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Clips

(April 24, 2015)

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Today’s Clips Contents FROM THE LOS ANGELES TIMES (Page 3)

Angels need only one hit to shut out Oakland, 2-0

Nick Tropeano, Kole Calhoun lead Angels to 2-0 victory over A's FROM THE OC REGISTER (Page 6)

Angels' C.J. Wilson not concerned about elbow issue lingering

Angels Notes: Matt Joyce dropped to 6th, Josh Hamilton non-update, Vladimir Guerrero in the house

Albert Pujols caught in A's-Royals crossfire

One-hit wonder: Calhoun homer lifts Tropeano, Angels over A's

On deck: Rangers at Angels, Friday, 7 p.m.

FROM ANGELS.COM (Page 9)

One hit enough for Angels in shutout of A's

Tropeano makes mighty impression as fill-in starter

'Frustrated' Joyce trying to find his way at the plate

Richards, Rodriguez square off, looking to find groove FROM FOX SPORTS WEST (Page 14)

Angels push back C.J. Wilson's next start FROM THE LA DAILY NEWS (Page 15)

Angels’ struggling Matt Joyce dropped from cleanup spot

Tropeano, bullpen lead Angels to 2-0 win over Oakland A’s FROM THE ASSOCIATED PRESS (Page 17)

Angels get 1 hit, but beat A's 2-0 on Calhoun's homer

Rangers-Angels Preview

FROM SPORTS ILLUSTRATED (Page 20) Source: Josh Hamilton could be gone from Angels in matter of days

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FROM THE LOS ANGELES TIMES

Angels need only one hit to shut out Oakland, 2-0

By Zach Helfand

The Angels' offense exploded in the third inning on Thursday. Their lineup, which includes four MVP awards and which scored 14 runs on the Athletics two games ago, went off for the biggest inning of the game. They recorded one hit. Normally, that is not a formula for a win, especially with a freshly called-up pitcher on the mound. But "obviously," the pitcher, Nick Tropeano, explained, "the one hit was a big one." Kole Calhoun provided the two-run homer, the margin in the Angels' 2-0 win over the Athletics. The difference, though, was Tropeano, who made his first start with the Angels and just the fifth start of his career. Even if he is unlikely to throw six shutout innings each start, the Angels are betting that Tropeano and a new reserve of extra starting pitchers can provide them with the depth they lacked last season. The early return was strong. "You couldn't have pitched any better," Angels Manager Mike Scioscia said. Last year, major league teams on average used 9.6 starters throughout the season. The Angels used eight, in part because they didn't have many options. The pitching depth just wasn't there. During the last two months of the season, when Garrett Richards and Matt Shoemaker were hurt, Scioscia used a medley of relievers to plug the rotation's holes. That worked well enough to win the AL West, but ideally, the club would have more viable starting options. In a typical year, two of every five starting pitchers make at least one trip to the disabled list, according to FanGraphs.com. "It's not just the five at the big league level," Scioscia said. "It's Nos. 6, 7 and 8, wherever they are." In the off-season, General Manager Jerry Dipoto made moves to bolster the starting depth. He acquired Andrew Heaney from the Dodgers in return for second baseman Howie Kendrick. Heaney had a chance to win a rotation spot but was sent to the minor leagues after giving up19 runs in 24 1/3 innings in spring training. The off-season deal for Tropeano, meanwhile, cost the Angels backup catcher Hank Conger. It was a bet that the extra arm would help more than the defensively troubled catcher. On Thursday, Tropeano became the first of the newly acquired depth to make a major league start this season. And it has already given Scioscia a stronger contingency plan. Left-hander C.J. Wilson, who was slated to start on Thursday, experienced stiffness in his elbow after his most recent start against the Astros. When Shoemaker's move to the bereavement list opened a

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roster spot, Tropeano was called into the manager's office after a 12-inning game on Tuesday. He was to take Wilson's place in the rotation to give him extra rest. Tropeano struck out five hitters and walked one in six innings. He battled out of a jam in the second inning and challenged hitters as he worked briskly through the lineup. Tropeano represents the first wave of what the Angels hope is a farm system newly rejuvenated with arms. In 2013, 10 of the team's first 11 draft picks were pitchers. Last year, that number was nine of the first 15. And before last season, the team traded Mark Trumbo for pitchers Tyler Skaggs and Hector Santiago. Scioscia called the cache of arms "critical to us." "It definitely is something you're going to need to tap into through the course of the season," he said. Scioscia said nothing had been decided, but Tropeano could be sent back to the minors when Shoemaker returns. He had already performed the role the Angels acquired him for. Even if he allowed a whopping five hits.

Nick Tropeano, Kole Calhoun lead Angels to 2-0 victory over A'sBy Zach Helfand

KEY MOMENT: Kole Calhoun lifted a two-run home run over the right-field wall in the third inning for the only scoring of the game. AT THE PLATE: Despite facing Jesse Chavez, who had worked out of the bullpen this season, the Angels were hitless in seven of their eight innings. They have now been without a hit in 13 of their last 17 innings in the last two games. Two starters, Mike Trout and Johnny Giavotella, are hitting above .300. But four regulars, Erick Aybar, Albert Pujols, Matt Joyce and Chris Iannetta, are below .200. UNUSUAL: The one-hit win was a feat rarer than a no-hitter. It has happened 65 other times in baseball history, according to baseball-reference.com. (Five more teams have won with no hits.) “I’ve seen us lose on a no-hitter,” Angels Manager Mike Scioscia said. “So winning on a one-hitter feels a lot better.” ON THE MOUND: After surrendering eight runs in three innings Wednesday, the bullpen recovered well. Fernando Salas killed a budding rally in the seventh inning, and Joe Smith and Huston Street held off the A’s in the eighth and ninth, with Street getting his fifth save. WHERE DID EVERYBODY GO? The rare 4 p.m. start drew a crowd of 24,304. It was the Angels’ lowest attendance since May 21, 2003, when the game against Baltimore drew 24,000. Back then, the Angels still wore Anaheim on their jerseys, the stadium was called Edison Field and the starting pitchers were Aaron Sele and Sidney Ponson. Angels spokesman Tim Mead said the club agreed not to play a 7 p.m. game Thursday at the request of the A's. Oakland concluded a 10-day trip Thursday, so the A's players could enjoy some family time Thursday night, before their homestand starts Friday night. Mead said the A's had cooperated with the Angels on scheduling other game times. UP NEXT: Right-hander Garrett Richards (0-1, 5.40 ERA) will make his second start of the season against Texas Rangers left-hander Wandy Rodriguez (0-0, 0.00) on Friday at 7 p.m. at Angel Stadium. TV: FS West; Radio: 830, 1330.

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FROM THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

Angels' C.J. Wilson not concerned about elbow issue lingering

BY JEFF FLETCHER

ANAHEIM – C.J. Wilson insisted in spring training that one of the reasons for his poor performance last year was attempting to pitch through injuries. True to his word, Wilson isn’t starting Thursday night, his regular turn, because of some discomfort in his elbow. “I’m assuming it will be better by Saturday,” he said Thursday. “It’s getting better. Yesterday it wasn’t good enough to go today.” Wilson said he’s not concerned now about his elbow becoming a more serious issue. “I understand the ups and downs of being a pitcher,” he said. “One of the downs is you have to deal with your arm.” Wilson said he felt something during his start Saturday in Houston, but “the next day I could tell it didn’t really bounce back very well.” Wilson, 34, had Tommy John surgery on his elbow while he was in the minors. In 2012, his first year with the Angels, he pitched the second half of the season with some elbow discomfort, and he had surgery after the season.

Angels Notes: Matt Joyce dropped to 6th, Josh Hamilton non-update, Vladimir Guerrero in the house BY JEFF FLETCHER

ANAHEIM – Matt Joyce and his .152 average are dropping in the Angels lineup. Joyce, who was supposed to be the Angels' cleanup hitter against right-handed pitchers, was in Thursday’s lineup batting sixth for the second consecutive day. It could have been chalked up to ace A’s Sonny Gray on Wednesday, but against journeyman Jesse Chavez on Thursday, it was clearly about Joyce. “Right now Matt just needs to take a half step back,” Manager Mike Scioscia said. “We moved him down in the order. Hopefully he’ll start to find some timing and find some confidence. Right now he’s searching. His at-bats showed early on that he was he starting to come around. He’s gone the other way right now. This will just take a little pressure off him.” STILL WAITING FOR HAMILTON

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The Angels still do not have a firm date for when Josh Hamilton will report to extended spring training in Arizona. Scioscia reiterated the words of General Manager Jerry Dipoto that it will be "sooner rather than later." Presumably, the Angels will have Hamilton work out in Arizona until he's ready to begin a rehab assignment. They could still release him, trade him or try to negotiate a termination of his contract before he rejoins the Angels. ALSO Vladimir Guerrero was at the ballpark exchanging hugs and handshakes with many Angels before Thursday’s game. Guerrero is in town to participate in the ceremony Saturday in which Mike Trout wil l be honored for winning the 2014 AL MVP. Guerrero, Trout and Angels hitting coach Don Baylor, the only players to win the MVP with the Angels, posed for a photo. Albert Pujols, who won three MVPs with the St. Louis, joined them for some pictures. ... Former Angels hitting coach Mickey Hatcher also dropped by. Hatcher, who was fired in 2012, is not working in baseball. ... Trout, Pujols, David Freese and Erick Aybar have been in the starting lineup for all 16 games this season.

Albert Pujols caught in A's-Royals crossfire BY JEFF FLETCHER

ANAHEIM -- Albert Pujols found himself in the middle of the weekend spat between the Oakland A's and the Kansas City Royals. A's third baseman Brett Lawrie, whose hard slide into Alcides Escobar started the three-day series of incidents, told Oakland reporters that Pujols told him on the field Monday that the Royals were "bush league." Kansas City manager Ned Yost on Thursday told Andy McCullough of the Kansas City Star that Pujols had called him to deny saying that. (UPDATE: The San Francisco Chronicle has now clarified Lawrie's original statement, indicating that Lawrie did not intend to attribute the "bush league" comment to Pujols. Apparently two reporters misunderstood Lawrie's description of his conversation with Pujols.)

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One-hit wonder: Calhoun homer lifts Tropeano, Angels over A's BY JEFF FLETCHER

ANAHEIM – For one day, Nick Tropeano could stifle talk about the Angels’ stagnant offense. Tropeano, making his first start with the Angels, pitched six innings in a 2-0 victory over the Oakland A’s on Thursday. “It’s a funny game,” said Kole Calhoun, whose two-run homer provided all the offense. “If Nick throws a game like he did, he doesn’t need many runs. The bullpen getting big outs when they need to. That’s a recipe for success.” The work of Tropeano and relievers Fernando Salas, Joe Smith and Huston Street, along with some nifty defense all afternoon, was enough to make Calhoun’s swing stand up for a team that is hitting .213. It was the third time in franchise history the Angels won a game with only one hit. The last time was June 16, 1986. It was the fourth time in franchise history the Angels hit a home run for their only hit in a game. The last was July 1, 1973. They lost the other three. Coincidentally, the Angels were on the other side of a game like this. In 2008, their pitchers combined for a no-hitter of the Dodgers, but the Angels lost 1-0. “I’ve seen us lose on a no-hitter, so winning on a one-hitter feels a lot better,” Manager Mike Scioscia said. He has Tropeano to thank for this one. Tropeano, who was making a spot start because C.J. Wilson has a sore elbow, gave up five hits and walked one. He came out after allowing a leadoff single in the seventh. “You couldn’t ask for much more from Nick, from all aspects,” Scioscia said. “With us not swinging the bats very well, going against a team that has been swinging the bats very well. A new situation, new mound, the whole thing. You couldn’t have pitched any better than Nick did.” Tropeano, one of the players the Angels got in the Hank Conger trade, was also pitching with the knowledge that this could be a one-shot deal, no matter how well he did. Assuming Wilson is able to start Saturday, as scheduled, the Angels don’t have a spot to keep Tropeano in the rotation. He is using the roster spot vacated by Matt Shoemaker, who is on the bereavement list but is expected to return to the rotation next week. Scioscia was noncommittal about what’s next for Tropeano. Tropeano also said he tried not to think about what lay beyond this start. “You can’t worry about that stuff,” he said. “You just have to be aggressive and attack the hitters.”

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That he did. Tropeano gave up three hits in the first two innings, requiring 43 pitches to get the first six outs. He needed to strike out Marcus Semien, stranding runners at corners, to escape the second. It was the only time the A’s had multiple runners on against him. Tropeano got the next 12 outs on 49 pitches. “I started pounding that first strike and that opened up everything else for me,” Tropeano said. Said catcher Drew Butera: “He kept them off balance. He mixed speeds really well. He threw all his pitches for strikes. He attacked the zone. He got ahead of hitters and was able to put them away with different pitches.” Tropeano had to, because the Angels’ bats remained quiet. The last 16 Angels hitters were retired. “For the most we’re still searching for some continuity in the batter’s box,” Scioscia said. “We’ll get there.”

On deck: Rangers at Angels, Friday, 7 p.m. BY JEFF FLETCHER

Where: Angel Stadium TV: Fox Sports West, 7 p.m. Did you know: The Angels have won 15 of their last 17 games against the Rangers. THE PITCHERS RHP GARRETT RICHARDS (0-1, 5.40) Richards admitted to a few nerves in his last outing, his first major league game in eight months. He hadn’t even faced major league hitters in spring training, let alone in a big league ballpark. Richards’ stuff was good, but his command was not where it figures to be once he gets more comfortable. Richards also was victimized by some poor defense in his first start in Houston. Vs. Rangers: 6-1, 3.43 At Angel Stadium: 11-6, 3.80 Loves to face: Robinson Chirinos, 2 for 9 (.222) Hates to face: Adrian Beltre, 8 for 25 (.320) LHP WANDY RODRIGUEZ (0-2, 6.75 in 2014) The veteran was released at the end of spring training by the Atlanta Braves and signed a minor-league deal with the Rangers. He made two starts for Triple-A Round Rock, allowing two runs in seven innings. Rodriguez has spent 10 years in the majors, with the Houston Astros and Pittsburgh Pirates. Last year

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he pitched just six games in the majors with a 6.75 ERA for the Pirates. Because Rodriguez has been in the National League, the only Angels players who have more than three plate appearances against him are Albert Pujols (.261) and David Freese (.235). Vs. Angels: 0-0, 4.26 At Angel Stadium: 0-0, 4.26 Loves to face: None Hates to face: None UPCOMING MATCHUPS Saturday: Rangers RHP Colby Lewis (1-1, 3.79) vs. Angels LHP C.J. Wilson (1-2, 3.54), 6 p.m., Fox Sports West Sunday: Rangers RHP Nick Martinez (2-0, 0.45) vs. Angels LHP Hector Santiago (2-1, 2.45), 12:30 p.m., Fox Sports West.

FROM ANGELS.COM

One hit enough for Angels in shutout of A's

By Alden Gonzalez and Jane Lee ANAHEIM -- Kole Calhoun blasted a two-run homer off Jesse Chavez and Nick Tropeano pitched six scoreless innings in his season debut on Thursday afternoon, setting the tone in the Angels' 2-0 victory over the A's in Southern California. Calhoun's homer was the only hit for the Angels' offense, which plated fewer than four runs for the 11th time in 16 games this season. It came off Chavez in the bottom of the third, two batters after Drew Butera reached first on a throwing error by A's third baseman Brett Lawrie. Calhoun got a 1-1 cutter out over the plate and lined it over the scoreboard in right-center to give him three home runs on the season and eventually help split the four-game series. The win moved the Angels to 7-9 and was just their second victory in seven home games this season. The A's finished their 10-game road trip with a 5-5 record and are 8-9 on the season. "That's a big win right there," Calhoun said. "For us to not really be doing what we want to do at the plate and still be able to come out with a win is huge." MOMENTS THAT MATTERED Tropeano deals: Tropeano was basically only called up to start because his pitching schedule allowed him to take the ball on five days' rest. For the Angels, it was a happy coincidence. The 24-year-old right-hander, acquired from the Astros for catcher Hank Conger in November, shut out the A's for six-plus

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frames, scattering five hits, walking one and striking out five. It was probably only a one-start stint, since Matt Shoemaker is expected to return from the bereavement list next week, but Tropeano made a favorable impression. Missed opportunities: The A's stranded 10 baserunners and went 0-for-8 with runners in scoring position, missing every chance to provide support for an impressive Chavez. Twice they left a runner at third base. Josh Reddick led off the seventh with a base hit and advanced to third on Eric Sogard's one-out single, but Marcus Semien proceeded to fly out to shallow right field, and Sam Fuld grounded into an inning-ending forceout. Seventh heaven: The seventh inning was a nightmare for the Angels on Wednesday, when they turned a tie score into a five-run deficit with three relievers. But Fernando Salas preserved a two-run lead in the series finale, paving the way for Joe Smith and Huston Street to record the final six outs. Salas, who allowed 75 percent of inherited runners to score last season, came in after Tropeano allowed a leadoff single to Reddick and retired three of his next four batters. Tough-luck loss: The A's couldn't have asked for much more from Chavez, who was starting in place of Jesse Hahn (blister). Making his first start of the season following four relief appearances, Chavez allowed only Calhoun's homer in six innings, walking three and striking out four. He finished at 90 pitches. "He was great," said A's manager Bob Melvin. "We expect a lot out of him, and to give up one hit on a moment's notice to start, I don't know how you can ask for much more than that." QUOTABLE "I've seen us lose on a no-hitter, so winning on a one-hitter feels a lot better." -- Angels manager Mike Scioscia, on the Angels winning despite not getting much offense SOUND SMART WITH YOUR FRIENDS Tuesday marked the third time in Angels history that they've won despite getting only one hit, with the last occurrence coming on a walk-off passed ball against the Rangers on June 16, 1986. Charlie Hough had a no-hitter through 8 1/3 innings until Wally Joyner broke it up. The last time the A's lost despite allowing one hit was April 14, 1992, in Kansas City. It was only the fourth occurrence in Oakland's franchise history since at least 1914. Mike Trout stole his fourth base in the Angels' 16th game on Thursday, already accounting for 25 percent of his output from 2014. That year, Trout didn't pick up his fourth stolen base until the Angels' 26th game of the season. GOING STREAKING Street's streak of consecutive batters retired to start the season ended at 14 on Thursday, when Semien reached on a slow roller to the right side with two outs in the ninth inning. The Angels' closer retired the next batter, pinch-hitter Ben Zobrist, on a flyout in foul territory to notch his fifth save. WHAT'S NEXT Athletics: The A's finally return home on Friday following a 10-game road trip, and will have lefty Scott Kazmir on the mound for a 7:05 p.m. PT start against the Astros, who will counter with southpaw Dallas

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Keuchel. Kazmir is 2-0 with a 1.33 ERA over his first three starts this season, and 6-0 with a 1.84 ERA in nine April starts over the last two seasons. Angels: Garrett Richards makes his second start of the season on Friday, when the Angels host the Rangers for a weekend series. Richards gave up four runs (three earned) on five hits and four walks in five innings against the Astros on Sunday, nearly eight months after rupturing his left patellar tendon. Game time is 7:05 p.m. PT.

Tropeano makes mighty impression as fill-in starter

By Alden Gonzalez ANAHEIM -- Nick Tropeano's first chance with the Angels was a lot more happenstance than foresight. With Matt Shoemaker headed for the bereavement list and C.J. Wilson nursing soreness in his left elbow, the Angels suddenly needed someone to start Thursday's series finale against the A's. Andrew Heaney had pitched for Triple-A Salt Lake on Monday, but Tropeano's most recent start came three days earlier. So Tropeano was basically just lucky -- and, as it turns out, so were the Angels. Thanks to the 24-year-old Tropeano, the Angels split their four-game series with the A's with a 2-0 victory and notched just their second win at home in seven tries. And thanks to Tropeano, the Angels' continuing offensive struggles weren't a factor for one afternoon. "You couldn't ask much more from Nick," manager Mike Scioscia said, "from all aspects." The Angels got only one hit -- a two-run homer by Kole Calhoun -- and scored fewer than four runs for the 11th time in 16 games, but Tropeano shut out the A's through six-plus innings, scattering five hits, walking one and striking out five. Tropeano was acquired from the Astros for backup catcher Hank Conger in November and spent the spring battling with Heaney for a spot in the rotation, only to watch the Angels open the season with four starting pitchers. Drew Butera, who caught a handful of Tropeano's outings in Spring Training, noticed him "more aggressive, a little crisper" in his regular-season debut. "Maybe some of the pressure of making the team was off him," Butera said. "Spring Training, you have to perform well. There's pressure there. Not that there isn't pressure during the regular season, but I think a little bit of that pressure was off." Tropeano needed 43 pitches to get through the first two innings but cruised through the next four, retiring 12 of 14 batters and exiting after Josh Reddick singled to lead off the seventh. The 6-foot-4, 200-pound right-hander was effective with all four of his pitches -- four-seam fastball, splitter, slider, changeup -- and went 14-for-24 on first-pitch strikes. "That kind of opened up every other pitch for me," Tropeano said of getting ahead on hitters. "He kept them off balance," Butera said. "He mixed speeds really well, threw all of his pitches for strikes and he attacked the zone. For me, that's the biggest part."

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Tropeano put himself on the Astros' radar with an eye-opening performance in the hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League last season. He posted a 3.03 ERA and a 0.99 WHIP in 124 2/3 innings for Triple-A Oklahoma City, then made four starts as a September callup -- giving up 11 earned runs in 21 2/3 innings -- and switched teams two months later. One month after that, Heaney -- the No. 25 prospect in baseball, per MLB.com -- was acquired from the Dodgers for Howie Kendrick, and Tropeano quickly became a forgotten addition. When Heaney initially started Cactus League games, Tropeano came out of the bullpen. As the spring went on and the starters went deeper, Tropeano mostly pitched in Minor League games because there wasn't enough room on the schedule. And now, with Shoemaker expected to rejoin the team in Oakland next week, Tropeano is probably headed back to the Minor Leagues. He'll leave after making a big impression. "I'm just going to take it day by day," Tropeano said. "Keep working hard, stay focused."

'Frustrated' Joyce trying to find his way at the plate

By Alden Gonzalez ANAHEIM -- Matt Joyce saw a reporter approaching on Thursday afternoon and all of a sudden got a little leery. "What do you want to talk about, football?" Joyce said, somewhat playfully. "I think the Bucs are going to draft Jameis Winston." Anything was better than the subject of Joyce's offense, which remained nonexistent nearly three weeks into his Angels career, but the left-handed-hitting outfielder obliged nonetheless. Asked how he's feeling at the plate, Joyce reeled off a 240-word answer that touched on chasing too much, being robbed of a few hits, trying too hard, staying persistent, the overall dominance of pitchers and five words that put it all in perspective. "Hey," Joyce concluded, "it's a long season." And it's early; early enough that Joyce entered Thursday as one of five Angels everyday players batting below .200, along with Albert Pujols, Collin Cowgill, C.J. Cron and Chris Iannetta. Joyce had seven hits, 13 strikeouts and no home runs through his first 46 at-bats. He entered the season as the cleanup hitter against righties and a potential starter against lefties, but he's been dropped to sixth against righties and is hardly playing against lefties. "I've definitely been frustrated," he said, "but at the same time, I know I can do it, I know I deserve to be here. It's just a matter of time." Joyce said some borderline pitches were called strikes against him, and he believes that "got me in a mind-set that I had to swing at pitches outside the zone." So far he's swung at 24.2 percent of pitches outside the strike zone, a relatively good rate but still his highest in four years.

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"He's going the other way right now," manager Mike Scioscia said of Joyce, who ended Spring Training with a .326/.385/.543 slash line but has been unable to translate that to the regular season. "Sometimes all it takes is just one pitch, one thing to go your way and get you rolling," Joyce said. "I think the pitchers nowadays are extremely tough, and it's not an easy game. I think if you look back in a month, it'll probably be a completely different situation." Worth noting: • Vladimir Guerrero was in the Angels' clubhouse on Thursday and will take part in an on-field ceremony prior to Saturday's game, along with the franchise's two other American League MVP Award winners, Don Baylor and Mike Trout. Trout will receive his Silver Slugger and Players Choice Awards on Friday and his MVP trophy on Saturday. • Scioscia said C.J. Wilson's left elbow "got a little stiff between starts," but added the elbow is "fine" and that Wilson could have taken his normal turn on Thursday if needed. The Angels announced on Wednesday that Wilson, who was wearing a sleeve on his left arm, would be pushed back from Thursday to Saturday, which was partly a reaction to Matt Shoemaker being placed on the bereavement list.

Richards, Rodriguez square off, looking to find groove

By Jesse Sanchez A pair of pitchers will take the mound Friday in Anaheim looking to find their old form. Rangers starter Wandy Rodriguez will be called up from Triple-A Round Rock to make his season debut, while Garrett Richards makes his second start since returning from knee surgery. Richards made his long-awaited return and showed flashes of dominance against the Astros. He was able to throw his fastball in the mid-90s and mix in sharp breaking pitches. However, he still walked four batters and left the game with 100 pitches and a 4-2 deficit after five innings. The Rangers are expected to make room for Rodriguez, 36, on the roster Friday. He was scratched from his start at Triple-A on Wednesday. He has allowed two runs on four hits in seven innings during his first two starts for Round Rock. Things to know about this game: • The Angels have won 15 of their last 19 games against the Rangers, including two of three last week in Arlington. • Prince Fielder has reached base via a hit or walk in 13 of his last 14 games. • Mike Trout has hit 13 homers and scored 51 runs, while driving in 47 in his 65 career games against the Rangers.

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FROM FOX SPORTS WEST

Hits hard to come by in Angels' win over Athletics

By Rahshaun Haylock Hits were tough to come by against Oakland Athletics starter Jesse Chavez on Thursday. Chavez allowed only one in six innings of work as he made his first start of the season for Oakland. Chavez made Angels hitters look like, well, the 2015 version of themselves. "He didn't miss many spots," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said of Chavez. "On the offensive side, it was a long day for us." While the Angels' might have had a "long day" at the plate, Chavez will have an even longer night after finding himself on the losing end of the decision. Baseball's a cruel game. The lone hit for the Angels was a two-run home run off of the bat of Kole Calhoun against the A's starter in the third inning. That hit was all that the Angels needed and that was all of the scoring the game would provide in the Angels 2-0 win to end the four-game series in a tie. Calhoun became just one of two players in MLB history to have a two-run home run as his team's only hit in a win. Former American League MVP Zoilo Versalles is the other. It's no secret, the Angels bats have been extremely quiet to start the 2015 season. And Thursday was no exception. "We held on," Scioscia said. "We're still searching for some continuity in the batter's box." The Angels are hitting .213 on the season which is tied for last in Major League Baseball. Helping the team in spite of its ineffectiveness at the plate was Nick Tropeano on the mound, who was making a spot start of his own for the Angels. Tropeano was called up Wednesday from Triple-A Salt Lake after starter Matt Shoemaker was placed on the Bereavement List. In his debut with the Angels, Tropeano struck out five in six-plus innings. He allowed five hits and walked just one, becoming the first Angel since Jered Weaver to win his debut while throwing six-plus shutout innings. Scioscia was non-committal about what's next for Tropeano. It's believed he will be sent back down next week once Shoemaker returns to the Angels' rotation. Thursday, however, his stuff was exactly what the Angels needed. The Angels got one-hit and won. The result could be worst. "I've seen us lose on a no-hitter, so winning on a one-hitter feels a lot better," Scioscia said.

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FROM THE LA DAILY NEWS

Angels’ struggling Matt Joyce dropped from cleanup spot

By Clay Fowler ANAHEIM >> Matt Joyce wasn’t just dropped from No. 4 to No. 6 in the Angels’ batting order on Wednesday and Thursday because the lefty was facing right-handed starting pitchers. After his sixth consecutive hitless game in Thursday’s 2-0 win over the Oakland A’s, the left fielder is 7 for 49 (.143) since the Angels acquired him in an offseason trade that sent reliever Kevin Jepsen to Tampa Bay. Accordingly, manager Mike Scioscia is trying to take some pressure off Josh Hamilton’s primary replacement in every possible way. “That’s part of it, yeah,” Scioscia said. “Matt just needs to take a half-step back, so we moved him down in the order and hopefully he’ll start to find some timing and find some confidence. “His at-bats early on, it looked like he was starting to come, but right now he’s going the other direction.” Joyce was 0 for 3 with three popouts on Thursday and is 0 for his last 19. His average has dropped 90 points in the last six games. Only Chris Iannetta’s .114 average is lower than Joyce’s mark among Angels with more than five at-bats this season. Joyce is a career .248 hitter averaging 15 home runs and 55 RBIs over the last five seasons. The 2011 All-Star, a Tampa Bay native, spent six of his seven seasons in the majors with the Rays before joining the Angels. WILSON FELT TIGHTNESS DURING START C.J. Wilson said the tightness in his elbow that prevented him from making his scheduled start on Thursday began in the fourth or fifth inning of his April 18 start in Houston. Wilson allowed two runs in the game, one each in the sixth and seventh innings of a 4-0 loss to the Astros. The Angels’ No. 2 starter could have started Thursday if necessary, but preferred to push his appearance to Saturday against Texas in place of Matt Shoemaker, who left the team Wednesday after the death of his grandfather. “It’s a little stiff, but it’ll be good in a couple of days,” Wilson said of his left elbow. “It just didn’t rebound well from my last start. If I go out there and throw up a duck, then that doesn’t do anybody any good and it taxes the bullpen. So a little bit of extra rest every once in a while is good for a pitcher.” THEFT PROBLEMS FOR IANNETTA A night after Oakland stole four bases in Wednesday’s 9-2 win, Angels catcher Chris Iannetta was given a day off. Having thrown out just one of 13 base stealers this season, Iannetta was replaced by Drew Butera on Thursday.

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Although the sample size is small, Butera has thrown out three of the five runners that have attempted to steal on him. Not a single Oakland runner tried to steal a base during his start on Thursday. Oakland is 11 for 11 in stolen base attempts thus far, even with speedster Coco Crisp yet to play a game this season. The A’s and Red Sox are the only two American League teams with a perfect stolen base percentage thus far.

Tropeano, bullpen lead Angels to 2-0 win over Oakland A’s By Clay Fowler ANAHEIM >> Bullpen, take two. One day after imploding in allowing eight runs, Angels relief pitching was textbook in a 2-0 win over the Oakland A’s on Thursday. Relievers Fernando Salas, Joe Smith and Huston Street each pitched a scoreless inning to close out a victory that salvaged a split in a four-game series with Oakland. Nobody can claim the Angels’ performance on the mound over the previous six innings was drawn up the way it unfolded. Well, nobody but Nick Tropeano. The 24-year-old called up from Triple-A on Wednesday to make a spot start in place of C.J. Wilson pitched six-plus scoreless innings with virtually no margin for error. His run support consisted of exactly one hit, a two-run home run by Kole Calhoun in the third inning. “Nick throws a game like he did, he doesn’t need many runs,” Calhoun said. “And the bullpen shutting the door and making big outs when they need to, that’s a recipe for success.” In the fifth start of his major league career — Tropeano made four starts for the Astros last season — he allowed no runs on five hits to the same lineup that tattooed the Angels in Wednesday’s 9-2 loss. Eight of those runs came courtesy of a bullpen that cycled through four pitchers, beginning with Salas. After Angels manager Mike Scioscia expressed his desire before the game to get set-up man Joe Smith and closer Huston Street some work, Salas helped suck the leverage out of the tie game by beginning the A’s eight-run avalanche on Wednesday night. But on Thursday, the bullpen’s performance was as good as Scioscia could have imagined. Winning a game with one hit opposite Oakland’s eight? That is a scenario hard for anyone to envision. “I’ve seen us lose on a no-hitter, so winning on a one-hitter feels a lot better,” Scioscia said. “Fernando Salas got a big out. Joe Smith got a big out and Huston cleaned it up. It feels good to win, but we’re going to need to get that offense rolling if we’re going to get where we need to be.” The A’s managed just one hit each off Salas, Smith and Street, who earned his fifth save of the season.

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Oakland’s first hit of the game bounced off Tropeano’s leg. The second was a flare into short right field in the second inning, the only inning during which he allowed a runner past second base. Tropeano had a 4.09 ERA in two starts for Triple-A Salt Lake this season, having given up five runs on 10 hits in 11 innings, but a strong showing in the spring went a long way toward his call-up for Thursday’s start. Knowing his performance could massively affect his future, Tropeano was near flawless against the third-highest scoring team in baseball. “I think you’ve got to approach it like any other start and you can’t worry about that stuff, especially when you’re out there,” Tropeano said. “You’ve just got to go out there, be aggressive and attack the hitters.” Calhoun’s home run in the third inning was his 12th hit in the last eight games, a stretch during which he has a .344 batting average. Drew Butera reached ahead of Calhoun when A’s first baseman Ike Davis couldn’t cleanly scoop a throw short-hopped by third baseman Brett Lawrie. Two batters later, Calhoun swatted a fastball into the right-field seats for his third home run of the season. Outside of Calhoun, an Angels offense that was showing signs of pulling out of an early-season slump didn’t do anything to continue that movement. Only one of the two runs allowed by A’s starter Jesse Chavez (0-1) was earned. The hard-luck loser walked three and struck out four in six innings. “You take a win however you can get a win,” Street said. “We’ve been battling hard and it’s been feast or famine a little bit. … You trust that this team is going to start winning because we’ve got too much talent in here not to.”

FROM THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Angels get 1 hit, but beat A's 2-0 on Calhoun's homer

ANAHEIM, Calif. -- After Nick Tropeano shut down the Oakland Athletics in a dazzling debut, three relievers escaped big jams with the help of some stellar defense. When the Los Angeles Angels play this well otherwise, one hit is plenty. Tropeano pitched five-hit ball into the seventh inning, and Kole Calhoun's two-run homer was the Angels' only hit in a 2-0 victory Thursday night. Calhoun homered in the third, and four pitchers combined on an eight-hit shutout that allowed the Angels to salvage a split a four-game series with their upstate AL West rivals. The Angels didn't have a baserunner after the third inning, but won with just one hit for the third time in franchise history, the first since June 16, 1986.

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"Two runs, but that's all the pitching staff needed," Calhoun said. "That's huge for us. Today is really all about the pitching staff." Tropeano (1-0) was impressive in a spot start, yielding one walk and striking out five less than 48 hours after learning he was headed to the majors. Given the chance in Anaheim by C.J. Wilson's stiff elbow and Matt Shoemaker's bereavement leave, Tropeano showed off his nasty changeup and improved as the game went along, leaving to a standing ovation after Josh Reddick's leadoff single in the seventh. "I was obviously ecstatic to know I'm pitching in the big leagues, at the Big A, but I think you've just got to approach it like any other start," Tropeano said. "I started pounding that first strike, and it opened things up for me." He was nearly matched by Jesse Chavez (0-1), who gave up one hit and three walks in six innings during his first start of the season. But that hit was costly: Calhoun drove a one-out pitch to right after Drew Butera reached on a throwing error. "We held on," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. "They gave us a little break with the error, Kole connected, and that was about it. ... I've seen us lose on a no-hitter. Winning on a one-hitter was a lot better." Fernando Salas escaped a jam with two runners on in the seventh, and Joe Smith narrowly got out of the eighth when Calhoun tracked down Reddick's drive to the right-field wall with two on. Huston Street pitched the ninth for his fifth save, though he allowed his first baserunner of the season on Marcus Semien's two-out infield single. Collin Cowgill made a sprinting catch in foul territory to end a frustrating day for Oakland, which went 5-5 on its road trip. Chavez began the season in Oakland's bullpen, but largely mowed down the Angels in his return to the rotation. After the rocky third that included two walks, he retired his final nine batters. "To give up one hit on a moment's notice to make a start, I don't know how you can ask much more than that," A's manager Bob Melvin said. "I can't remember the last time we got beat by one hit." Oakland hadn't lost a game while giving up only one hit since April 14, 1992, at Kansas City. SHORT TRIP? Scioscia isn't sure what the Angels will do with Tropeano after his second major-league victory, since their rotation is full. Los Angeles traded backup catcher Hank Conger to the Astros last winter to get Tropeano, who made four major-league starts last September. The Long Island native competed for the fifth spot in the Angels' rotation in spring training, but Hector Santiago won the spot. "We've got a lot of guys in the bullpen that are tired, so we'll look where everybody is," Scioscia said. TRAINER'S ROOM

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Athletics: Chavez got the start in place of Jesse Hahn, who has a blister. ... Ben Zobrist fouled out to end the game, also ending his 18-game hitting streak against the Angels. He didn't play in the first three games after getting a cortisone shot in his left knee. Angels: Wilson's scheduled start was pushed to Saturday. The left-hander doesn't expect his elbow to be a problem this weekend or long-term. UP NEXT Athletics: Scott Kazmir takes the mound when Oakland opens a weekend series at the Coliseum against Dallas Keuchel and Houston. Angels: Garrett Richards makes his second start of his comeback from surgery when the Angels open a three-game home series against the Texas Rangers.

Rangers-Angels Preview

Despite a losing decision, Garrett Richards was encouraged with his much-anticipated return for the Los Angeles Angels. As the right-hander aims to progress further, he'll try to carry over the success he enjoyed last season against the visiting Texas Rangers on Friday night. Back on the hill for the first time since suffering a season-ending knee injury Aug. 20, Richards allowed four runs, five hits, walked four and struck out four in five innings of a 4-3 loss at Houston Sunday. "Obviously, I have some things I have to tighten up, but it wasn't a terrible first outing," Richards, who went 13-4 with a 2.61 ERA in 26 starts during his breakout 2014 season, told MLB's official website. Manager Mike Scioscia agreed. "I think he showed that, as far as delivering the baseball," Scioscia said after watching Richards throw 100 pitches. "And I think he also showed that moving around the mound, he's fine. His stuff is there." For the most part, Richards' stuff was excellent while going 4-0 with a 2.05 ERA versus Texas last season. In the start right before he was hurt, Richards allowed two runs and struck out seven without a walk in 7 1/3 innings of a 5-4 road win over the Rangers on Aug. 15. Winners in 15 of the last 19 against their AL West rival, the Angels (7-9) scored 18 runs while taking two of three at Texas last week. Mike Trout went 6 for 12 during that set, and is 9 for 16 with seven runs scored in his last five games against the Rangers (6-9), who are 2/3 on their eight-game trip. Trout hit .444 with three home runs and nine RBIs in Los Angeles' first 10 games but is 2 for 21 with no RBIs and seven strikeouts in the last six. Both hits came over 13 at-bats in a split of a four-game home set with Oakland.

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Nick Tropeano pitched six strong innings and Kole Calhoun's two-run homer in the third was Los Angeles' only hit during Thursday's 2-0 victory over the Athletics. It was the first time since June 16, 1986, and the third time in club history the Angels won while recording one hit. Wandy Rodriguez's only appearance versus Los Angeles came in 2007 with Houston, but he'll make his Texas debut Friday. The veteran left-hander is making his first appearance since giving up six runs -- one earned -- in 1 2/3 innings against Baltimore for Pittsburgh on May 21. The Pirates released him nine days later. Texas picked up Rodriguez on April 6 after Atlanta released him from a minor league deal earlier this month. The 36-year-old Rodriguez, 90-93 with a 4.03 ERA in 248 starts, had a 2.57 ERA without a record in two outings for Triple-A Round Rock. "The velocity is 88 to 91 mph, the breaking ball is there, and the changeup is there," Rangers manager Jeff Banister said. "The pitch-ability is still there. It's very similar to the guy I've seen in the past as far as the reports. He competes." The call-up of Rodriguez gives Colby Lewis an extra day of rest and leaves struggling Ross Detwiler out of the rotation for the time being. Adrian Beltre is batting .320 with a homer against Richards, and is 4 for 10 with a home run in three games after going 0 for 14 in his previous four.

FROM SPORTS ILLUSTRATED

Source: Josh Hamilton could be gone from Angels in matter of days

By Michael McCann Angels outfielder Josh Hamilton, who in February admitted to relapsing and abusing drugs and alcohol, may never play for Los Angeles again and could be gone from the team in a matter of days, according to an industry source. Hamilton, 33, is currently in a baseball purgatory of sorts. The 2010 American League MVP is on the disabled list while recovering from offseason shoulder surgery but would like to resume baseball activities soon. The Angels, however, do not seem to want Hamilton back, and their aversion has nothing to do with his healing shoulder. Team officials, including owner Arte Moreno and general manager Jerry DiPoto, appear displeased by Hamilton’s self-reported relapse in February and a subsequent decision by an arbitrator that Major League Baseball cannot punish Hamilton. The Angels might also be skeptical that Hamilton, who underperformed at the plate during the 2013 and '14 seasons, will regain the hitting stroke that made him one of the most feared hitters in baseball from '08 to '12. Hamilton, however, has two significant legal advantages over the Angels in his contract dispute: Contracts in baseball are guaranteed, and any discipline for Hamilton’s relapse falls under the Joint Drug Agreement.

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Hamilton’s contract is not a public document, but like other players, he must satisfy the terms of the Uniform Player Contract (“UPC”). Players sign the UPC as part of their employment with big league teams, and the UPC is incorporated as an attachment into the collective bargaining agreement negotiated by owners and players. Moreno has implied that there is unique language in Hamilton’s contract that bars Hamilton from drug and alcohol use. But an industry source tells SI.com that Hamilton’s contract does not contain any language that would make it easier for the Angels to void the contract. At first glance, the Uniform Player Contract (“UPC”) supplies language that might enable the Angels to void Hamilton’s contract. Upon closer inspection, however, this language does not carry the kind of impact its plain reading would indicate. Some of the relevant language can be found in the UPC’s Loyalty Clause: Loyalty 3.(a) The Player agrees to perform his services hereunder diligently and faithfully, to keep himself in first-class physical condition and to obey the Club’s training rules, and pledges himself to the American public and to the Club to conform to high standards of personal conduct, fair play and good sportsmanship. The Angels, it would seem, could persuasively argue that Hamilton’s relapse constitutes a failure to render services “diligently and faithfully,” as well as a failure to “keep himself in first-class condition and to obey the Club’s training rules.” A drug and alcohol relapse, moreover, could be viewed as evidence that Hamilton breached his contractual duty to “pledge himself to the American public and to the Club to confirm to the high standards of personal conduct ... and good sportsmanship.” The UPC’s termination section would also seem to authorize the Angels to cut ties with Hamilton: By Club 7.(b) The Club may terminate this contract upon written notice to the Player (but only after requesting and obtaining waivers of this contract from all other Major League Clubs) if the Player shall at any time: (1) fail, refuse or neglect to conform his personal conduct to the standards of good citizenship and good sportsmanship or to keep himself in first-class physical condition or to obey the Club’s training rules; or (2) fail, in the opinion of the Club’s management, to exhibit sufficient skill or competitive ability to qualify or continue as a member of the Club’s team; or (3) fail, refuse or neglect to render his services hereunder or in any other manner materially breach this contract. From a strictly literal—and not legal—perspective, Hamilton’s drug relapse would indicate a failure to “keep himself in first-class physical condition” since any sensible definition of “first-class physical condition” would be one that doesn’t include illegal drug use. Similarly, it wouldn’t take a stretch of

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the English language to conclude that a relapse constitutes a failure to “exhibit competitive ability to qualify or continue as a member of the Club’s team.” None of this language, however, will authorize the Angels to terminate Hamilton’s contract. Through the grievance process, the Major League Baseball Players’ Association (MLBPA) has aggressively prevented teams from attempting to use the aforementioned language to terminate guaranteed player contracts. The MLBPA is most concerned with preventing the creation of a precedent whereby teams can readily convert guaranteed contracts into non-guaranteed contracts. Given the strength of the MLBPA, the history of teams voiding players’ contracts on the grounds of a UPC violation is virtually non-existent. The Brewers, for instance, might plausibly contend that Ryan Braun violated the aforementioned UPC language through his involvement in the Biogenesis scandal. Milwaukee, however, has not made any attempt to void his lucrative contract since the team knows any attempt would fail. When teams have tried to void deals, they have not succeeded. The most telling example occurred in 1987, when the Padres voided the contract of pitcher LaMarr Hoyt. At the time, Hoyt was serving a one-year prison sentence for drug possession. San Diego reasoned that Hoyt’s misconduct and subsequent incarceration constituted an obvious violation of the good citizenship and good sportsmanship clause, among other duties outlined in his contract. The MLBPA objected, reasoning that the punishment was excessive and unreasonable. The MLPBA filed a grievance, which was heard by George Nicolau, a neutral arbitrator. To the surprise of many, Nicolau agreed with the MLBPA and restored Hoyt’s contract. Teams have only escaped contractual obligations when they agree to lucrative buyouts. In 2005, for example, the Rockies cut ties with pitcher Denny Neagle, who had been criminally charged with soliciting a prostitute, by paying him more than 80% of the remainder of his $19.5 million contract. That same year, the Orioles agreed to pay pitcher Sidney Ponson a significant portion of $11.2 million owed to him after he encountered various legal difficulties. It is plausible that the Angels and Hamilton could agree to a buyout, but the Angels would likely have to pay him the vast majority of the $83 million he is still owed. The MLPBA, sensitive to precedent, would only assent to a buyout if Hamilton were paid nearly in full. It is also worth noting that Hamilton has retained prominent sports attorney Jay Reisinger, a partner at Farrell & Reisinger LLC in Pittsburgh. Reisinger successfully advocated on behalf of Hamilton in the recent arbitration over whether Hamilton’s drug relapse could warrant a punishment from MLB and has a long track record of success in representing ballplayers in legal disputes and arbitrations, such as when Reisinger guided former Yankees pitcher Andy Pettitte through the Congressional investigation into Roger Clemens and Brian McNamee. Reisinger will surely adopt a aggressive approach in defending Hamilton from contract termination. Another key legal argument in Hamilton’s favor is that the collectively bargained Joint Drug Treatment and Prevention Program (“Program”)—and not his player contract—covers possible sanctions for his relapse. Teams are barred from disciplining players for violating the Program. These points are apparent in the following Program excerpt: 7.M. Exclusive Discipline

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All authority to discipline Players for violations of the Program shall repose with the Commissioner's Office. No Club may take any disciplinary or adverse action against a Player (including, but not limited to. a fine, suspension, or any adverse action pursuant to a Uniform Player’s Contract) because of a Player’s violation of the Program. Nothing in this Section 7.M is intended to address whether: (i) a Club may take adverse action in response to a Player’s failure to render his services due to a disability resulting directly from a physical injury or mental condition arising from his violation of the Program; or (ii) a Club may withhold salary from a Player for any period he is unavailable because of legal proceedings or incarceration arising from his violation of the Program. A neutral arbitrator, Roberta Golick, heard competing arguments by Hamilton and Major League Baseball over whether Hamilton should be punished for his relapse. Reisinger proved that Hamilton’s conduct did not constitute a violation of the Program. The Angels could highlight how the Program mentions that, “a Club may take adverse action in response to a Player’s failure to render his services due to a disability resulting directly from a physical injury or mental condition arising from his violation of the Program.” This language, however, seems inapplicable to Hamilton’s situation. Remember, Golick found that he did not violate the Program. Hamilton is also currently sidelined for a shoulder injury that appears unrelated to any drug or alcohol issues. If anything, the Angels—rather than Hamilton—might have run afoul of the Program by issuing remarkably harsh and unsympathetic statements following the arbitrator’s award. For instance, a spokesman on behalf of Angels president John Carpino bluntly remarked, “It defies logic that Josh's reported behavior is not a violation of his drug program.” Note that the Program bars teams from issuing “public statements which undermine the integrity and/or credibility of the Program.” While Carpino’s statement and others like it likely will not lead to any consequences for the Angels, it’s a reminder that Hamilton’s conduct is not the only one at issue in this controversy. But while Hamilton has the law on his side when it comes to his contract, he and the Angels have likely crossed a point of no return in their relationship.