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Clips

(July 29, 2016)

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Today’s Clips Contents

FROM THE LA TIMES (Page 3)

Angels snag a 2-1 win over Red Sox on game-ending error

Angels reliever tries to block out distractions as trade deadline nears

FROM THE OC REGISTER (Page 6)

Handcuffed by David Price for eight innings, Angels get walk-off win on

Hanley Ramirez's throwing error

Red Sox slugger David Ortiz dealt Angels plenty of pain, but Mike Scioscia

considers him 'special person'

MLB denies Angels' protest of loss at Kansas City

FROM ANGELS.COM (Page 10)

Angels rally, walk off on Hanley error in 9th

New draftees bolster Angels' system

Lincecum, Porcello set to square off at Angel Stadium

FROM THE ASSOCIATED PRESS (Page 13)

Angels walk off with 2 runs on Ramirez's error, beat Sox 2-1

July 29, 2016 Page 3 of 15

FROM THE LA TIMES

Angels snag a 2-1 win over Red Sox on game-ending error

Bill Shaikin

s the Angels made their way from the clubhouse and into the dugout before Thursday’s game against the Boston Red Sox, a cardboard box awaited them atop the bat racks. The box contained what appeared to be the results of a shopping spree at Party City.

This would be the first game of the last series David Ortiz would play in Anaheim. The Angels had the obligatory farewell gift, a portrait of Ortiz at bat, to be unveiled on the field by Mike Trout, Albert Pujols and longtime coach Alfredo Griffin.

But the Angels wanted to have some fun too. So they asked each player to wear the gag gifts, a pair of goofy sunglasses and a gold-colored chain, to spoof the Ortiz look.

The game itself ended up stunningly merry for the home team. After David Price shut out the Angels for eight innings, the Angels won in the ninth, 2-1, on a walk-off throwing error by Boston Red Sox first baseman Hanley Ramirez.

On Thursday, Joe Smith reported for the first day of what could be his final series with the Angels. His contract expires at the end of the season, the Angels are in last place, and relief pitchers are in great demand by contending teams.

The Cleveland Indians are one of those teams. Smith’s mother,...

On Thursday, Joe Smith reported for the first day of what could be his final series with the Angels. His contract expires at the end of the season, the Angels are in last place, and relief pitchers are in great demand by contending teams.

The Cleveland Indians are one of those teams. Smith’s mother,...

(Bill Shaikin)

In the ninth, with Price at 109 pitches, the Red Sox deployed submariner Brad Ziegler, one of their prizes from the July trade mart. For the second straight day — and some 3,000 miles apart — Ziegler would be the losing pitcher.

Trout and Pujols started the ninth with singles, putting the tying run in scoring position and the winning run on base. After Carlos Perez struck out trying to bunt, Andrelton Simmons delivered a line single to center field, but hit so hard that Trout was held at third.

Daniel Nava, pinch-hitting, knocked a ground ball directly to Ramirez, who threw home.

“I think it would have been a bang-bang play,” Trout said.

But Ramirez threw high and rushed, and over the head of his catcher. Trout scored, and so did pinch-runner Ji-Man Choi, and the Angels had a stunning victory.

Jered Weaver gave up no more than one run for the third time in four starts. His earned-run average this month: 3.57.

July 29, 2016 Page 4 of 15

The Boston run came in the third inning, on two singles and a sacrifice fly. In the sixth, with two out and a runner on second base, the Angels ordered Weaver to walk Ortiz intentionally. That took him to 104 pitches — two shy of his season high — and out of the game.

When Manager Mike Scioscia called for a reliever and came to the mound, Weaver’s objections were visible to anyone watching on television.

“I’m a competitive person,” Weaver said. “I just wanted to take the ball.”

He and the Angels should not have been losing at that point. The Angels had only themselves to blame, for they bunched three hits and a walk in the fifth inning — without scoring.

With the Red Sox leading, 1-0, Jeffry Marte singled, Jett Bandy walked, and Gregorio Petit was at bat. With two strikes on Petit, the 220-pound Marte decided to try for his first major league stolen base, but he was thrown out at third.

Petit singled, of course, and so did Johnny Giavotella after him, but the slow-footed Bandy had to be held at third. So the Angels left the bases loaded — no runs, three hits, one walk, one ill-fated baserunning gamble.

The Angels got another scoreless inning from reliever Joe Smith, perhaps the player most likely to be traded by Monday’s deadline. In seven appearances since the All-Star break, Smith has not given up a run. He has faced 22 batters, without walking any.

“Joe Smith had the best stuff we’ve seen all year,” Scioscia said.

Walking onto the field with goofy glasses and faux chains was a silly feeling. Walking off was a triumphant one.

Angels reliever tries to block out distractions as trade deadline nears

Bill Shaikin

On Thursday, Joe Smith reported for the first day of what could be his final series with the Angels. His contract expires at the end of the season, the Angels are in last place, and relief pitchers are in great demand by contending teams.

The Cleveland Indians are one of those teams. Smith’s mother, Lee, lives in Cincinnati, in the fifth year of her battle with a degenerative disorder called Huntington’s disease. As the disease progresses, the muscles gradually weaken, and brain function declines. Walking and talking become more challenging, as does making dinner or folding laundry.

The Indians? Smith could be four hours from home, a reasonable drive to see his mother on an off day, or after a day game.

“She would feel guilty for pulling me away,” Smith said. “She wants me to play baseball and win a World Series. At the same time, I want to be by her. She wants me close, but she would never say that.”

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In addition to the Indians, teams expressing interest in Smith reportedly include the New York Mets, San Francisco Giants and St. Louis Cardinals. Smith said his family and friends ask about trade rumors all the time, but he insists he tries to tune them out.

“I’d drive myself nuts,” he said. “This game is hard enough without distractions.”

Mostly, he said, he is stunned by what has transpired with the Angels. He signed here in 2013 because the Angels won regularly, and spent the money to keep winning. But the Angels have not won a postseason game since then, and now they are on pace for the worst record in the 17-year tenure of Manager Mike Scioscia.

“I didn’t expect to be in this position now,” he said. “I didn’t really foresee this.”

Protest denied

On Wednesday, after the Angels played the final innings of their 7-5 loss to the Kansas City Royals under protest, Scioscia said he believed he was “100% correct” that umpire Phil Cuzzi has improperly interpreted a rule.

On Thursday, Major League Baseball chief baseball officer Joe Torre denied the Angels’ protest. The statement announcing the decision did not include an explanation, but a person familiar with the decision said the protest could have been upheld had the league agreed that Cuzzi improperly applied a rule. Instead, Torre determined Cuzzi had made a judgment call, which cannot be grounds for a protest.

“They looked at it,” Scioscia said Thursday. “They gave their opinion. That’s all you can ask for. We wouldn’t have filed the protest if we didn’t feel we weren’t on the right side of it. I respect their decision.”

In the seventh inning of Wednesday’s game, the Royals’ Raul Mondesi Jr. beat out a bunt single, and Kansas City scored two runs on a throwing error. Scioscia said that Cuzzi told him Mondesi had run outside the baseline but was allowed to veer inside to tag first base. Scioscia believed Mondesi should have been cited for interference with the throw and should not have been allowed to run out of the baseline.

Ortiz fest

Edgar Martinez has such a distinguished career as a designated hitter that MLB annually presents the Edgar Martínez Outstanding Designated Hitter Award. Nonetheless, in six years on the Hall of Fame ballot, Martinez has yet to get even half of the vote.

Scioscia said he did not believe that whatever keeps voters from electing a designated hitter should keep David Ortiz from the Hall of Fame.

July 29, 2016 Page 6 of 15

“It shouldn’t be an issue for Edgar Martinez, either,” Scioscia said. “It’s certainly not an issue for David Ortiz.

“I feel Edgar Martinez is a Hall of Famer.”

Ortiz, 40, the beloved DH of the Boston Red Sox, is retiring at the end of the season. The Angels presented him with a portrait of himself before Thursday’s game.

“David Ortiz has had an incredible career — not only with the Hall of Fame numbers that he put up, but he has an incredible amount of respect for the game of baseball,” Scioscia said. “I think that gets him the respect of players that play against him and managers and coaches that coach against him.

“He’s more than just a tremendous ballplayer. I think he’s obviously part of the fabric of not only the Boston organization but the Boston community and has done so much good around the world for baseball. He’s a special person.”

FROM OC REGISTER

Handcuffed by David Price for eight innings, Angels get walk-off win on Hanley

Ramirez's throwing error

By JEFF FLETCHER / STAFF WRITER

ANAHEIM – The Angels lost one in the court of appeals Thursday afternoon. So, the best they could hope for going into their game against the Boston Red Sox later that evening was a split decision, with a victory on the field acting as a salve after an all-too-predictable defeat.

As expected, Major League Baseball denied the Angels’ protest of their lossWednesday to the Royals in Kansas City. The Angels then took a 2-1 victory from the Red Sox in their homecoming from a trip in which they lost four of six to the Royals and Houston Astros.

Red Sox left-hander David Price threw eight shutout innings, but reliever Brad Ziegler loaded the bases in the ninth and first baseman Hanley Ramirez threw wildly toward home plate on Daniel Nava’s sharply-hit grounder right at him.

Mike Trout, who had singled to start the ninth-inning rally against Ziegler, raced home from third base with the tying run and pinch-runner Ji-Man Choi followed him for the decisive run. Choi ran for Albert Pujols, who also singled.

“I was looking at the catcher (Sandy Leon) to see what he was doing and I knew (Ramirez) was coming home, so I told myself to get down (into a slide) and I saw the ball go over his head,” Trout said of his view of the final play. “We just gave ourselves a chance at the end of the game.”

July 29, 2016 Page 7 of 15

Right-hander Jered Weaver and four relievers combined to hold the Red Sox to one run. Cam Bedrosian, who threw a 1-2-3 ninth inning earned the victory for the Angels, improving to 2-0. Ziegler (0-2) had nine consecutive scoreless appearances against the Angels before faltering Thursday.

“The boys never stopped and kept grinding and were able to pull it out in the ninth,” Weaver said. “I’m more than confident to hand the ball over to the bullpen. We have a lot of great arms down there and they did a great job to hold it to one run and the offense took care of the rest.”

Well before the frantic ending, Angels manager Mike Scioscia once again said he was certain he was right in protesting what he believed to be the misinterpretation of the rules by plate umpire Phil Cuzzi during the pivotal seventh inning of what turned out to be a 7-5 loss Wednesday in Kansas City.

The Royals’ Raul Mondesi Jr., ran to first base on the grass after a bunt. Angels righty Matt Shoemaker threw wildly and two runs scored to tie the score at 3 as Mondesi ended up at third base after right fielder Kole Calhoun slipped while trying to pick up the errant toss.

Cuzzi agreed with Scioscia that Mondesi ran inside the baseline, but disagreed that the son of the former Dodgers outfielder should have been called out because of interference and the Royals’ runners sent back to their bases. The Angels played the rest of the game under protest.

Joe Torre, baseball’s chief officer, denied the request less than 24 hours later.

“They looked at it, gave their opinion and that’s all you can ask for,” Scioscia said. “I respect that. I wouldn’t have filed the protest if we didn’t feel we were on the right side of it. We still do, but I respect their decision. Hopefully, it will foster some conversation about that play in the future.”

Baseball should call out more runners who are out of the baseline, according to Scioscia.

The Angels took a collective (and figurative) deep breath and then turned their attention to battling the Red Sox in the opener of a four-game series. Weaver went to the mound in search of only his fifth victory over Boston in 17 career starts against the Red Sox.

Didn’t happen.

The Red Sox didn’t exactly batter Weaver, but knocked him out after he gave up one run and six hits in 5-2/3 innings. He reluctantly yielded to reliever J.C. Ramirez with runners on first and second with two out in the sixth, having made 104 pitches (63 for strikes).

It was a struggle from start to finish.

Boston had runners on base in all but one of the game’s first six innings. The Red Sox took a 1-0 lead in the third, when Leon singled off Weaver, advanced to third on Brock Holt's single and scored on Mookie Betts’ sacrifice fly. Dustin Pedroia then lined into an inning-ending double play.

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The Angels managed little against Price, who gave up seven hits and had six strikeouts. A two-out rally in the fifth fizzled when Yunel Escobar grounded into a force play at second with the bases loaded after Jett Bandy walked and Gregorio Petit and Johnny Giavotella singled.

“He was keeping us off balance,” Trout said of Price. “He was dealing.”

Red Sox slugger David Ortiz dealt Angels plenty of pain, but Mike Scioscia considers him 'special person'

By ELLIOTT TEAFORD / STAFF WRITER

ANAHEIM – Angels manager Mike Scioscia could only scowl and walk slowly from the dugout to the clubhouse in obvious agony. David Ortiz had just won the decisive Game 3 of the 2004 American League Division Series for the Boston Red Sox with a blast over the Green Monster at Fenway Park.

It’s one of Scioscia’s worst playoff memories, one he recalled Thursday as the Angels played host to Ortiz for the final series of his career at Angel Stadium. Even a payback in the form of a three-game sweep by the Angels over Ortiz and the Red Sox in 2009 couldn’t erase the bad memories.

“In the playoffs, he had an incredible series against us, walked us out of the playoffs with a home run off Jarrod Washburn and then we got a little revenge in ’09, but those guys had our number for a little while, and he was a big part of it,” Scioscia said.

Scioscia holds no bitterness or animosity toward Ortiz, however.

How could he?

“David Ortiz has had an incredible career, I think, not only with the Hall of Fame numbers he put up, but has an incredible amount of respect for the game of baseball,” he said. “I think that gets him the respect of the players who play against him and managers and coaches who coach against him.

“I think he’s more than just a tremendous ballplayer. He’s obviously a part of the fabric of not only the Boston organization, but the Boston community and all of baseball. He’s done so much good around the world for baseball. He’s a special person.”

Ortiz plans to retire at season’s end, after tormenting more teams than just the Angels during a Hall of Fame-caliber career that has featured a .286 lifetime batting average, 528 home runs and 1,725 RBI in 2,349 games more than 20 big league seasons before Thursday’s game.

Scioscia dismissed any notion that Ortiz didn’t belong in the Hall of Fame because of spending almost all of his career as a designated hitter with the Red Sox and Minnesota Twins. Scioscia said Edgar Martinez, another standout DH, should be in the Hall, too.

“It shouldn’t be an issue for Edgar Martinez, either,” Scioscia said of the former Seattle Mariners standout, who retired in 2004. “It’s certainly not an issue for David Ortiz. I feel like Edgar Martinez is a Hall of Famer.”

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Scioscia first watched Ortiz work his magic while managing in the minor leagues, or what he assumed would be magic with a little bit of seasoning and maturity. All the tools where there from an early age for the native of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.

“I saw David play in Triple-A when I was managing in ’99,” Scioscia said. “He was just figuring the game out. He was more of a wild swinger, but the other tools, you could see they were all there. The power. He figured it out quickly once he got over to Boston.”

PENNINGTON UPDATE

Infielder Cliff Pennington is eligible to come off the disabled list Sunday, after landing on it because of a hamstring injury June 1. He was hitting .368 (7 for 19) for Triple-A Salt Lake going into Thursday and “feeling better, for sure,” according to Scioscia.

“The way it looks right now, he’s making great strides and we would anticipate him being ready,” Scioscia said of Pennington, who has been limited to only 58 at-bats in 27 games with the Angels this season. “We’ll just see where these next three or four days leave Cliff.”

PETIT IN LEFT AGAIN

Gregorio Petit made his professional debut in left field during the Angels’ loss Wednesday to the Kansas City Royals. He was in left again for Thursday’s game against the Red Sox, because, well, why wouldn’t Scioscia keep him there?

“He’s athletic enough,” Scioscia said. “He’s up for it. He wants to have the challenge. We need to build versatility in as many players as we can, especially if they can help us swinging the bat, which Greg is doing a good job. He looks good in the outfield, too.”

MLB denies Angels' protest of loss at Kansas City

STAFF AND NEWS SERVICE REPORTS

ANAHEIM – Major League Baseball denied the Angels’ formal protest of their loss at Kansas City on Wednesday night.

Chief Baseball Officer Joe Torre ruled on the protest Thursday.

Angels manager Mike Scioscia protested Kansas City’s 7-5 victory, claiming the Royals’ Raul Mondesi ran inside the line on a bunt single in the seventh inning. The play led to a throwing error and two runners scoring, and Scioscia claimed Mondesi was illegally on the grass when pitcher Matt Shoemaker made his errant throw to first.

Scioscia said at the time that he was “100 percent” certain the protest would be upheld, saying the play was “not a judgment call” for home plate umpire Phil Cuzzi.

Scioscia remained confident in his opinion before the Angels’ home game Thursday night against the Boston Red Sox.

“They looked at it, they gave their opinion, and that’s all you can ask for, and I respect that,” Scioscia said. “I wouldn’t have filed the protest if we didn’t feel that we were on the right side

July 29, 2016 Page 10 of 15

of it. And I still do, but I respect their decision. Hopefully it will foster some conversation in the future about that play, and we can get it a little bit cleaner.”

FROM ANGELS.COM

Angels rally, walk off on Hanley error in 9th

By Jeffrey Flanagan and Alden Gonzalez / MLB.com |

ANAHEIM -- Daniel Nava was called upon in a key spot against his former team, and in the end, the Angels walked off winners.

Facing a bases-loaded situation in the ninth and one out, Nava's chopper to first base resulted in Red Sox first baseman Hanley Ramirez making a wild throw home, allowing the tying and winning run to score as the Angels rallied for a 2-1 victory.

Red Sox closer Brad Ziegler, seeking his second save since being acquired from Arizona, loaded the bases after back-to-back singles from Mike Trout and Albert Pujols and a one-out single from Andrelton Simmons. That set up pinch-hitter Nava, and he became the hero when Ramirez's throw sailed past catcher Sandy Leon and all the way to the backstop.

"Yeah, I tried to get two before I got one," said Ramirez. "That can't happen. I know better than that. I know that I've got Trout on third and it was a tough groundball but I've got to make sure of one. I kind of started running before I threw it."

Trout, who was at third representing the tying run, said he was gunning for home on contact.

"I took a peek and was looking at [Leon] to see what he was doing. I knew that [Ramirez] was going to come home there. I just saw the throw go high and I told myself to get down, and it went over his head."

Before Thursday's collapse, the Red Sox were 50-0 when leading after eight innings.

Red Sox left-hander David Price, who was in line for the win entering the ninth, faced little trouble outside of a bases-loaded fifth inning, keeping the ball down in the zone and scattering seven Angels hits.

The Red Sox worked back-to-back singles and a sacrifice fly in the third inning to score their lone run off Angels starter Jered Weaver, who battled a high pitch count to go 5 2/3 innings. He held his opponent to only one earned run for the third time in his last four starts.

"[Weaver] threw everything but the kitchen sink at them," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. "He changed speeds. He did what he does best, and I think early on he showed some signs of a good fastball. There was no doubt he was getting a little tired as it went along. He was grinding."

MOMENTS THAT MATTERED Price keeps 'em grounded: A clear theme in Price's first two starts after the All-Star break was that he wasn't able to keep the ball on the ground enough. The lefty rectified that issue in this one, getting 14 of his 24 outs via the ground.

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"Just kind of doing what feels good out there, what feels normal, what makes me me," said Price. "I know what I need to do. I painted a lot more pitches. It was better."

Missed opportunities: The Angels looked like they were going to strike against Price in the fifth inning with runners on first and second and one out. First baseman Jefry Marte was caught trying to steal third, and the very next pitch turned into a Gregorio Petit single. The Angels wound up loading the bases anyway, only to have Yunel Escobar -- whose .432 batting average with runners in scoring position was second-best in the Majors -- ground out to end the threat. Scioscia said after the game that Marte was not supposed to run in that situation, killing the lone rally the team had against Price.

"[Marte] misread, and missed the sign," Scioscia said. "He thought he saw something that he didn't. Went on his own."

Shaw caught in between: Ramirez wasn't the only one who had a tough play on defense in the ninth. Trout hit a slow roller to third, and Travis Shaw knew exactly who was running. The problem is that he had to wait until the second hop to field the ball, and he didn't have time to plant and throw. The throw one-hopped Ramirez, and Trout was safe with an infield single to open the inning.

"You see the original hop," said Shaw. "Couldn't get it on the original hop, so you have to wait for that second bounce. You try and make the transfer as quick as you can. And even in that spot right there, I think a perfect transfer he still beats that out. He gets down the line pretty good. Just try and get it out of my hand as quick as I can."

For the last time: Weaver faced off against Red Sox designated hitter David Ortiz for the final time on Thursday. Ortiz went 1-for-1 with two walks (one intentional) against the right-hander, as he was the final batter Weaver faced before exiting. Ortiz finished his career 13-for-38 (.342) with three home runs, 10 RBIs and six walks off the Angels' righty.

SOUND SMART WITH YOUR FRIENDS The Angels recorded their league-leading 19th pickoff of the season in the eighth inning, as reliever Joe Smith caught Betts napping for a 1-3-6-3 putout. The two teams tied for second in the American League in pickoffs -- the Royals and the Rays -- have combined for 18.

Though this has hardly been Price's best season to date, he leads the American League by pitching at least eight innings in eight of his starts.

CELEBRATING PAPI The Angels continued in the tradition of opposing teams and paid tribute to Ortiz during his last trip to Anaheim. And they brought humor to the mix in Thursday's pregame ceremony, as Mike Trout came on to the field with his Big Papi costume, which included flashy sunglasses and a gold chain that was, to say the least, thick. Trout also pointed the sky as Ortiz always does after he hits home runs. Ortiz seemed to love the moment, particularly as Albert Pujols wrapped him up in a bear hug and lifted him off the ground. The Angels presented Ortiz with a custom portrait.

"It was good," Trout said. "[Ortiz] is still doing it at 40 years old, so it was pretty cool to see."

UNDER REVIEW

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WHAT'S NEXT Red Sox: Sinkerballer Rick Porcello, Mr. Consistency for the Red Sox this season, takes the ball for Friday's 10:05 p.m. ET game against the Angels. Porcello has gone at least six innings in 10 of his last 11 starts.

Angels: Tim Lincecum takes the ball on Friday looking to rebound after the worst performance of his career, a 1 1/3-inning, eight-run outing in Houston that ballooned his ERA to 8.70. He has yet to finish six innings since his stellar debut in Oakland on June 18. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. PT.

New draftees bolster Angels' system

By Alden Gonzalez / MLB.com |

KANSAS CITY -- The Angels' first two selections from the 2016 Draft are now among the top five prospects in their entire system, with first baseman Matt Thaiss ranked first and outfielder Brandon Marsh ranked fourth.

Outfielder Jahmai Jones and catcher Taylor Ward, the top two picks from the 2015 Draft, are now second and third, respectively, in the Angels' Top 30 Prospects list.

The ranking of baseball's top prospects is done by MLBPipeline.com Draft and prospect experts Jonathan Mayo, Jim Callis and Mike Rosenbaum, who compile input from industry sources, including scouts and scouting directors. It is based on analysis of players' skill sets, upsides, proximity to the Majors and potential immediate impact to their teams. Only players with rookie status are eligible for the list. The rankings follow the Collective Bargaining Agreement guidelines for which players fall under the international pool money rules: Players who were at least 23 years old when they signed and played in leagues deemed to be professional (Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Cuba) are not eligible.

The Angels, still with the consensus worst prospect base in the industry, don't have any players listed among the Top 100 in the game. Their rankings speak to a system that is in dire need of replenishment through the Draft, with five of their top six prospects -- and 10 of their top 20 -- taken over the past two summers.

Thaiss, a catcher at the University of Virginia, was selected 16th overall and was deemed "one of the top hitters in this year's Draft," according to Angels scouting director Ric Wilson. Marsh, an athletic high schooler who also played football, was taken 60th overall, but he is dealing with a stress reaction in his back that will keep him out until the start of next year's Spring Training.

Triple-A Salt Lake starting pitcher Nate Smith is ranked fifth, and 18-year-old shortstop Nonie Williams, a third-round pick in 2016, is sixth.

July 29, 2016 Page 13 of 15

Lincecum, Porcello set to square off at Angel Stadium

By Alden Gonzalez / MLB.com

By Ian Browne / MLB.com |

A strong pitcher at home this season, Rick Porcello is one of many Red Sox players who will try to improve his level of performance away from Fenway Park.

Of the 62 games the Red Sox have left this season, 40 are on the road. Porcello draws Friday's start against the Angels, hoping to trim his 4.02 road ERA. At home, the righty is unbeaten (10-0) in 11 starts and has a 3.21 ERA.

The Angels, who will start Tim Lincecum, are 22-26 at home. The Red Sox are 21-19 on the road.

"Some of our players are going to be going through a playoff race or a pennant race for the first time," said Red Sox manager John Farrell. "There have been so many examples of our ability to come back in different ballgames, whether that's been at home or on the road. The fact is we've remained tight as a group and as a team. And that will be challenged not only in this 11-game trip but upcoming trips on the road as well."

Things to know about this game

• After a solid debut start for the Angels, Lincecum has struggled in his last six outings. Those struggles were never more apparent than last time out, when the veteran righty was shelled for seven hits and eight runs over 1 1/3 innings in a loss to the Astros. Lincecum's spot in the rotation is safe at the moment, if only because the Angels don't have better options.

• Red Sox catcher Ryan Hanigan has been knocked for a loop by the flu in recent days, and hasn't played since July 24. Farrell hopes to have him available on Saturday.

• Albert Pujols has seen the ball well against Porcello in his career, going 6-for-19 with two doubles and a homer. Hanley Ramirez has plenty of experience against Lincecum from their time in the National League, going 9-for-27 with a homer and five RBIs.

FROM THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Angels walk off with 2 runs on Ramirez's error, beat Sox 2-1

ANAHEIM, Calif. -- Hanley Ramirez fielded the grounder to first and saw Mike Trout

steamrolling toward home. Ramirez rushed his throw just enough to send it sailing -- and to

hand a victory to the Los Angeles Angels.

Ramirez's throwing error to the plate on Daniel Nava's bases-loaded grounder allowed two runs

to score, and the Angels walked off with a stunning 2-1 win over the Boston Red Sox on

Thursday night.

The Angels rallied in the ninth against Boston closer Brad Ziegler (2-5), loading the bases with

one out on singles by Trout, Albert Pujols and Andrelton Simmons.

July 29, 2016 Page 14 of 15

Pinch-hitter Nava then poked a potential game-ending grounder to first, but Ramirez's throw

went flying past catcher Sandy Leon to the backstop, allowing Trout and pinch-runner Ji-Man

Choi to end Boston's season-high fourth straight loss.

"We just gave ourselves a chance at the end of the game," Trout said. "(Nava) put the ball in

play, and he made the defense make a play."

Or not, in the case of Ramirez, who grimly accepted responsibility.

"That can't happen," Ramirez said. "I know better, and I know when I've got Trout on third and

a ground ball, but still I've got to make that one. I kind of threw it and started running before I

threw it."

Ramirez's years of defensive misadventures are the stuff of nightmares for fans of the nearby

Dodgers and the Red Sox.

"That's a routine play that Hanley has made many times over," Boston manager John Farrell

said. "Unfortunately, we didn't execute defensively tonight as a club. ... Knowing the speed of

Trout, he burned his throw at first base, and that was that."

Ramirez's woes were set up by another shaky ninth from Ziegler, who lost for the second

straight day and blew his third save of the season. The closer gave up a ninth-inning homer by

Detroit's Miguel Cabrera on Wednesday.

"It didn't work out, but there's a lot of other things you can point to that went wrong," Ziegler

said.

Ziegler and Ramirez wasted eight innings of seven-hit ball from David Price. The $217 million

left-hander outdueled Jered Weaver, who pitched six-hit ball into the sixth inning, but was

resigned to another hard-luck loss.

"I kept battling against a guy that was doing his thing," Weaver said. "He made some good

pitches, but the boys never stopped. They kept grinding, and we were able to pull it out there in

the ninth. It was awesome."

David Ortiz reached base three times as the Red Sox opened an 11-game West Coast road trip

with another heartbreaker for their sixth loss in seven games.

Cam Bedrosian (2-0) pitched the ninth for Los Angeles.

Boston scored in the third when Leon singled, scampered to third on Brock Holt's single and

came home on Mookie Betts' fly to left.

THE DAVID IS RIGHT

July 29, 2016 Page 15 of 15

Price has been inconsistent over the past six weeks, mixing a handful of strong starts with rocky

outings. He followed up eight shutout innings against Tampa Bay before the All-Star break by

allowing 22 hits in 11 1/3 innings over his past two starts.

He was back in form against the struggling Angels, limiting them to seven singles and one walk

while striking out six. With the tying run on first in the eighth, Price struck out Kole Calhoun

with a 94-mph fastball on his 109th and final pitch.

ADIOS PAPI

The Angels paid an entertaining tribute to the retiring Ortiz before the game. A few Los Angeles

players and coaches wore sunglasses, gold chains and backward caps while presenting Ortiz

with a painting of himself. Ortiz and Pujols shared a long hug and then stood together in center

field for the national anthem.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Red Sox: Ortiz will get a rest day this weekend against one of the Angels' two left-handed

starters, Hector Santiago and Tyler Skaggs.

Angels: Manager Mike Scioscia believes infielder Cliff Pennington will be ready to come off the

disabled list Sunday as scheduled. He has played only three games since May 12 while

struggling with a hamstring injury.

UP NEXT

Red Sox: Rick Porcello (13-2, 3.57 ERA) is in outstanding form with five consecutive winning

starts as he tries to become the fourth 14-game winner in the majors.

Angels: Tim Lincecum (2-4, 8.70 ERA) is still struggling mightily in his comeback season. He gave

up eight runs and seven hits while getting just four outs against Houston last weekend.