. The rookie pitcher is 1-1 with a 2.65 ERA in six games since he was reinstated from the disabled list June 29.

Three things to know about this game

• Shoemaker has enjoyed career success against the A's, particularly this season. The right-hander has yielded just one earned run across 12 innings in two starts. He's 3-2 with a 3.63 ERA in nine career appearances (eight starts) against them. Manaea, meanwhile, has never faced the Angels.


• A's shortstop Marcus Semien is 5-for-15 (.333) with a home run and two doubles in his career versus Shoemaker. Designated hitter Billy Butler also has five career hits in 17 tries against him, for a .294 average.

• The Angels lead the season series against the A's, 6-4.

FROM THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Pedroia’s 2-out homer in 9th rallies Red Sox over Angels 5-3

ANAHEIM, Calif. -- Dustin Pedroia came through with another big homer against Huston Street. He almost didn't have the chance.

Pedroia hit a go-ahead, three-run shot with two outs in the ninth inning and Xander Bogaerts followed with another homer to lead the Boston Red Sox over the Los Angeles Angels 5-3 Sunday.

Street (3-2) entered with a 3-0 lead, walked Jackie Bradley Jr. and allowed Aaron Hill's single. After a pair of strikeouts, Mookie Bettssingled in a run and Pedroia homered to center on a 1-0 slider as Mike Trout climbed the center-field fence in vain.

But Pedroia wouldn't even have been up to bat in the ninth had Red Sox manager John Farrell not come out to help him argue a called third strike in the fourth inning. Angels starter Tyler Skaggs looped a curveball high and outside for strike three and Pedroia immediately argued the call with home plate umpire Gabe Morales. Knowing how short-tempered Pedroia is, Farrell came out to finish the argument with crew chief Joe West and was quickly ejected.

"I just said, `I'm only 5-foot-7, I'm going to need a trampoline to hit that ball," Pedroia said. "He was really good and had a good curveball all day. He didn't need any help."

Pedroia hit his second go-ahead homer run in the ninth inning or later. The other was a tiebreaking, two-run drive off Street in the 10th inning of a 13-11 win at Colorado on June 24, 2010.

"We didn't have much going until the final inning and a couple of big swings from Petey and Bogey to get us to that spot in the ninth," Farrell said. "We found a way to dig a little deeper before the 27th out was recorded. A big inning -- much needed- particularly to salvage a split in the series and to keep pace with where we are in this race."


Bogaerts fell behind 0-2 in the count, then homered on another slider from Street, who blew a save for the third time in 12 chances.

"The Pedroia pitch, it just wasn't very sharp, it just kind of rolled in there," Street said. "The right location I wanted to throw it in, just wasn't very sharp. Then after the homer, I thought I had (Bogaerts) and I just made a mistake. ... It's a terrible day and I'm frustrated by it. Only thing I can do is wake up tomorrow."

On the two-year anniversary of tearing his ulnar collateral ligament, Skaggs made just his second appearance since returning from Tommy John surgery and was on track for the win after five 1/3 scoreless innings.

"Got to get the first batter out of the way, but other than that it was a great performance," Skaggs said. "I think the curveball was the key for me today. I threw it early and I threw it often, I threw it for a strike, I bounced it when I wanted to. It was a huge pitch for me."

Clay Buchholz (4-9) pitched three scoreless innings, and Brad Ziegler got three outs for his 20th save in 23 opportunities.

Knuckleballer Steven Wright allowed his first four batters to reach but didn't allow a run thanks to two alert plays he made.

Yunel Escobar tried to score from second on Trout's single but stumbled past the plate as left fielder Bryce Brentz's throw got away from catcherRyan Hanigan. Wright picked up the ball and tagged Escobar for the inning's first out.

After Albert Pujols' single put runners at the corners, Aldrelton Simmons struck out out as the ball bounced off Hanigan's glove and went to the backstop. The catcher then threw to the plate, where Wright tagged out Kole Calhoun.

Wright took a ground ball from Trout off of his left forearm in the third but remained in the game. The Angels went ahead in the fifth on Trout's RBI single, Pujols' run-scoring grounder and Jefry Marte's run-scoring single.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Angels: INF Cliff Pennington will be activated in time for Tuesday's series opener against the Oakland Athletics. Pennington was placed on the 15-day disabled list on June 1, with a right hamstring strain. ... RHP Nick Tropeano will get another evaluation on his torn ulnar collateral ligament at home in New York. The West Islip native is still weighing conservative options before deciding whether or to have Tommy John surgery.

UP NEXT


Red Sox: LHP Eduardo Rodriguez (2-4) is to make his first career appearance against Seattle on Monday. In three starts since his July 16 recall, Rodriguez is 1-1 with a 3.06 ERA.

Angels: RHP Matt Shoemaker (5-11) starts Tuesday against Oakland. He is 1-0 with a 0.75 ERA in three starts against the Athletics this season.

FROM ESPN

Trade Deadline Daily: Tigers checking in on Hector Santiago

As Monday's 4 p.m. trade deadline quickly approaches, the Detroit Tigershave expressed interest in Los Angeles Angels starting pitcher Hector Santiago.

Katie Strang's take: As of yesterday, the price of acquisition for starting pitching felt exorbitant for the Tigers. Though the team would like to make an upgrade to the back end of its rotation -- someone like Hector Santiago or Jake Odorizzi -- the club's brass is hesitant to part with young pitchers like Daniel Norrisand/or Matt Boyd.

Michael Fulmer is obviously considered a nonstarter, perhaps the one true "untouchable" within the organization. So, unless teams get desperate and lower the demands -- or the Tigers get desperate and decide to deviate from their current plan of action -- Detroit might indeed stand pat.

FROM CBS LOCAL

Red Sox Stun Angels Behind Pedroia’s Home Run

By The Sports Xchange

ANAHEIM, Calif. — Dustin Pedroia hit a three-run home run and Xander Bogaerts followed with a solo blast to lead a five-run rally in the ninth inning that gave the Boston Red Sox a 5-3 win over the Los Angeles Angels on Sunday in front of 39,553 at Angel Stadium.

Right-hander Clay Buchholz earned the victory with three hitless innings of relief. Buchholz (4-9) permitted just one baserunner on a walk and collected one strikeout. Brad Ziegler received his second save.


The Red Sox used the win to close within 1 1/2 games of the American League East-leading Baltimore Orioles.

Boston designated hitter David Ortiz, who was playing his final game in Anaheim, received standing ovations before his first and fourth plate appearances from the large contingent of Red Sox fans. Supporters chanted “Papi, Papi” during his at-bat in the eighth inning, and gave him another standing ovation after he struck out, when Los Angeles held a 3-0 lead..

The Angels needed one strike to complete the shutout when the Red Sox erupted for five runs in the top of the ninth inning against closer Huston Street (3-2). Jackie Bradley Jr. began the inning with a walk and Aaron Hill followed with a single before Street struck out Ryan Hanigan and Brock Holt.

Then on a 2-2 pitch, Mookie Betts hit a single to right field to bring home Bradley. Pedroia then hit his 12th home run of the year, a three-run drive over the center-field fence that gave the Red Sox their first lead of the game. Bogaerts, the next hitter, added his 14th homer to left-center field to chase Street and complete the rally.

Los Angeles brought the potential tying run to the plate in the bottom of the ninth when Yunel Escobar singled for this third hit. But Ziegler induced Kole Calhoun to hit into a double play to ensure the victory.

The Angels combined four hits and a walk to take a 3-0 lead in the fifth inning. With one out, Escobar singled between Wright’s legs and Calhoun followed with a looping single between shortstop Bogaerts and center fielder Bradley to send Escobar to third base.

Mike Trout drove in Escobar by lining a single off the glove of a leaping Bogaerts. Calhoun took third on the play and scored when Albert Pujols grounded out, with Trout moving to second. After Andrelton Simmons walked, Jefry Marte blooped another single into center field to bring Trout home.

Los Angeles had a chance to move ahead in the first inning but two unusual plays thwarted the club.

With Escobar at second base and Calhoun at first, Trout singled past a diving Bogaerts into left field. Left fielder Bryce Brentz tried to throw out Escobar at the plate but catcher Hanigan dropped the ball. However, Escobar fell awkwardly and failed to touch the plate. Wright recovered the loose ball and tagged Escobar out.

Pujols then dumped a single into short right field to load the bases. Simmons followed by striking out on a pitch that eluded Hanigan. Calhoun tried to score on the play but Hanigan retrieved the ball and threw to Wright, who tagged Calhoun to complete the double play.


NOTES: Boston began the day batting .191 (9-for-47) with runners in scoring position and had left 40 runners on base over the previous six games, five of which the Red Sox lost. … Red Sox RHP Craig Kimbrel allowed one hit in one-third of an inning during his rehabilitation assignment Saturday night for Triple-A Pawtucket. Kimbrel will rejoin the team during its series in Seattle later this week. … Before Sunday, Pujols needed two extra-base hits to tie Hall of Famer Ken Griffey Jr. and Rafael Palmeiro for seventh place all-time with 1,192. … Angels CF Mike Trout entered Sunday’s game needing one home run to become the fifth player in American League history to hit at least 20 homers in five seasons before turning 25. The others are Tony Conigliaro, Alex Rodriguez and Hall of Famers Mickey Mantle and Ken Griffey Jr.

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