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Home , Bud Norris, Julio Urias, Mike Scioscia

LATIMES.COM/SPORTS S WEDNESDAY, MAY17, 2017 D5

BASEBALL Pujols comes to rescue for the Angels

most peculiar of infield sin- He drives home gles, the ball seeming demag- netized from any Angels de- winning in 11th fender. inning after bullpen In so doing, Hernandez squandered right-hander JC blows lead in ninth. Ramirez’s seventh start of 2017. He lasted seven innings, ANGELS 7 didn’t walk anyone, and lim- CHICAGO 6 (11 INN.) ited the White Sox to five hits. Ramirez permitted a By Pedro Moura first-inning single and then nothing until the fifth, when For the first six weeks of everything began to veer 2017, the Angels pieced to- toward Simmons, the short- gether an effective bullpen stop. First was a grounder he from the unlikeliest of turned into an out, then a sources. With their estab- Garcia blooper that tipped lished relievers injured, they off his glove. The next inning, turned a lifelong starter into Leury Garcia blooped anoth- their closer, watched a er baseball past Simmons’ waiver-wire veteran literally glove just before Yolmer strike everyone out for a Sanchez deposited a two-run while, and plucked a dimin- homer into the bleachers. ished from Atlanta’s Next, Cabrera drilled an- -A affiliate and, some- other ball in between second how, rode him successfully. and third. Simmons cor- On Tuesday night at An- ralled it, finally, and exhaled gel Stadium, their luck ran twice. out. But no matter: missed the 597th Pujols saved the day. He sup- homer of his career by a few plied a walk-off single in the feet in the first inning and 11 th inning to deliver the An- again in the ninth, when it Paul Buck European Pressphoto Agency gels back to .500 with a 7-6 vic- would have meant a walk-off. ANGELS SHORTSTOP Andrelton Simmons tags out the White Sox’s Yolmer Sanchez on a steal attempt. tory over the Chicago White In the third, he took a shorter Sox. route to success, punishing a ANGELS REPORT Andrelton Simmons ball down the left-field line to started the rally with a single score runners from first and and took second on a passed second. Maybin is the latest option in the leadoff role ball. Danny Espinosa tried to Because of its carom and bunt him over but failed. Ben because of his 37-year-old who wears his socks high to lot of bad counts. But it did symptoms within his shoul- Revere looped a single into legs, it went only as a single. By Pedro Moura delineate the bottom of the lead to some walks.” der, but referred to his previ- center, and Cameron Maybin Still, the carried him into strike zone to umpires. ous problems and compen- lucked into a bloop to 11 th place on MLB’s all-time Stage 2 of the Angels’ op- Aright-handed hitter, Rehab delayed satory issues that have de- tie the score. The White Sox RBI list, in between Carl Yas- eration to replace Yunel Maybin has hit better Right-hander Andrew veloped. shortstop, Tim Anderson, trzemski and Mel Ott. Escobar atop their lineup against right-handed pitch- Bailey said he was encour- After ascending to the slipped while running to it. The Angels added a run in commenced Tuesday night, ing over his career. This sea- aged by news he received Angels’ temporary closer After was in- the fourth, on two singles and when left fielder Cameron son, his batting average is Monday from Dr. David role in September, he signed tentionally walked, Pujols awalk, and two more in the Maybin debuted as their better against lefties, but Altchek. At a visit in New aone-year contract worth drove a baseball deep enough seventh, on a double and leadoff hitter against a left- he’s walked far more often York, nothing new was found $1 million in November. to center to end it via the sac- three walks, one of them in- hander and right fielder against right-handed pitch- inside the reliever’s surgi- rifice fly. For good measure, tentional. Kole Calhoun batted fifth. ing. cally repaired and again in- Short hops Chicago’s center fielder Pinch-hitter Luis Val- “We want to certainly “The one thing Cam has flamed shoulder. Right-hander Mike could not catch it. buena walked on four pitches give it a look,” Mike been doing is getting on But, once close to return- Morin (neck tightness) will It was a poorly played to force in a run, and Jefry Scioscia said. “Cam’s defi- base,” Scioscia said. “His ing, Bailey does not yet know throw to hitters Thursday at game all around. Marte ripped a single into nitely been more comfort- walk rate is great. If he can when he can pitch again. the club’s spring-training With starter-turned- center for another. Running able against lefties so far this do that, be a table-setter, “It’s just frustrating to complex in Arizona. He’s the closer Bud Norris unavail- from second, Pujols was year. Kole’s not really been that’s really valuable for us.” ramp up a throwing pro- injured reliever closest to a able after pitching on three thrown out at home by10 feet. as comfortable as we know Hits work, too. Maybin gram, feel really good, start return. Right-hander Hus- consecutive days for the first After Ramirez departed, he can be against lefties. So doubled three times and sin- throwing bullpens, and once ton Street (lat strain) is time, manager Mike Scioscia Blake Parker handled the we’re just gonna flip them gled twice Tuesday against you have that intent and ef- next. Eligible to be activated turned to David Hernandez, eighth inning easily, and Yus- around and see.” the Chicago White Sox, more fort, you get those symp- June1, he continues to throw the triple-A castoff. He blew a meiro Petit the 10 th and 11 th, Maybin, 30, entered than doubling his hit total toms again,” he said. “I know at the Arizona facility. three-run ninth-inning lead, yielding a solo in Tuesday hitting .180 with a from his previous 40 plate what’s going on. I have to unable to retire a batter. the latter inning. In between, serviceable .305 on-base per- appearances. “At times keep getting after it and will [email protected] Melky Cabrera and Jose there was Hernandez’s blip. centage but an unseemly early, he was very patient, to start throwing in a few Twitter: @pedromoura Abreu singled, Avisail Garcia .243 . No the point of almost being weeks.” Times staff writer Mike doubled to the wall, and [email protected] Angel had worked walks at a passive, at the plate,” Scios- Bailey, 32, said he could DiGiovanna contributed to Todd Frazier tied it with the Twitter: @pedromoura higher rate than Maybin, cia said. “That got him in a not describe the specific this report.

Dodgers’ DODGERS REPORT offense is Plans for day off missing don’t work out

show a little more patience at in action By Andy McCullough the plate. Seager said he is still searching for his most com- [Dodgers, from D1] SAN FRANCISCO — fortable swing. deficiencies throughout its reached into “There’s been some times roster, a flawed group that his locker and grabbed acan when you just don’t feel good,” has still beaten the Dodgers of Fanta. He took a gulp and he said. “I’ve had some low six times in nine tries in 2017. grinned. His evening, he said, parts, already, that you hope On Monday, the Dodgers called for little else. to not have. It’s just been a went silent against fading Dodgers manager Dave constant battle to try to figure veteran Matt Cain. On Tues- Roberts intended to give the it out.” Despite his dissatis- day, they could not solve left- day off to both Seager and faction, Seager has hit six ho- handed starter Ty Blach rookie on mers and posted an .851 OPS. (1-2). Roberts turned to a Tuesday against San Fran- slew of reserves. In the midst cisco. Bellinger had not re- Dayton demoted of a 17-day stretch without a ceived time off since he de- By sending down reliever day off, Roberts rested Corey buted. Seager had played in 38 Grant Dayton in order to ac- Seager and Cody Bellinger. of 39 games. tivate off the disa- The bottom five hitters in the “It was just a way for me to bled list, the Dodgers entered order went 0 for18. get both of these guys a day Tuesday’s game carrying “I thought we had a good Ben Margot Associated Press off,” Roberts said. Luis Avilan as the only left- chance against Blach,” Rob- DODGERS RELIEVER Luis Avilan, right, is lifted in the sixth inning after giving It didn’t quite work out hander in the bullpen. erts said. “We couldn’t put up a run-scoring single to San Francisco shortstop Brandon Crawford. that way, though. Bellinger Roberts prefers to have hits together.” entered the game during the two, but he indicated the team Bellinger came off the that broke atop the head of less streak in the fourth. He pitch over the center-field sixth inning, playing right could live with one for the time bench in the sixth, shortly af- Denard Span. The stroked a single and ad- fence. field, and Seager pinch-hit in being. ter reliever Luis Avilan (0-1) pitch bounced off his helmet. vanced to third on a double The tie did not last. Rob- the eighth — grounding into a Adam Liberatore (groin positioned himself to wear Hill walked toward Span to by Enrique Hernandez. erts sent Avilan to replace double play — and then strain) will be eligible to rejoin the loss. Avilan entered the apologize. Span stayed in The hits put runners at Hill. Avilan is the lone left- played shortstop. the team this weekend, but game with a 1.69 earned-run the game. the corners with one out for handed reliever in the Seager took the National Roberts did not say defini- average and the trust of his Moments later, Hill Barnes. The threat would bullpen, and his League by storm in 2016. He tively he would be ready. manager. He exited after giv- hunched at the waist to re- fizzle in exasperating fash- allows him to disarm right- finished third in the MVP vot- The team is not consider- ing up two hits to the three ceive a signal from Austin ion. handed hitters. ing and was the unanimous ing shifting left-handed batters he faced. Seager Barnes. Hill lurched upward, Blach jammed Barnes But the left-handed hit- choice for rookie of the year. pitcher Julio Urias to the would enter the game in the ever so slightly, before lower- with a fastball. Barnes hit a ters in San Francisco’s line- After a torrid April, he has bullpen, Roberts said. After eighth — and promptly hit ing his head. The movement grounder to the right side of up vexed him. Belt led off cooled off. Before Wednesday, his disjointed , into a double play. activated second base um- the infield. Turner paused at with a single. He took second Seager was hitting .216 in May Urias will be afforded “a good Pitching for the first time pire Marty Foster, who called third when Blach stabbed at on a wild pitch that bounced with a .651 on-base-plus-slug- runway to make his starts and since April 16, Rich Hill gave abalk. Span went to second. the baseball. The hesitation through Barnes’ legs. After a ging percentage. get on a consistent program,” up one run in five innings. He Hill’s protest went nowhere. proved costly. It afforded Ar- groundout by Posey, short- Seager described his sea- Roberts said. struck out six. He did not ap- “You don’t panic,” Hill royo enough time to cut stop Brandon Crawford son as “not great.” Roberts pear affected by the blisters said. “You just stay the Turner down at the plate. lined a 94-mph fastball into has suggested Seager must [email protected] that sidelined him for much course.” grounded out to right for an RBI single. of the season, but Roberts Hill managed to extricate strand two runners. The offense offered no an- elected to open up the himself from trouble. Rookie In the bottom of the swer. It was a dispiriting loss. bullpen after Hill had thrown Christian Arroyo stared at a fourth, Hill paid for a waist- Roberts will likely receive let- 82 pitches. fastball down the middle for high . Belt lifted it ters about it. Hill said he felt no issues strike three. Hill induced fly- toward the bricks in right- “We all expected to score with his finger during his outs from first baseman center field. A fan appeared more coming into this se- outing. He had appeared in Brandon Belt and to reach over the railing and ries,” Roberts said. only two games this season. Buster Posey to end the in- touch the baseball, but the “It’s tough to hit. I just Roberts described Hill as ning. umpires did not overturn the can’t pinpoint why we can’t a“caged lion” heading into The Dodgers whimpered ruling. It was a solo home sustain that traction, that Tuesday. The start of the through the first three in- run. momentum.” evening was far from ideal. nings at the plate, unable to The Dodgers matched On his fifth pitch of the record a hit against Blach. that in the sixth inning. Chris [email protected] game, Hill flung a curveball ended the hit- Taylor powered a 94-mph Twitter: @McCulloughTimes