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Clips

(July 27, 2015)

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Today’s Clips Contents

FROM THE LOS ANGELES TIMES (Page 3)

Mike Trout's grand slam leads Angels in 13-7 win over the Rangers

Angels' Andrew Heaney pitches well, and is well-supported, in 13-7 win

For Dodgers and Angels, some July trades have worked and some, well ... FROM THE OC REGISTER (Page 7)

Mike Trout's grand slam powers Angels to 13-7 victory over Rangers

Angels star Mike Trout's grand slam caught in the 'Trout Net'

Angels' Albert Pujols steals his 100th base, completes rare milestone

Angels' Joyce suspected of suffering concussion in collision with Aybar

Final: Angels rout Rangers, 13-7; Mike Trout has two homers, including a grand slam

FROM ANGELS.COM (Page 13)

Trout draws rare curtain call at Big A

Joyce suffers apparent concussion

Halos rout Rangers as Trout has huge game

Trout, Pujols in rarefied air with milestones

Pujols' BABIP appears to be on upswing

Wilson takes hill in key series opener vs. Astros FROM ESPN (Page 20)

Trout's performance no surprise, but Heaney's could be

FROM CBS SPORTS (Page 22)

Mike Trout homers, jams wrist on dive, stays in, hits grand slam

July 27, 2015 Page 3 of 23

FROM THE LOS ANGELES TIMES

Mike Trout's grand slam leads Angels in 13-7 win over the Rangers BY GREG HADLEY The final score seemed almost comical, the Angels pulling away for a 13-7 victory over Texas that featured Mike Trout’s game-breaking grand slam and ensuing curtain call, another strong start by left-hander Andrew Heaney and a Keystone Kops-like effort from the Rangers defense, which committed three errors. Three and a half innings into the contest, though, there was nothing funny about the Angels’ position. In danger of losing four in a row at home for the first time since August 2013, they trailed, 2-1. Heaney was struggling at the moment, hitting two batters, walking another and needing 30 pitches to get through the fourth. Trout was grabbing his wrist and grimacing in pain. And Erick Aybar and Matt Joyce were sprawled out on the left-field turf, one briefly unconscious. With a man on first and one out, Elvis Andrus hit a sinking line drive to center. Trout, charging in, dived for the ball and twisted his left wrist, jamming it against the outfield turf as the ball bounced away. He immediately came up clutching his hand but after a brief visit from the Angels trainers, remained in the game. Trout continued to show discomfort later in the inning, taking off his glove and squeezing his wrist between pitches. “It’s just a scary thing for me,” he said. “I didn’t know what to expect. It hurt pretty bad. It scared me more than anything. But once I got up there and moved it around, it was just a little sore and I was able to stay in the game.” Four batters later, Delino DeShields lofted a popup into shallow left field. From a distance, Heaney said he could tell Aybar and Joyce were headed for a collision. At the last second, Joyce started to slide and took a thigh to the chin from Aybar, who managed to hold on for the catch. Angels shorstop Erick Aybar goes airborne after colliding with left fielder Matt Joyce in the fourth inning of their game against the Rangers on Sunday. (Jonathan Moore / Getty Images) Both stayed down for a few minutes, with Aybar eventually standing up and leaving with what Manager Mike Scioscia described as a charley horse. Aybar remained in the game and finished with two runs batted in and a single in four at-bats. But Joyce was knocked out, at least for a few seconds, and he said after the game he could not remember walking back to the dugout. Once he made it there, he was tested for a concussion. “They didn’t ask me about the presidents, but they did ask me random questions,” Joyce said of the concussion test. “Answered about half of them right, don’t know if that’s good. I have a headache, some sensitivity to light and sound, but otherwise feel OK.” He was diagnosed with a mild concussion, and appears headed to the seven-day concussion list.

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At that point, Trout had been the Angels’ lone source of offense, homering in the bottom of the first on a 90-mph fastball down in the zone. He went to the opposite field, just barely clearing the right-field fence. In the bottom of the fifth, he came to bat again with a runner on first. Trout took the first three pitches, then ripped a line drive to left field for a single, reassuring Angels fans that he was fine. In fact, he was better than just fine. With the bases loaded in the sixth, he stepped to the plate to chants of “M-V-P.” Again he got a hold of a low 90-mph fastball and sent it straight into a “Trout Net” held by a fan in the right-center-field bleachers. With the two home runs, Trout broke the franchise record for fewest games needed to hit 30 home runs with 98, besting Troy Glaus’ former mark of 100. He also became one of 14 players in MLB history to have four 30-home run seasons before his age 24 season. Trout finished with five RBIs and three runs for the game, tying season highs in both categories. As the crowd roared its appreciation after the grand slam, Trout came out of the dugout for a curtain call, doffing his helmet to the 38,539 in attendance. “I think our fans understand what they’re looking at,” Scioscia said. “This guy’s a special player, a special talent. And when Mike does something special like that, even though it doesn’t happen here very often, you just got to tip your cap and acknowledge it.” Up next The Angels are off Monday. Left-hander C.J. Wilson (8-7, 3.59 ERA) will oppose Houston right-hander Collin McHugh (11-5, 4.25) at Minute Maid Park on Tuesday at 5 p.m. PDT. TV: FS West; Radio: 830, 1330.

Angels' Andrew Heaney pitches well, and is well-supported, in 13-7 win BY GREY HADLEY Run support is not a problem for Andrew Heaney. In his last four starts, the Angels have scored 40 times. But the way he has pitched since being called up from the minor leagues on June 24, he’s hardly needed the offense, and he didn’t need much Sunday during a 13-7 victory over the Texas Rangers. He logged his sixth straight quality start, going six innings and giving up two runs. Before Sunday, Heaney already was the first Angels rookie to pitch five games in which he lasted at least six innings and allowed two or fewer runs. And despite some hiccups through the third and fourth innings, he kept that streak alive. “They made Andrew work for every out this afternoon,” Manager Mike Scioscia said. “He made some good pitches to good hitters and got through six innings. It was hot out there. Even when he was not on top of his game, he made it work.”

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In the third inning, Ryan Rua doubled on a grounder down the third-base line with one out. Tomas Telis grounded out, but the top of the order, Delino DeShields and Rougned Odor, came through with singles to score Rua and tie the score at 1-1. Scioscia and Heaney said the left-hander was having trouble with his slider all game, and it led to a hit batsman (Telis) in the fourth that forced in the Rangers’ second run. It was scored by Prince Fielder, whom Heaney had hit earlier in the inning, and it gave the Rangers a 2-1 lead. Heaney settled down in the fifth and sixth, striking out one, giving up one hit and inducing a ground ball for a double play. “There was times I was fighting a bit,” Heaney said. “I felt pretty good. For the most part, with the exception of a few mistakes, I can go out there and execute a game plan.” Short hops Albert Pujols, who went one for five, stole second in the fifth inning, the 100th stolen base of his career. According to the Angels, that made him one of four players in history with at least 500 home runs, 100 stolen bases and a .300 batting average. The others are Hank Aaron, Willie Mays and Babe Ruth. . . . Jered Weaver threw before Sunday’s game, another step in his recovery from the hip injury that has sidelined him for more than a month. Scioscia said he would throw another bullpen session in the next few days and ruled out the possibility of Weaver returning for the AL West-leading Angels’ series against second-place Houston that starts Tuesday. For Dodgers and Angels, some July trades have worked and some, well ... BY BILL SHAIKIN The Dodgers are chasing a starting pitcher, or two. The Angels covet a left fielder. Both teams would like to add a relief pitcher. The trade season has gotten underway without them. On Sunday, the Kansas City Royals got pitcher Johnny Cueto, three days after the Houston Astros got pitcher Scott Kazmir. While the fans of Los Angeles wait to see whether the Dodgers trade for Cole Hamels or David Price — a third ace to accompany Clayton Kershaw and Zack Greinke — we decided to look back at several notable July deals for the Dodgers and Angels. Keep in mind that the trade season does not end when July does. Trades still can be made in August, although players must first clear waivers, and in September, although players acquired then are not eligible for postseason play. Dodgers trades: Three July victories

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July 31, 2008: Dodgers acquire outfielder Manny Ramirez from the Boston Red Sox for infielder Andy LaRoche and pitcher Bryan Morris. This might have been the greatest giveaway in baseball history. Under owner Frank McCourt, the Dodgers weren't taking on any money. The Red Sox were sick and tired of Ramirez, so they offered him for free — we'll pay all of his salary, please just take him. The Dodgers said yes, and they were rewarded with a historic display of hitting — .396 in two months, with 17 home runs and 53 runs batted in over 53 games — and a stadium transformed into Mannywood. Dodger Stadium had not seen such rapture since Fernandomania. Ramirez led the Dodgers to the National League Championship Series, their first trip there since 1988, and hit .520 in the playoffs. Never mind the postscript — the sparring over a new contract, the suspension for violating baseball's drug policy, the sour attitude — no deadline trade paid dividends like this one. July 24, 2012: Dodgers acquire shortstop Hanley Ramirez and pitcher Randy Choate from the Miami Marlins for pitchers Nate Eovaldi and Scott MacGough. Eovaldi would look mighty nice in the Dodgers rotation right now, but this trade nonetheless rates as a huge victory. Just as they did with Manny Ramirez, the Dodgers got an elite hitter with a questionable disposition. But this was different too. The Dodgers took on all of the $36 million owed to Hanley Ramirez, evidence to the baseball world that the McCourt era was buried and the Guggenheim cash was flowing, and they got the considerable competitive advantage of playing an excellent hitter at a premium defensive position. Hanley Ramirez did not play the position well, but he finished eighth in NL most-valuable-player voting in 2013 and hit .500 in a division series. A fastball to his rib cage all but ended the Dodgers' hopes in the league championship series, and his time in L.A. ended badly, as it did for Manny Ramirez, but a great trade nonetheless. July 31, 2004: Dodgers acquire outfielder Steve Finley and catcher Brent Mayne from the Arizona Diamondbacks for outfielder Reggie Abercrombie, catcher Koyie Hill and pitcher Bill Murphy. Finley's Dodgers career was defined by one grand moment: a walk-off slam he hit on the next-to-last day of the season to clinch the Dodgers' first playoff berth in eight years. Frank and Jamie McCourt, then married, danced on the field after the game. But this trade is most memorable for what the Dodgers did not do: after the 39-year-old Finley hit 13 home runs in 58 games for the Dodgers, they did not re-sign him despite his productivity and September glory. The Angels signed him for two years and $13 million, and he was gone after one year. He was 40. Who knew? Dodgers trades: Three July losses July 4, 1998: Dodgers acquire pitcher Jeff Shaw from the Cincinnati Reds for infielder Paul Konerko and pitcher Dennys Reyes. That the Dodgers surrendered a top prospect in Konerko for a closer in Shaw when they were eight games out of a playoff spot was curious enough. But Tom Lasorda, in his second week as interim general manager, also was unaware that Shaw had the right to demand a trade at the end of the season. Shaw used his leverage to get a new contract from the Dodgers, but they never made the playoffs with him. Eric Karros had blocked Konerko at first base in L.A., but Karros' decline started in 2000, and Konerko went on to hit 439 home runs, nearly all with the Chicago White Sox. This trade looks worse today than on the day the Dodgers made it.

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July 30, 2004: Dodgers acquire pitchers Brad Penny and Bill Murphy, and first baseman Hee-Seop Choi from the Florida Marlins for catcher Paul Lo Duca, pitcher Guillermo Mota and outfielder Juan Encarnacion. To this day, Jim Tracy laments this trade, when rookie General Manager Paul DePodesta tore out the heart and soul of the manager's clubhouse, and of a first-place team. Tracy felt he had to overwork closer Eric Gagne to overcome the loss of trusted setup man Mota, although in retrospect DePodesta sold high on a guy who pitched the eighth inning. Lo Duca was enormously popular, and he was an All-Star in 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2006. The trade flopped for two reasons: Choi was so poor on defense that Tracy shuddered to play him, and the big hole in his swing outweighed the home runs and walks (statistical analysts rip Tracy for not playing him, but Choi never got another major league job). More importantly, Penny got injured. The Dodgers got him to be their ace, but when they made the playoffs in 2004, for the first time in nine years, their starters were Odalis Perez, Jeff Weaver and Jose Lima. Penny pitched 397 innings over the next two years, and started the 2006 All-Star game for the NL, but he was so ineffective late in the 2006 season that he did not start in the playoffs that year, either. July 26, 2008: Dodgers acquire third baseman Casey Blake from the Cleveland Indians for catcher Carlos Santana and pitcher Jon Meloan. The Dodgers were a game under .500 but also a game out of first place, so they wanted to win. But they had no money, so Frank McCourt decreed that any trades could not increase the payroll. When the Dodgers had the framework of a CC Sabathia deal in place, McCourt said no. So the Dodgers went back to the Indians and got Blake, a perfectly fine third baseman. The grievance here is not so much that the Dodgers traded Santana, who blossomed into an excellent hitter in Cleveland. It is that the Dodgers had to trade a top prospect so the Indians would agree to cover Blake's salary. Think about it: the Dodgers would not pay up for Sabathia, but the Milwaukee Brewers would. Dark days indeed.

FROM THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

Mike Trout's grand slam powers Angels to 13-7 victory over Rangers BY PEDRO MOURA ANAHEIM – Mike Trout tried as best as he could, but he could not reach the ball Elvis Andrus flared to right-center in Sunday’s fourth inning. Trout dove for it and came up empty, grimacing when his glove banged the grass in the process. As the lively Sunday matinee crowd at Angel Stadium hushed, Angels manager Mike Scioscia and head trainer Rick Smith ran out to examine the star center fielder. The three consulted for a minute. In that minute, Trout was scared, he said later. But he waved them off and stayed in the game, and, one inning later, he proved to himself, his team and the crowd he was OK, when he ripped a 98-mph single to left field. One inning after that, Trout powered a grand slam to the opposite field, the biggest blast in a game full of them as the Angels routed the Texas Rangers, 13-7, salvaging a game out of a would-be series sweep.

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“It actually calmed me down a little bit,” Trout said of the wrist scare. “I didn’t try to swing so hard.” He was swinging pretty hard on the pitches before the grand slam. Rangers reliever Spencer Patton entered the game to face him and fired seven consecutive fastballs. Trout took the first and fourth ones for balls, swung and missed at Nos. 2 and 3, and fouled off the fifth and sixth directly behind him. But on fastball No. 7, down and in, Trout calmly lowered his barrel and connected, breaking open the two-run ballgame. For the day, he hit two home runs, two singles, and also worked a walk, reaching base five times for the first time in nearly two years. The grand slam was the third of his career. The curtain call that came after it was the second. And, of all the places for the ball to land, it somehow ended up in a fishing net a fan in the bleachers has been bringing to Angel Stadium this season and calling his ‘Trout Net.’ “It’s funny about that,” Trout said. “The last two games, me and Kole (Calhoun) have been trying to throw one into that net and we haven’t succeeded. I just hit one in there. That was pretty cool. "It was lucky, I guess.” Said Calhoun: “It was sick.” Among other notable happenings in a 3 hour, 33 minute game, Albert Pujols stole his 100th base, C.J. Cron launched his sixth homer, and Daniel Robertson hit a Little League home run. Starting pitcher Andrew Heaney did what he has done enough times that it has become routine: He gave up a few hits while working his way through a lineup. For the sixth consecutive start, Heaney finished at least six innings while allowing no more than two runs. This time, it was six innings, six hits and two runs. In franchise history, only Jered Weaver had begun his Angels career by completing the same feat. Rookie right-hander Trevor Gott replaced Heaney and retired two of the five hitters he faced. He has now permitted runs in four of his last eight outings after holding opponents scoreless through his first nine appearances. Closer Huston Street struggled in a low-leverage situation in the ninth. Trout knew he narrowly escaped a broken wrist on the dive attempt. "When my glove started to tuck, my first instinct was to try to get my hand out of the glove," he said. "If my hand would've stayed in the glove, it would've been more severe." Four batters later, shortstop Erick Aybar and left fielder Matt Joyce collided on another flare. Both men stayed on the ground for 90 seconds, and Joyce exited the game with what the Angels believe is a concussion, replaced by Robertson. In the seventh inning, Robertson hit a ball to the left-center gap and did not stop running until he reached home, capitalizing on a throwing error by cut-off man Rougned Odor. His hit, which brought in three runs, was ruled a double.

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The Angels (55-43) reached base 19 times and batted 7-for-15 with runners in scoring position. Scioscia called it a “good offensive day.” With it, the Angels moved one game ahead of the Astros, the team they will begin a three-game series against Tuesday in Houston.

Angels star Mike Trout's grand slam caught in the 'Trout Net'

BY MARCIA SMITH ANAHEIM – Just when we all might think that Mike Trout’s heroics can’t possibly get any more spectacular, the Angels’ reigning AL MVP did something magical Sunday once again. In the sixth inning of the Angels victory over the Texas Rangers, Trout blasted Spencer Patton’s 93 mph, down-and-in fastball into the Angel Stadium bleachers in right center field for a grand slam. But this was a grand slam dunk, the home run landing in the 2-foot-diameter netted basket of the “Trout Net” sign held high by Angels fan Jonathan Plaza, who was standing in the second row of the stands in Section 240. Trout’s grand slam, the third of his career, gave the Angels an six-run lead en route to a 13-7 victory. It was Trout’s second home run of his 4-for-4 day, and his league-leading 31st of the season. Just before Trout came to the plate with the bases loaded, Plaza, 25, of Santa Ana, borrowed back his homemade net sign from the young fans standing in the row in front of him. “I said, ‘Let me have it back because I have a hunch something’s going to happen,’” Plaza recalled. “Then Trout hit it. I saw the ball. It was going deep. I jumped up with the sign and I caught it.” This was the first home run Plaza has ever caught, but not the first baseball Trout has been sending his way. Plaza and his son, Alexander, who turns 4 in September, have made their Trout Net a ballpark fixture since this season’s home opener. That was the first day they came with their sign, a red-netted ring topped by the white letters “Trout Net,” with Trout’s number, “27,” and photos of a diving Trout around the rim. Alexander first held up the sign at the opener and several other home games. Trout has spotted the sign and made a habit of trying to lob baseballs into the net during warmups. Right fielder Kole Calhoun has also taken aim at the Trout Net. Earlier this season, Trout posted a photo of Alexander with the Trout Net and the message, “I see you out there bud!” on Instagram. Alexander and his father, a former U.S. Marine-turned-loan officer, wanted to share the joy of their treasures with fans and have been donating the balls to those who follow TroutNet27 on Instagram and Twitter and post messages using the hashtag #troutnetballgiveaway.

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“But we’re going to keep this ball for our trophy wall,” said Plaza, who secured the grand slam ball in his pocket after the game to save for his son, who missed Sunday’s game. “I can’t believe I caught it!” After the game, Plaza was besieged by fans who wanted to take a photo with him, the Trout Net and his greatest souvenir. Plaza was even interviewed post-game in front of the ballpark by Fox Sports Net. “It’s pretty crazy,” Plaza said. “Mike Trout keeps doing some amazing things but this one, hitting a grand slam into the Trout Net, I can’t even believe!”

Angels' Albert Pujols steals his 100th base, completes rare milestone BY PEDRO MOURA

ANAHEIM -- With his fifth-inning scamper Sunday at Angel Stadium, Albert Pujols completed a milestone he has had his sights on: He stole his 100th base. That steal made Pujols the fourth major leaguer ever to hit 500-plus homers, steal 100-plus bases and hit .300 or better. The others are Babe Ruth, Willie Mays and Hank Aaron. Others are close: Barry Bonds completed two of the feats but batted .298 for his career. Alex Rodriguez has a .299 average. Pujols' stolen base was his second this season in four attempts. He has been caught 40 times in his career, for a solid 71.4-percent success rate. Like most of his recent steals, Sunday's came by virtue of his wiles, not his speed. He caught Rangers right-hander Nick Martinez paying little attention to him and took off, reaching second without a throw. Pujols, 35, has said he would keep trying to steal bases until he reached the century mark.

Angels' Joyce suspected of suffering concussion in collision with Aybar

BY PEDRO MOURA ANAHEIM – Matt Joyce went in with his head up, trying to make a play on a pop-up to short left field in Sunday’s fourth inning at Angel Stadium. As he neared the ball, he noticed Angels shortstop Erick Aybar approaching him. Immediately, he adjusted his focus from securing the ball to preserving his safety. But it was too late. As Aybar caught the ball, the two men collided, Aybar’s knee driving into Joyce’s chin, causing the left fielder to temporarily lose consciousness. “I really don’t remember walking off the field,” Joyce said afterward.

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The Angels believe he suffered a concussion as a result of the collision. They expect to place him on MLB’s special 7-day disabled list designated for concussions. He’ll visit with a doctor Monday morning for further evaluation. Nearly three hours after it happened, he said he had a minor headache and sensitivity to light and sound. The inning ended when Aybar secured the ball. Both he and Joyce stayed on the grass for more than 90 seconds as head trainer Rick Smith evaluated them. First, Aybar got up, then Joyce, and both slowly walked off the field. The Angels’ training staff gave the outfielder a concussion test when he reached the dugout and recommended he be removed from the game. “I answered half of them right,” Joyce said. “I don’t know if that’s good.” Aybar stayed in and showed no ill effects from the incident. Angels manager Mike Scioscia said the shortstop should start the Angels’ next game. “Your heart stops for a second as you’re seeing these guys dive on the field,” Scioscia said. Joyce said he went for the ball because he didn’t think Aybar was going to be able to corral it. As center fielder Mike Trout watched it develop, he saw the collision course, he said. As left-hander Andrew Heaney watched from the mound, he thought the ball was going to land in between the two men. And then he feared what might happen. “To me, it looked like Joycey was trying to slide to avoid contact and ended up getting the brunt of it,” Heaney said. “It was a scary deal.” PUJOLS STEALS A MILESTONE With his fifth-inning scamper Sunday at Angel Stadium, Albert Pujols completed a milestone he has long had his sights on: He stole his 100th base. That steal made Pujols the fourth major leaguer ever to hit 500-plus homers, steal 100-plus bases and hit .300 or better. The others are Babe Ruth, Willie Mays and Hank Aaron. Others are close: Barry Bonds completed two of the feats but batted .298 for his career. Alex Rodriguez has a .299 average. Pujols' stolen base was his second this season in four attempts. He has been caught 40 times in his career, for a solid 71.4-percent success rate. Like most of his recent steals, Sunday's came by virtue of his wiles, not his speed. He caught Rangers right-hander Nick Martinez paying little attention to him and took off, reaching second without a throw. When the inning ended shortly after his steal, Trout came running over and provided Pujols a celebratory hug.

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Pujols, 35, is significantly slower than he was when he swiped 16 of 18 in 2005. He has said he would keep trying to steal bases until he reached the century mark. NOTES The Angels will use Monday’s off day to give left-hander Hector Santiago an extra day or two of rest. Santiago would be on track to start Thursday in Houston and was listed as such in the team’s notes as released Sunday morning, but Scioscia said right-hander Matt Shoemaker will start that game. Santiago will start Friday or Saturday at Dodger Stadium. Scioscia said the team determined the 27-year-old left-hander needs extra rest. … Right fielder Kole Calhoun has been above-average defensively in each of the last two seasons, according to advanced defensive metrics, and Scioscia went a step further Sunday, saying he thinks “he’s as good as there is in right field. I don’t know if there’s a better defensive right fielder than Kole.” …With his two home runs Sunday, Mike Trout now has a major-league-leading 31 this season. He is on pace to hit 51 in 2015, which would shatter his career-best of 36, set last year. He and Angels first baseman Albert Pujols have combined to hit 60 homers. As a team, the Atlanta Braves have hit 59.

Final: Angels rout Rangers, 13-7; Mike Trout has two homers, including a grand slam

BY PEDRO MOURA ANAHEIM — Mike Trout couldn’t reach a ball hit by Elvis Andrus in Sunday’s fourth inning at Angel Stadium. He dove for it and came up empty, grimacing when he banged his left wrist on the grass in the process. Manager Mike Scioscia and head trainer Rick Smith ran out to examine the Angels’ star center fielder. He stayed in the game. He proved he was OK the next inning, ripping a 98-mph single to left field. One inning later, Trout powered a grand slam to the opposite field, the biggest blast in a game full of them as the Angels routed the Texas Rangers, 13-7, salvaging a game out of a would-be series sweep. Trout hit two home runs, two singles, and also worked a walk, reaching base five times for the first time in nearly two years. Albert Pujols stole his 100th base. C.J. Cron hit his sixth homer. Daniel Robertson hit a Little League home run. And starting pitcher Andrew Heaney did what he has done enough times that it has become routine: He gave up a few hits while calmly working his way through a lineup. For the sixth consecutive start, Heaney finished at least six innings while allowing no more than two runs. In franchise history, only Jered Weaver had begun his Angels career by completing the same feat. Rookie right-hander Trevor Gott replaced Heaney and retired only two of the five hitters he faced. He has now given up runs in four of his last eight outings after holding opponents through his first nine appearances. Trout appeared to narrowly escape injury on the dive attempt by executing a clean rollover when he hit the ground. After, he quickly rose to his feet and consulted for a minute with Scioscia and Smith, before

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shaking his head and staying in the game. Four batters later, shortstop Erick Aybar and left fielder Matt Joyce collided in the outfield. Both men stayed on the ground for 90 seconds, and Joyce exited the game with an apparent head injury, replaced by Robertson. In the seventh inning, Robertson hit a ball to the left-center gap and did not stop running until he reached home, capitalizing on a throwing error by cut-off man Rougned Odor. It was ruled a double. Pujols' fifth-inning steal made him the fourth major leaguer ever to hit 500-plus homers, steal 100-plus bases and hit .300 or better. The others are Babe Ruth, Willie Mays and Hank Aaron. It was his second steal this season in four attempts. He has been caught 40 times in his career, for a not-terrible 71.4-percent success rate. The Angels (55-43) recorded 15 hits and batted 7-for-15 with runners in scoring position. They moved one game ahead of the Astros; the teams begin a three-game series Tuesday in Houston. FROM ANGELS.COM

Trout draws rare curtain call at Big A BY DAVID ADLER / MLB.COM ANAHEIM -- Not often does one see curtain calls at Angel Stadium. On Sunday, the acclaimed best baseball player in the world commanded one.

With a crowd of 38,539 roaring "MVP!" Mike Trout emerged from the Angels dugout and raised his helmet high in the air after his sixth-inning grand slam broke open the Angels' 13-7 win over the Rangers -- the encore to his encores, as his legend in Anaheim, somehow, keeps growing.

"It was pretty special," Trout said. "Our fans are great here. We play and try to bring excitement to the fans. It's pretty special, for sure."

Trout said it was his second curtain call, the first one coming after his cycle on May 22, 2013.

7/26/15: Mike Trout blasts his 30th homer of the season in the 1st inning and adds a grand slam in the 6th to pace the Angels

"Our fans understand what they're looking at," manager Mike Scioscia said. "This guy's a special player, a special talent. And when Mike does something special like that, although it doesn't happen very often out here, I think it's good to tip your cap and acknowledge them, and he did."

This one came after his Major League-leading 31st home run -- his third career grand slam -- off a reliever brought into the game specifically to face him.

Stepping to the plate with the bases loaded in the sixth, and the Angels leading, 4-2, Trout worked a full count against Texas' Spencer Patton. He fouled off one fastball. He fouled off another. Then Patton threw him a third, and it ran low, over the plate.

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Throwing Trout a low fastball when you have nowhere to put him, and he knows it's coming, is a big mistake.

"Just looking for a fastball," Trout said. "Patton was throwing a fastball that kind of got on you at the top of the zone a little bit. I was just trying to get on top and got a pitch down, hit it out."

7/26/15: Mike Trout discusses his monster day, which included two homers, one being a grand slam, and tallying five RBIs

Trout destroyed the 93-mph offering deep to right-center field, into the seats -- and, almost unbelievably, into the "Trout Net," a two-foot-diameter net fans have started bringing to games. Trout and right fielder Kole Calhoun had been trying, and failing, to throw baseballs in the net for the past two games. Naturally, it was Calhoun who notified Trout what he'd done when he got back to the dugout.

After the game, a reporter asked Trout about finding the net. Trout started laughing.

The grand slam wasn't Trout's first homer of the game -- his solo shot in the first, his 30th of the year in the Angels' 97th game, made him the fastest player to reach 30 home runs in a season in Angels history. He's also only the 14th Major Leaguer with three 30-homer campaigns before his age-24 season.

Trout finished 4-for-4. He added a walk, reaching base in all five plate appearances. He scored three times and drove in five, the first Angel with four hits, three runs and five RBIs in a game since Garret Anderson in 2007. His four hits and five RBIs matched career highs. The multi-home run game was his fourth of the season and the seventh of his career.

"Of course, Mike was kind of leading the charge," Scioscia said.

Joyce suffers apparent concussion BY DAVID ADLER/ MLB.COM

ANAHEIM -- Angels left fielder Matt Joyce appears to have sustained a concussion in the 13-7 victory over the Rangers on Sunday after a fourth-inning outfield collision with shortstop Erick Aybar. Joyce could be headed to the seven-day concussion disabled list. Joyce appeared to be kneed in the head by Aybar as the shortstop tumbled over him while catching Delino DeShields' popup in shallow left field, which ended the inning and stranded the bases loaded for Texas. After the collision, both players remained on the ground for over a minute as the Angels' training staff came out. Aybar eventually got up slowly, but Joyce took longer and needed more assistance getting off the field. "It looks like a concussion, although we're still evaluating it," manager Mike Scioscia said after the game. The Angels have not made a decision about whether to place Joyce on the concussion list, although Scioscia said they're leaning in that direction. Joyce was able to give an interview after the game, and he said that aside from a minor headache and some sensitivity to light and sound, he felt OK. He said he was knocked out for a few seconds after the collision, experienced dizziness, and didn't remember walking off the field.

July 27, 2015 Page 15 of 23

Joyce said he was told it was a "mild concussion," and he'll see a doctor on Monday morning for further evaluation. After they got him off the field, the Angels' trainers examined Joyce immediately behind the dugout. Joyce said he wasn't sure if they were going through official concussion protocol. "They did ask me a bunch of questions, just random questions," Joyce said. "I answered half of them right. I don't know if that's good." Joyce was replaced by Daniel Robertson. Aybar was able to remain in the game after the collision, which wasn't the only scary play in the outfield during that inning. 7/26/15: Mike Trout is shaken up after attempting to make a diving catch on Elvis Andrus' single, but he remains in the game Earlier, Mike Trout landed awkwardly on his left wrist attempting to make a diving catch on Elvis Andrus' line drive to short center field. His gloved hand got caught slightly under his body, but Trout rolled over quickly, pulling his hand out of his glove, and appeared to avoid putting his full weight on his wrist. He was tended to by the trainers, but was also able to stay in. Andrus was credited with a single on the play. "It's fine. A little sore," said Trout, his wrist wrapped after the game in which he homered twice and drove in five runs. "Just a scary thing for me. I didn't really know what to expect -- it hurt pretty bad, but once I loosened up it was better. "When my glove started to tuck, my first instinct was to try to get my hand out of the glove. I think if my hand had stayed in the glove, it would have been more severe." Scioscia said he expected both Aybar and Trout to be able to start the Angels' series opener against the Astros in Houston on Tuesday.

Halos rout Rangers as Trout has huge game

BY T.R. SULLIVAN AND DAVID ADLER/ MLB.COM

ANAHEIM -- Mike Trout hit a game-breaking grand slam in the sixth inning Sunday -- his 31st home run and second of the game -- and finished 4-for-4 with five RBIs and three runs scored as the Angels avoided being swept by the Rangers at Angel Stadium with a 13-7 win. The Angels took a one-game lead on the Astros in the American League West, with Houston losing to the Royals. Texas' pitching staff struggled all afternoon. Starter Nick Martinez allowed four runs, including two home runs, in his five-plus innings. Anthony Bass came on in relief and committed a throwing error on a sacrifice bunt, then allowed two straight hits without recording an out. Two batters later, Spencer Patton, brought in to face Trout, allowed the slam. Keone Kela and Wandy Rodriguez combined to allow five more Angels runs in the seventh and eighth. "We shot ourselves in the foot and that one inning got away from us," Rangers manager Jeff Banister said.

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Angels starter Andrew Heaney, meanwhile, worked through six innings of two-run ball despite battling command issues, including two hit batters. In his six starts, Heaney is 5-0 with a 1.79 ERA. There were times I was fighting a little bit -- a couple of innings in the middle -- but I tried to get myself back on track," Heaney said. "I'm trying to take the same stuff out there; the only thing that changes is the hitters." 7/26/15: Andrew Heaney tosses six innings, allows two earned runs on six hits and fans four against the Rangers MOMENTS THAT MATTERED Trout's curtain call: With the Angels up 4-2 in the sixth, Patton came on to face Trout with the bases loaded. Patton ran the count full, and after fouling off two straight pitches, Trout destroyed a fastball over the right-center-field wall for his third career grand slam. As "MVP!" chants echoed around Angel Stadium, Trout came out of the dugout for a curtain call. "Our fans understand what they're looking at," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. "This guy's a special player, a special talent. And when Mike does something special like that, although it doesn't happen very often out here, I think it's good to tip your cap and acknowledge them, and he did." 7/26/15: Mike Trout goes 4-for-4 with a pair of home runs, including a grand slam, drives in five runs and draws a walk in the Angels' win Can't break it open: The Rangers had seven baserunners combined in the third and fourth. In the third, they got a two-out RBI single from Rougned Odor but with runners at the corners, Adrian Beltre grounded out back to the pitcher. Texas loaded the bases with two out in the fourth and Tomas Telis drove in one run by getting hit by a pitch. But Delino DeShields popped out to end the inning.. 7/26/15: Rougned Odor singles on a grounder to right field, driving in Ryan Rua for the Rangers' first run of the game Trout's pop, Pujols' wheels: Trout and Albert Pujols both reached milestones, Trout with his 30th home run of the season in the first inning and Pujols' 100th career stolen base in the fifth. Trout's homer, in the team's 97th game, made him the fastest to reach 30 home runs in a season in Angels history. Pujols' steal made him just one of four players in Major League history with a career .300 batting average, 500 home runs and 100 stolen bases. The others? Babe Ruth, Willie Mays and Hank Aaron. 7/26/15: Albert Pujols notches the 100th stolen base of his career after swiping second in the bottom of the 5th inning "We're very fortunate to have him in the clubhouse," Trout said of Pujols. "Just his presence -- in the lineup, in the clubhouse, as a teammate, leading us the right way. He's been there, done that. Just happy he's on our team." Rangers set up big inning: Rangers mistakes set up the Angels' five-run sixth. Martinez walked Conor Gillaspie to lead off the inning. Bass took over and Carlos Perez dropped a sacrifice bunt. Bass fielded it

July 27, 2015 Page 17 of 23

and bounced his throw to first, allowing runners to end up at second and third. The inning fell apart from there. "The ball that we threw away set up that whole inning," Banister said. "If we can get an out there, we can maneuver around and do some different things." QUOTABLE "I'm OK. I'm OK. They said it was a mild concussion, go see the doctor [Monday] and see where we stand. I was definitely dizzy right afterwards and don't really remember walking off the field." -- Angels left fielder Matt Joyce, on his collision with shortstop Erick Aybar in shallow left field in the fourth, when Aybar kneed Joyce in the head SOUND SMART WITH YOUR FRIENDS After hitting his 30th and 31st home runs, Trout became just the 14th Major Leaguer with three seasons of 30-plus homers before his age-24 season. INJURY REPORT Joyce had to leave in the fourth due to injury following a scary collision with Aybar on a DeShields popup to shallow left field. Daniel Robertson pinch-hit for Joyce in the bottom of the inning; Aybar was able to remain in the game. 7/26/15: Erick Aybar holds on for the catch after colliding with Matt Joyce in left field "It looks like a concussion, although we're still evaluating it," Scioscia said after the game. The Angels have not made a decision about whether to place Joyce on the seven-day concussion disabled list, although Scioscia said they're leaning in that direction. The collision followed a play earlier in the inning where Trout landed awkwardly on his left wrist attempting to make a diving catch on Elvis Andrus' single to short center field. Trout was also able to stay in the game after being examined by the Angels' training staff. 7/26/15: Mike Trout is shaken up after attempting to make a diving catch on Elvis Andrus' single, but he remains in the game "It's fine. A little sore," Trout said. "Just a scary thing for me. I didn't really know what to expect -- it hurt pretty bad, but once I loosened up it was better." WHAT'S NEXT Rangers: Left-hander Matt Harrison pitches for the Rangers against the Yankees at 7:05 p.m. CT on Monday in Arlington. Harrison threw six shutout innings in his last start against the Rockies. The Rangers have lost 10 of their last 11 games at home. Angels: After the team's off-day Monday, left-hander C.J. Wilson opens the Angels' three-game series against the Astros on Tuesday at 5:10 p.m. PT, when the top two teams in the American League West meet in Houston.

July 27, 2015 Page 18 of 23

Trout, Pujols in rarefied air with milestones BY DAVID ADLER/ MLB.COM

ANAHEIM -- Albert Pujols and Mike Trout both hit milestones during the Angels' 13-7 win over the Rangers on Sunday -- Pujols with the 100th stolen base of his 15-year career, Trout with his 30th home run of the season.

Pujols' stolen base, which came in the fifth inning, put him in some elite company. He became just the fourth player in Major League history with a career .300 batting average, 500 home runs and 100 steals. The others are Hall of Famers Babe Ruth, Willie Mays and Hank Aaron.

"We're very fortunate to have him in the clubhouse," Trout said of Pujols. "Just his presence -- in the lineup, in the clubhouse, as a teammate, leading us the right way. He's been there, done that. Just happy he's on our team."

7/26/15: Albert Pujols notches the 100th stolen base of his career after swiping second in the bottom of the 5th inning

With an opposite-field solo shot in the first, Trout became the fastest to reach 30 homers in a season in Angels history. Sunday was the Angels' 97th game. He added his Major League-leading 31st home run, a grand slam, in the sixth and finished 4-for-4 with five RBIs.

Worth noting

• Hector Santiago was the probable starter for Thursday's game against the Astros -- which would have meant skipping over Matt Shoemaker in the rotation completely -- but manager Mike Scioscia said after Sunday's game that Shoemaker would likely make that start. That means Shoemaker, who would have started Tuesday if the Angels stayed on rotation, will only have his start pushed back two days.

The Angels would push Santiago back to Friday, or possibly Saturday, which would give him an extra day to "recharge" and "get his feet back under him."

Santiago, a first-time All-Star, allowed four runs for just the third time this season in his start against the Rangers on Saturday. His ERA is 2.43 on the year.

• The timetable for Jered Weaver's return from the disabled list is undetermined as he tries to work out his mechanics, Scioscia said Sunday. The right-hander will throw another bullpen session "in the next couple of days," but nothing is decided beyond that.

• Outfielder Collin Cowgill (sprained right wrist) has started to take soft toss, Scioscia said Sunday. He will likely take soft toss for the next few days, at which point the Angels will evaluate when he might be ready to start taking batting practice.

• As of Sunday, the Angels were still hoping third baseman David Freese will only miss two to three weeks with his fractured right index finger. Scioscia said much of the inflammation in Freese's hand had subsided.

July 27, 2015 Page 19 of 23

Pujols' BABIP appears to be on upswing

BY DAVID ADLER/ MLB.COM

ANAHEIM -- It's been two months since Albert Pujols said he was hitting the "hardest .230" of his career. His batting average on balls in play seemed to back him up: After May 27, it was .229, far below league average, which sits around .300 (this year, it's .297), Pujols' .299 career average and even his .270 three-year average with the Angels.

Pujols was looking for a turnaround, and he got it. The next two months and 45 games -- May 28 to July 20 -- Pujols homered 21 times, struck out just 15 and got his first Angels All-Star nod.

He also had an even lower BABIP: .203. (His season mark is .224, third-lowest in the Majors.) That seems almost impossibly low given Pujols' torrid stretch. So what factors might have affected it, and what could it mean for Pujols going forward?

Source: FanGraphs -- Albert Pujols

First are Pujols' home runs, which don't count toward BABIP -- they're literally balls-out-of-play -- and Pujols hit them unusually often starting May 28. Over Pujols' career, 21 percent of his hits have been homers; from May 28 to July 20, 43.8 percent were. In that respect, BABIP wasn't indicative of Pujols' performance. (Pujols isn't the first power hitter with a low BABIP -- in Roger Maris' 61-homer season, for example, his was .209.)

The other number not counted in BABIP, strikeouts, might also tie in. BABIP measures the outcome of what's least controllable by hitters and pitchers; it doesn't count home runs or strikeouts, which aren't impacted by defense. Pujols rarely strikes out, so teams have opportunities to record outs on balls in play, especially since he's a slow runner. If, where another hitter strikes out, Pujols makes weak contact, that would show up negatively in BABIP.

The thing is, though, Pujols is hitting the ball hard. For most of the season, his exit velocity has been well above league average (per Baseball Savant); since early May, it's been similar to Mike Trout's, whose BABIP is .343.

Albert Pujols' BABIP is .224; Mike Trout's is .343. But their exit velo looks pretty similar since May: pic.twitter.com/cF6sddaz1x

- David Adler (@_dadler) July 26, 2015

Pujols' average exit velocity for the season is 92.8 mph; from May 28 to July 20, it was 93.5 mph. Even discounting home runs, Pujols' exit velocity on balls in play is above the upper-80s league average for all hits: 91.3 mph for the season, 91.9 mph from May 28 to July 20.

His line-drive and hard-hit-ball rates aren't abnormally low either. FanGraphs has Pujols' 2015 line-drive rate at 18.5 percent, hard-hit rate at 33.5 percent and soft-hit rate at 15.7 percent -- worse than his career averages, but not nearly career-worsts. (Baseball Reference lists the line-drive rate at 25 percent, above a 21 percent career average).

Three main factors affect hitters' BABIP -- talent, defenses and luck. Pujols isn't the same hitter he was in St. Louis, but he's still Albert Pujols, and he still hits balls hard.

July 27, 2015 Page 20 of 23

As far as defenses go, the Angels haven't played particularly great ones this year (although teams shifting on Pujols might also depress his BABIP). That leaves the possibility open, as strange as it seems to say, that Pujols has still gotten some bad luck. Not with power numbers -- Pujols' home-run rate will likely slow down if anything -- but a regression toward the mean could show up as, say, an increase in batting average.

There's no guarantee. BABIP doesn't always even out until larger sample sizes. But if Pujols continues to hit the ball hard, it's possible. In Pujols' five games since July 20, his BABIP is .353 -- including a pair of infield hits July 21 against the Twins. Maybe his luck is changing.

Wilson takes hill in key series opener vs. Astros

BY DAVID ADLER/ MLB.COM

After both clubs have an off-day Monday, the top two teams in the American League West will meet Tuesday when the Astros and Angels -- who lead the Astros by one game -- open a three-game series at Minute Maid Park.

The Astros will give the ball to right-hander Collin McHugh in a rematch against Anaheim lefty C.J. Wilson. McHugh came out on top of their first matchup, in Anaheim on June 23, beating the Angels with eight innings of two-run baseball. In his six starts going back to that game, McHugh has a 2.61 ERA.

His opponent, Wilson, didn't fare nearly so well. Wilson allowed a season-high seven earned runs in his shortest outing of the season, 3 1/3 innings. Wilson's been solid since then, posting a 2.56 ERA in five games.

Things to know about this game

• McHugh has held Mike Trout to just two hits in 11 career at-bats -- a .182 batting average -- and has struck him out five times. Trout does have a homer off McHugh.

• Angels left fielder Matt Joyce had to leave Sunday's game against the Rangers due to injury following a scary collision with shortstop Erick Aybar on a Delino DeShields popup to shallow left field. As Aybar tumbled over Joyce, he appeared to knee Joyce in the head. The Angels would have Daniel Robertson and Kyle Kubitza as left-field options for Tuesday's game.

• Although Aybar was able to remain in Sunday's game after the collision, as was Mike Trout after landing awkwardly on his left wrist on a diving catch attempt earlier in the same inning, the two might need to be reevaluated before Tuesday's game.

FROM ESPN

Trout's performance no surprise, but Heaney's could be That Mike Trout dominated in the Los Angeles Angels' win over the Texas Rangers on Sunday was probably not surprising. That rookie Andrew Heaney continued to impress might have been more unlikely. The two combined to be the key players in this contest. Here’s a look at their statistical highlights.

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Trout continues to mash Trout went 4-for-4 with two home runs and five RBIs. He leads the majors with 31 home runs this season. His grand slam was the third of his career. Trout has 34 first-inning home runs since his debut on July 8, 2011, tied with Miguel Cabrera for the most in that span. Trout’s five RBIs tied his career high, done four times previously. He now has had two four-hit, five-RBI games in his career. The other came against the Seattle Mariners in 2013. He has seven career multi-homer games. Three have come this month. For his career, Trout now has 129 home runs. Only four players have had more before their 24th birthday: Eddie Mathews (153), Mel Ott (153), Ken Griffey Jr. (132) and Frank Robinson (130). Trout will have a shot to catch Griffey and Robinson, as he doesn’t turn 24 until Aug. 7. One item of note on Trout’s first home run Sunday. It was his sixth of the season to the opposite field. He had never had more than three in a season before this year. Heaney continues to deal Heaney has been one of the most pleasant surprises of the season so far for the Angels. Heaney is now 5-0 after allowing two runs in six innings on Sunday. His ERA bumped up slightly to 1.79. The Angels have won all six of his starts. Most impressive about Heaney so far is his strikeout-to-walk rate, which now stands at 31-to-5 after a four-strikeout, one-walk afternoon. The southpaw was a tough matchup for the Rangers left-handed hitters. The Rangers started four of them, including Prince Fielder and Josh Hamilton, and those hitters were a combined 1-for-12 against him. Left-handed batters are now hitting .207 against him this season. Heaney has solidified the team’s starting rotation. Angels starters have a major-league best 2.42 ERA in July, along with a 1.15 WHIP. He's the second pitcher to begin his time with the Angels with six or more starts of at least six innings pitched and two or fewer earned runs allowed. The other was Jered Weaver in 2006. One thing definitely helping Heaney is that he's being given some margin for error. The Angels have scored 40 runs in his past four starts.

July 27, 2015 Page 22 of 23

FROM CBS SPORTS

Mike Trout homers, jams wrist on dive, stays in, hits grand slam BY DAVID BROWN Mike Trout was all smiles after hitting two home runs, including a grand slam, and going 4 for 4 in a 13-7

victory by the Los Angeles Angels on Sunday. But in the fourth inning, it looked like the Angels could be

having the worst day of their season.

Trout already had homered to take sole possession of the major-league lead from teammate Albert

Pujols when he put a huge scare into the crowd at the Big A, along with anyone watching TV on Sunday,

by making an awkward dive attempting to catch a fly ball by Elvis Andrus of the Rangers. The ball

dropped in for a single, but Trout jammed his left wrist and immediately grimaced in pain as his glove

flew off dramatically. Oh, no.

The worst thoughts crossed your mind: Trout was hurt, perhaps his wrist was sprained or even -- gasp --

broken. What a loss it would be for the Angels, who had surged to the top of the AL West after a

mediocre start to the season. Losing the best player in baseball is not what they need, not what America

needs.

His wrist roll sure didn't look good:

But after a visit from the athletic trainer and several tense moments, Trout indicated he was OK. It's

easy to forget that Trout came to Earth with powers and abilities far beyond those of mortal men. Still,

the collective sigh from Angel Stadium could be heard around the globe.

Two innings later, Trout showed he was good as new by hitting a grand slam to extend the Angels lead.

Not only that, but he hit the ball into a fan's homemade "Trout net." What are the odds? Too high to

calculate for just about any player other than Mike Trout.

And what about that wrist? Via the Associated Press:

''When my glove started to tuck, my first instinct was to try and get my hand out of the glove. I think if

my hand would have stayed in the glove, it obviously would have been more severe,'' said Trout, who

had a bag of ice taped to his wrist in the clubhouse.

''It's still a little sore, but it's fine,'' he added.

And what about leading the league in home runs?

''I don't look at that stuff,'' Trout said. ''At the end of the year, if that's where it's at, then that's where

it's at. I'm just trying to do whatever I can to help the team win.''

July 27, 2015 Page 23 of 23

Be he ever so humble, there's no player like Trout.