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Clips

(July 16, 2017)

July 16, 2017 Page 2 of 22

Today’s Clips Contents

FROM LOS ANGELES TIMES (Page 3)

Angels lose to Rays 6-3 as playoff dreams start to fade

Throwing sessions are a positive sign for Angels pitcher Garrett Richards

Bryce Harper brings more than passion to the game; making baseball fun is beyond a slogan

FROM ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER (Page 9)

Even with Mike Trout back, Angels drop 2nd straight to Rays

Angels Notes: Garrett Richards begins his throwing program

FROM ANGELS.COM (Page 11)

Ninth-inning rally not enough to overcome Rays

Valbuena sparks flagging offense with 2 HRs

Richards cleared to begin throwing program

Pipeline Preview: Adams looks to stay hot for Birmingham

Saturday’s best: Devers starts in big Triple-A debut

FROM ESPN.COM (Page 20)

Morrison homers to help Cobb, Rays beat Angels 6-3

FROM FOX SPORTS (Page 21)

Morrison, Souza Jr. provide the power for Rays in win over Angels

July 16, 2017 Page 3 of 22

FROM LOS ANGELES TIMES

Angels lose to Rays 6-3 as playoff dreams start to fade

By Pedro Moura

It is not cruel, but it is an unusual sort of punishment Mike Trout is experiencing. While he was hurt,

the Angels played better than anyone expected. Now that he is healthy, they have returned to their

mediocre ways. More and more, it appears their improbable playoff hopes are on the verge of collapse.

It is not Trout’s fault, of course, but when the team goes down, so will he, still absent a playoff victory as

a major leaguer.

Another insufficient offensive effort on Saturday night at Angel Stadium meant another loss, 6-3 to

Tampa Bay. Alex Cobb, the Rays’ patiently twisting right-hander, proved too deceptive for the Angels

to decipher. Wielding his unusually slow, leg-kicking delivery, he held them to six hits and one run over

72/3 innings.

Trout reached base three times. Among them, his eight teammates managed eight visits to the

basepaths. Angels manager Mike Scioscia framed the effort as both unlucky and representative of

larger trends ailing his club.

“I know we hit our share of balls hard, and we had nothing to show for it,” Scioscia said. “We need to get

a lot more continuity offensively.”

The Angels started JC Ramirez, the Nicaraguan right-hander they thrust into their rotation in April after a

half-decade of relief work. At first, he impressed with his easy velocity and surprising stamina. Lately, his

results have dramatically tapered. Major league scouts have come to a consensus: On a traditional team

with established starting pitchers, he fits best in the bullpen.

The 2017 Angels are a nontraditional team with little healthy pitching depth, so Ramirez was their

choice to start the second game of the second half. His struggles continued, as he surrendered two

singles in Saturday’s first inning and two more in the second. The second pair netted the Rays one run.

Come the third, Tampa Bay struck for more. Logan Morrisonhammered his 25th home run of the

season on a 3-and-2 fastball from Ramirez. It wasn’t a bad pitch, hugging the outside edge of home

plate, but Morrison had just fouled off a curveball. He anticipated a faster-paced pitch, as Ramirez

realized later.

While Yusmeiro Petitwarmed behind him in the fourth, Ramirez gave up another run. Tampa Bay’s

Nos. 8 and 9 hitters passed on balls and pounced on strikes. A double and a single meant a run.

July 16, 2017 Page 4 of 22

Ramirez lasted through the sixth. Petit gave up a run in the seventh, hampered by a rare mistake from

Trout. Playing his fourth game in center field since his May 28 injury, Trout could not locate a routine fly

ball amid the twilight sky. He held up his hands one second before the baseball landed 10 feet from him.

Not charged as an error, that flub provided the Rays runners on the corners, and Evan Longoria next

knocked a sacrifice fly to score their fifth run.

Valbuena moved the deficit back to four by clubbing a solo shot to center in the bottom of the inning.

The veteran first baseman who entered the night hitting .181 made it three runs with another homer in

the ninth and pronounced his year anew afterward.

“I forgot the first half,” Valbuena said. “The new season started today.”

The Angels expressed excitement about his emergence, as halting as it might prove to be. They still

envision the 31-year-old in the middle of their lineup.

“His last two at-bats,” Scioscia said, “he was where we expect him to be.”

The Angels (45-49) had not fallen as far as four games below .500 since April 23. They moved four games

behind American Leaguewild-card qualification, their largest deficit in some time. Four teams, too, sit

between them and the second spot. And only one dozen games remain until the July 31 nonwaiver trade

deadline.

Throwing sessions are a positive sign for Angels pitcher Garrett Richards

By Pedro Moura

Garrett Richards put on his glove, grabbed a baseball and tossed it around. The once-rote set of actions

took on additional meaning Friday.

The 29-year-old right-hander, the club’s most talented pitcher, had not played catch since April 5.

Doctors ordered him to abstain because of nerve irritation in his biceps.

When he was cleared to begin Friday, he tried to deemphasize the event. After he emerged from his

second stint of catch Saturday, various teammates asked how it went. Fine, Richards repeatedly

said.

The Angels, too, downplayed the development’s significance.

“It’s the elementary stages,” Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. “Any time you’re allowed to start

throwing is a step in the right direction. But it’s a long way away.”

July 16, 2017 Page 5 of 22

Angels general manager Billy Eppler acknowledged Thursday that Richards would require at least six

weeks to build up his throwing. It’s likely to require more, but six weeks from Friday is Sept. 1, the day

major league rosters expand.

Shoemaker delayed

Right-hander Matt Shoemaker continues to wait for the pain in his right forearm to abate. He and the

Angels know now that it is caused by posterior interosseous nerve syndrome, and on July 7 he received

a cortisone injection into the area to foster healing.

“I’m just more frustrated than anything,” Shoemaker said Saturday. “At the same time, we were doing

everything we could to find out what it was, and finding out what it is was good, in that sense.”

Shoemaker has felt discomfort in the area since June 9. Thinking he was healed, he made a three-inning

rehab assignment start on July 4. He felt great for the first inning, then noticed his velocity decline. After

the game, he wondered why. Soon, he started to feel the same pain again.

“And then it started to make sense,” Shoemaker said. “Because everything essentially came back and

was there again. Obviously, with rest, it got better. And then with full-competition mode, it’s still there,

because it’s a nerve issue.”

Short hops

Right-hander Nick Tropeano, out for the season after August elbow ligament replacement surgery, said

he will throw off a mound Monday for the first time since the operation. He’s on pace to pitch in

instructional league action in September or October. …The Angels will recall right-hander Parker

Bridwell from triple-A to start Sunday. He’ll slot into their third rotation spot. Veteran Jesse Chavez will

go fourth on Tuesday. Right-hander Ricky Nolasco, who started Friday’s second-half opener, will start

again Wednesday, as the Angels are for now employing a four-man rotation.

Bryce Harper brings more than passion to the game; making baseball fun is beyond a slogan

By Bill Shaikin

here was no greater story line at the All-Star game than the rush to anoint Aaron Judge as the so-

called face of baseball, replacing Mike Trout.

Judge is Paul Bunyan in cleats, he hits baseballs to the moon, and he plays for the New York Yankees.

Judge also is polite and respectful — just like Trout, who suddenly has been deemed too bland for the

role.

Derek Jeter enjoyed the limelight, dodged controversy and won four championships in his first five

years. If those are the ingredients for the face of baseball, it’s going to be a long wait for the next one.

July 16, 2017 Page 6 of 22

But the game ought to want a little bit of the edge that Bryce Harper flashes. Baseball is

entertainment, and Harper can fire up a crowd like few others.

At the All-Star Game he was asked about the craziest things he had heard, and a few words later

the Washington Nationalsoutfielder had fired up the city of Atlanta.

“You try to do the best you can to not really listen to it,” he said. “Of course, you’re going to hear

things. Mets fans are kind of rude. Braves fans are kind of rude. Philly fans? Not as bad, but a little bit

upset.

“There are the things you hear the most — about family members and things like that — where you

want to turn around and punch somebody right in their mouth. Everything else, I don’t really hear.”

I turned that into a tweet — “In an upset, Bryce Harper said Phillies fans were not as rude as Mets or

Braves fans.” — and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution turned that tweet into a story, triggering a flood of

feedback from readers recalling how Harper once dragged his foot over the Braves’ on-field logo three

years ago.

“Bryce Harper just gave Atlanta Braves fans another reason to despise him,” the Journal-Constitution

story read.

Not just Braves fans. In Miami — another National League Eastcity often visited by Harper and the

Nationals — fans at the All-Star game reflexively booed him, just as he was pointing to the custom-made

cleats he wore for the game, a tribute to the late Marlins pitcher Jose Fernandez.

Harper made an electric catch during the game, punctuating it with a lovely hair flip. He also wore a

microphone so he could chat with the Fox broadcasters while he played right field.

“I won’t keep you the whole inning,” Fox broadcaster Joe Buck told Harper off the air, during warmups.

“Oh, keep me as long as you want,” Harper replied, according to the Kansas City Star. “I’m bored.”

That is how, during baseball’s signature summer showcase, America could listen to Harper and Buck

discuss Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott.

“Make Baseball Fun Again” is not just a slogan on a cap Harper wears. He means it. He’s thought about

what fans want, and he believes a bat flip or fist pump can put an accent on an already compelling

game.

“They want to see big emotion and fire from players,” he said.

When players were asked whether they liked the new All-Star format — strictly an exhibition, without

the winning league getting home-field advantage in the World Series — most limited their response to

July 16, 2017 Page 7 of 22

“yes.” Harper’s idea to make the All-Star game fun again: Let the two leading vote-getters draft teams

from the pool of All-Stars.

“Mike Trout in center, me in right, and Mookie Betts in left,” Harper said. “It would be really cool to

see.”

And, in an era when travel ball is almost a requirement for a prospect, he had an earnest and refreshing

take when a kid reporter asked what advice Harper would offer to kids.

“Play as many sports as you can,” he said. “Kids get so locked down in one sport nowadays. It’s not fun

not being able to play all those sports.”

Harper was 16 when Sports Illustrated dubbed him “The Chosen One.” That was eight years ago. Since

then, one of baseball’s favorite parlor games has been speculating about where he might sign as a free

agent.

The time is almost here. Harper is eligible for free agency after next season. He also is six months

younger than Judge, the rookie sensation.

Max Scherzer, Harper’s teammate, got $210 million in free agency. Harper figures to get twice as

much, maybe more, and Scherzer says Harper is handling his pending decision with aplomb.

“How he plays is how he’s handling it mentally,” Scherzer said. “As long as he’s playing well, he’s doing

fine, and you know where his heart is.”

For a player of Harper’s stature, the run toward free agency can be annoying — not on the field, but

with reporters inquiring about his plans, or at least his preferences.

That usually goes in one of two directions. The first route, and the one generally counseled by agents, is

to say something along the lines of, “I’m just trying to help my team win, and I’m not thinking about free

agency.” The second route, for the few players that actually enjoy the hype, is to say something along

the lines of, “You’re from [insert city here]? I’d love to play in [insert city here].”

Harper’s agent, Scott Boras, said his client is so comfortable in those situations that he doesn’t need a

script of what to say.

“We have a lot of conversations,” Boras said. “But it’s more about him asking the questions, rather than

me delivering what would be our routine of preparation.

“He’s a precocious executive, in many ways.”

July 16, 2017 Page 8 of 22

So, on the day before the All-Star game, the star that grew up idolizing Mickey Mantle got questions

about how many home runs he might hit at Yankee Stadium, and how he might like to play alongside

Judge in the Yankees’ outfield, and how much he might like New York City, and the Yankees’ tradition.

“That’s the thing that I want to try to do with D.C.,” Harper said. “That’s why it’s so amazing to be able

to start with a team that you can build as much tradition as you can with. Look at a guy like Cal Ripken,

who stayed with the Orioles forever. Look at a guy like Derek Jeter, who stayed with the Yankees

forever.”

Harper dropped a few of the Nationals’ biggest names — Scherzer, Stephen Strasburg, Anthony

Rendon, Trea Turner — into the conversation. Then it was as if he realized, oh, yeah, the question was

about the Yankees, and New York, and he wouldn’t entirely dodge it.

“I’ve gone to New York City for a couple days,” Harper said. “I want to get out of there in about three

days. You go there for a few days, it’s crazy and hectic, and I want to go back home.”

What about L.A.? Harper made several pilgrimages to see Vin Scully at Dodger Stadium, and Los Angeles

is about as close as he can get in the major leagues to his Las Vegas home.

“I don’t want to have my pass list that big,” Harper said. “So being just as far away as I can from Vegas

isn’t too bad. I enjoy having my family and friends there, but I know my family and friends would be

there, probably, every single weekend.

“I enjoy missing Vegas. You know what I’m saying? I enjoy going out to D.C. I enjoy the green. I enjoy the

monuments. I enjoy driving down [Interstate] 395 — actually, I don’t enjoy 395, because of the traffic.”

Harper would be a good fit on the Dodgers, but their philosophy of success through depth and flexibility

would be at odds with the idea of spending half a billion dollars on one player, particularly since Clayton

Kershaw can be a free agent at the same time as Harper.

Harper would be a better fit on the Angels, playing alongside Trout for real instead of just in a fantasy

All-Star outfield. But it is difficult to imagine owner Arte Moreno as the high bidder, after the Albert

Pujols and Josh Hamilton signings restricted the Angels’ financial flexibility and stunted their scouting

and player development programs.

For now, Harper is having fun with his coming free agency, throwing out tea leaves to entice the masses,

as if local traffic really is going to play any role in deciding which crazy-high bid to accept.

“It’s part of the world we live in,” he said. “People want to know, and they can always have an opinion

about it. I think everybody is going to have an opinion about it for the next year and a half, two years.

“Everybody’s been talking about it for four or five years.”

July 16, 2017 Page 9 of 22

Harper last month posted a picture of him and fellow Las Vegas native Kris Bryant on Instagram, with

the tag “Back2BackOneDay.” The uproar predictably followed — is this a sign Harper would be joining

the Chicago Cubs? — and he cheerfully owned up to his mischief.

“Just stirring the pot,” he said with a wicked grin.

You sure got the fans in Chicago going nuts.

“I bet I did,” he said.

So, after the old debate about whether Harper might be better than Trout, Harper certainly can

appreciate this subtlety: The Angels could have selected any day this season to give out the “double

bobblehead” that commemorates Trout’s two most valuable player awards. Harper has won one.

The giveaway is scheduled for Tuesday, when the Angels play host to Harper and the Nationals.

FROM ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

Even with Mike Trout back, Angels drop 2nd straight to Rays

By Jeff Fletcher

ANAHEIM — The first two games after the much-anticipated return of Mike Trout have not exactly gone as

the Angels had hoped.

Other than two homers by slumping Luis Valbuena, little went right for the Angels in a 6-3 loss to the

Tampa Bay Rays on Saturday night, their second straight loss with Trout back in the lineup.

The Angels (45-49) dropped four games under .500, equaling a season worst, for the first time since they

were 8-12 on April 23.

The Angels’ offensive malaise, which plagued the team during the last couple weeks of Trout’s absence,

has not subsided in his presence. In the first two games after the All-Star break, the Angels have scored

four runs and they have 13 hits, including three by Trout.

On Saturday night, the Angels didn’t score against Rays starter Alex Cobb until Valbuena’s solo homer in

the seventh, after they trailed by five runs.

Their most promising rally was in the second, when Albert Pujols and Yunel Escobar led off with back-to-

back singles. Andrelton Simmons struck out and Valbuena hit into a double play. In the fourth, after Trout

singled, Pujols hit a drive that was caught at the warning track in right. Escobar then belted one to left, but

Shane Peterson leapt at the fence and hauled it in. In the sixth, Pujols grounded out to strand two more

runners. He grounded out to leave two in the eighth also.

July 16, 2017 Page 10 of 22

The Angels were 0-for-4 with runners in scoring position, a night after going hitless in seven at-bats with

runners in scoring position.

“Tonight I thought we had good at-bats,” Manager Mike Scioscia said. “We all did. We hit a lot of balls on

the screws and had nothing to show for it. Cobb did a good job but we hit our share of balls hard and had

nothing to show for it.”

The one player who did have something to show for his efforts was Valbuena, whose second homer was a

two-run shot in the ninth inning. It was an encouraging sign in a season in which he’s hitting .188.

Valbuena said he’s ready to start fresh.

“Forget the first half,” he said. “My new season starts today.”

Valbuena said he’s done nothing differently, except focus more on pitch-selection: “I feel much better. I’m

getting good pitches and being aggressive.”

Offense wasn’t the only issue for the Angels. Starter JC Ramirez gave up four runs in six innings. It was a

setback after his encouraging six scoreless innings in his last outing before the All-Star break.

The Rays nicked him for a run in the second, two on a Logan Morrison homer in the third and one more in

the fourth. Ramirez managed two scoreless innings to finish his outing, but he still watched his ERA climb

to 4.54. He has a 6.04 ERA since the start of June.

The Rays tacked on an insurance run against Yusmeiro Petit in the seventh, with the help a fly ball that

Trout lost sight of in center field. The ball dropped behind him and led to a run.

Angels Notes: Garrett Richards begins his throwing program

By Jeff Fletcher

ANAHEIM — The baby steps have begun for Garrett Richards.

Richards, who has been out for more than three months with a biceps nerve irritation, has been cleared to

begin activating his arm.

Richards played light catch for the second day on Saturday.

“Anytime you are allowed to start throwing, it’s a step in the right direction, but he’s a long way away,”

Manager Mike Scioscia said.

Richards is expected to need 6-8 weeks of throwing before being able to pitch in a major league game.

There are 11 weeks to go in the season.

July 16, 2017 Page 11 of 22

“I’m staying optimistic,” Richards said. “I’m going to take it one day at a time and go from there.”

WHO’S ON SECOND?

Danny Espinosa was out of the lineup for a fourth straight game, the first time this season that he’d started

on the bench that many games in a row. At this point, Espinosa is only starting against left-handed

pitchers. His last seven starts have been against lefties. He hasn’t started against a righty since June 25.

Nick Franklin, who was acquired two weeks ago, has been getting more time at second. Cliff Pennington

started at second on Saturday night.

Franklin is hitting .186 with a .564 OPS, including .133 and .483 in 20 plate appearances with the Angels.

Espinosa is hitting .162 with a .513 OPS. Pennington was hitting .241 with a .610 OPS before Saturday’s

game.

“We need guys to get in their game,” Scioscia said. “What we’re looking for is any kind of production we’re

going to get, whether it’s on-base percentage or driving the ball, whatever it may be from that position.

We need to start getting it. We’re trying to give some guys an opportunity to see if they can contribute.”

Scioscia was also asked about Kaleb Cowart, who was hitting .304 with an .843 OPS at Triple-A. Cowart is a

third baseman who has been learning second. He’s played 29 games at second this season at Triple-A.

Scioscia said Cowart is “the most comfortable he’s ever been in the batter’s box” and at second base “he’s

made a lot of progress.”

ALSO

Matt Shoemaker said he’s hoping to start throwing in a few days. Shoemaker has been shut down since

getting a cortisone injection last week. He is out with a nerve issue in his forearm. He said once he’s

cleared to throw, he hopes it won’t take him long to be back in the majors. “Probably a week of throwing,

then bullpens and a game,” he said…

Parker Bridwell rejoined the Angels, even though he won’t be added to the roster until Sunday. The Angels

are currently carrying an extra reliever and an extra position player, so they could make a move with either

of those areas to create a spot for Bridwell.

FROM ANGELS.COM

Ninth-inning rally not enough to overcome Rays

By Bill Chastain and Maria Guardado/ MLB.com

July 16, 2017 Page 12 of 22

ANAHEIM -- Logan Morrison and Steven Souza Jr. homered, and the Rays fended off a late Angels

rally to emerge with a 6-3 win on Saturday night, clinching a series victory at Angel Stadium.

The Rays pounded out 14 hits against the Angels, including Morrison's two-run blast in the third and

Souza's solo shot in the seventh. Corey Dickerson, Shane Peterson and Jesus Sucre produced multi-

hit efforts for the Rays, with Sucre adding a pair of RBIs.

Luis Valbuena, who entered Saturday batting .181, supplied all three of the Angels' runs with his

seventh and eighth home runs of the season. Valbuena's first homer put the Angels on the board in the

seventh, and his second trimmed the Rays' lead to 6-3 in the ninth.

"Forget the first half," Valbuena said. "My new season starts today. What happened in the past is in the

past. I'm a new guy, and everytime I go out there, I try to do my best for the team."

Tampa Bay's offensive production proved to be more than enough for right-hander Alex Cobb, who

allowed one run on six hits while walking three and striking out four over 7 2/3 innings. Cobb opened

the game with six scoreless innings before Valbuena broke up his shutout bid with his first homer of the

night.

"At the end of the day, Alex made some big pitches when he had to to keep their lineup quiet," Rays

manager Kevin Cash said.

Right-hander JC Ramirez produced an uneven start for the Angels, surrendering four runs on eight hits

over six innings.

"JC, there was a lot of action early," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. "They had a bunch of hits early

and he made some pitches to minimize some damage. Morrison got ahold of a fastball for the home

run. I thought JC's stuff was OK. Not bad, but he had trouble making a pitch at times when he had to."

Angels center fielder Mike Trout went 2-for-3 with a walk in his second game back from the disabled

list, but he also committed a defensive lapse. In the seventh, Dickerson lifted a routine fly ball to center

field, but Trout lost track of it, letting it drop for a single and putting runners on the corners for the

Rays. Evan Longoriafollowed with a sacrifice fly, extending Tampa Bay's lead to 5-0.

With the loss, the Angels (45-49) dropped four games under .500 for the third time this season and fell

four games behind the Yankees for the second American League Wild Card spot. The Rays (49-43),

meanwhile, maintained their place atop the Wild Card standings and remain 2 1/2 games behind the

first-place Red Sox in the AL East.

MOMENTS THAT MATTERED

LoMo goes deep: Ramirez dodged major trouble in the first two innings, but Morrison delivered a big

blow in the third, hammering a two-run shot that extended the Rays' lead to 3-0. On the seventh pitch

July 16, 2017 Page 13 of 22

of his at-bat, Morrison crushed a 3-2 fastball 416 feet to center field, snapping an 0-for-15 funk. The 29-

year-old first baseman now has a career-high 25 homers, which is tied for third in the American

League. More >

"Sometimes you feel like it's never going to come," Morrison said. "But it's baseball, man, it's not easy.

So go out there every day. Try and stay consistent with your approach and just grind them out."

Angels mount last-ditch rally: The Angels entered the bottom of the ninth trailing, 6-1, but they showed

some late life thanks to Valbuena's two-run homer off of Jumbo Diaz. After Yunel Escobar led off the

inning with a single, Valbuena crushed a 2-2 slider to right field, bringing the Halos within three runs and

securing his first multi-homer game of the season. Still, Diaz sealed the win for the Rays by coaxing a

flyout from Martin Maldonado and striking out Cliff Pennington to end the game.

QUOTABLE

"I think I'm pitching to contact. There's been a few times where I've looked up in the fifth or seventh and

realized my pitch count was pretty low. That takes a couple of things. It takes your defense to make

some big plays behind you. And it takes less strikeouts than you'd normally have. But like tonight, for

example, it felt like everywhere they hit the ball, we had guys positioned where they should be and

making some really nice plays behind me." -- Cobb on how he's managed to pitch at least six innings in

each of his last seven starts

SOUND SMART WITH YOUR FRIENDS

Souza's homer gave him 18 for the season, establishing a single-season career high. The Rays right-

fielder had 17 last season.

Despite getting Trout back in their lineup on Friday, the Angels have not been able to solve their

offensive woes, plating only four runs and going 0-for-11 with runners in scoring positions over their first

two games of the second half.

"Tonight, I really thought we had good at-bats," Scioscia said. "We all did. We hit a lot of balls on the

screws. Cobb did a good job, but we hit our share of balls hard and nothing to show for it. We're going

to turn the page on that."

RAYS ROSTER MOVE

The Rays optioned infielder Taylor Featherston after the game and activated infielder Tim

Beckham from the 10-day disabled list. More >

WHAT'S NEXT

Rays: Chris Archer (7-5, 3.95) gets the nod Sunday afternoon when the Rays wrap up their three-game

series against the Angels with a 3:37 p.m. ET contest at Angel Stadium. He is 5-1 with a 2.48 ERA in six

career starts against the Angels.

July 16, 2017 Page 14 of 22

Angels: The Angels will send rookie right-hander Parker Bridwell (3-1, 3.24 ERA) to the mound in

Sunday's series finale against the Rays at 12:35 p.m. PT at Angel Stadium. Bridwell, who will be recalled

from Triple-A Salt Lake before the game, will make his first career start against Tampa Bay.

Valbuena sparks flagging offense with 2 HRs

By Kaelen Jones / MLB.com

ANAHEIM -- Luis Valbuena provided the spark for the Angels' offense, not once, but twice in a 6-3

loss to the Rays on Saturday night at Angel Stadium.

The Halos first baseman teed up a solo home run in the seventh inning off Rays starter Alex Cobb, then

launched a two-run shot off reliever Jumbo Diaz in the bottom of the ninth to pull Los Angeles within

three. The performance marked the 31-year-old's fifth career multi-homer game, and served as a

testament to his consistent approach at the plate, despite a rough first half.

"I do the same thing every day," Valbuena said. "Right now, I'm very focused. A good pitch -- that's the

big difference."

The Angels signed the 10-year veteran to a free-agent deal last offseason, after he slashed a career-high

.260/.357/.459 in 90 games with the Astros in 2016. The early returns on the investment weren't

flattering -- through 57 games with the Angels, Valbuena was slashing a career-low .181/.261/.311,

entering Saturday.

Though following Saturday's performance, manager Mike Scioscia said he hopes Valbuena is nearing the

level of play the club expected from him this season.

"He finished the first half hitting the ball hard," Scioscia said. "Tough first couple at-bats. But yeah, his

last two at-bats, he was where we expect him to be, so that's a good sign."

"What's in the past is in the past," Valbuena said.

Scioscia has mentioned previously that the team will need production from first base to improve in

order for his club to compete for a playoff spot in the second half of the season. Even in the loss,

Valbuena flashed the potential the position holds, and he said afterward that he felt much better

following the game.

"I'm swinging at good pitches right now," he said. "I'm aggressive with the pitches in the zone. … I'm a

new guy, and every time I go up there, I try to do my best for the team."

Richards cleared to begin throwing program

By Maria Guardado / MLB.com

July 16, 2017 Page 15 of 22

ANAHEIM -- Since landing on the disabled list in April, Garrett Richards' injury status had remained

stagnant, as he waited for his irritated nerve in his right biceps to heal enough for him to resume

throwing. But Richards' recovery finally took a step forward Friday, when he was cleared to begin a

throwing progression.

Richards has played catch for the last two days and remains in the embryonic stages of his rehab, but

the development is nonetheless an encouraging sign for him and the Angels.

"Everything feels fine," Richards said Saturday. "It's good."

Richards, who missed most of the 2016 season while recovering from a partially torn ulnar collateral

ligament in his right elbow, dominated the A's in his season debut on April 5 before departing in the fifth

inning with a biceps cramp. That cramp was later found to be nerve irritation, which prevented the 29-

year-old right-hander from picking up a baseball for more than three months.

Because of his long layoff, Richards will require at least six to eight weeks of throwing before he's ready

to take the mound for the Angels. There remains a possibility that he will be able to pitch in the Majors

again this season, though manager Mike Scioscia cautioned that Richards is still facing a long road to

recovery.

"Any time you're allowed to start throwing, it's a step in the right direction," Scioscia said. "But he's a

long way away."

Shoemaker update

Right-hander Matt Shoemaker, who was diagnosed with posterior interosseous nerve syndrome and

received a cortisone injection on July 6, still has not resumed throwing, though he's hopeful that he will

receive clearance in the coming days. Shoemaker, whose prognosis called for a shutdown period of

seven to 10 days, has not thrown in nine days.

"I'm fine," Shoemaker said. "Trying to stay as mentally positive as possible. It's more frustrating than

anything."

Shoemaker said he began to feel the nerve in his right forearm flare up during the second inning of his

rehab start with Class-A Advanced Inland Empire on July 4.

"The game was overall good," said Shoemaker, who tossed three scoreless innings in the rehab outing.

"The first inning was really good. After that, stuff was still good, but my stuff was different. Velocity was

lower, stuff came out different. And later that night is when I started feeling symptoms."

Shoemaker said the Angels have not discussed a timetable for his return, though he's not anticipating a

lengthy rehab once he's cleared to begin a throwing progression.

July 16, 2017 Page 16 of 22

"If everything is good to go, I don't see it being that long," Shoemaker said.

Worth noting

• Right-hander Parker Bridwell will be recalled from Triple-A Salt Lake on Sunday to start the Angels'

series finale against the Rays. After Monday's off-day, Jesse Chavez will face the Nationals on Tuesday.

He'll be followed by Ricky Nolasco on Wednesday.

Pipeline Preview: Adams looks to stay hot for Birmingham

By William Boor / MLB.com

Here's a look at top prospects to watch in today's Minor League action:

Hitter to watch: Brendan Rodgers (Rockies No. 1), Hartford vs. Trenton (1:35 p.m. ET on MiLB.TV)

Rodgers, the No. 10 overall prospect, went 4-for-7 with two homers, including a walk-off blast in

Hartford's 13-inning win over Trenton on Saturday. Rogers is batting .254 with three homers in 17

games with Hartford after he hit .400 in 48 games with Class A Advanced Lancaster.

Pitcher to watch: Spencer Adams (White Sox No. 14), Birmingham vs. Biloxi (6:05 p.m. ET

on MiLB.TV)

The 21-year-old righty has given up just one earned run in each of his past two outings (13 total innings),

but he was particularly dominant in his last start despite taking the loss against Mobile. Adams fired 62

of his 99 pitches for strikes, gave up one run on two hits and notched a career high with 12 strikeouts.

Duel of the Day: Grayson Long (Angels' No. 5) vs. Adbert Alzolay (Cubs' No. 19), Mobile vs. Tennessee

(5:30 p.m. ET on MiLB.TV)

Long has held his opposition to two earned runs or fewer in each of his past five outings and has a 2.97

ERA through 15 starts with Mobile. Long has held opponents scoreless in two of those five starts,

including his most recent turn, where he gave up three hits across six innings and matched his season

high with eight strikeouts.

Alzolay will be making just his second start at the Double-A level after going 7-1 with a 2.98 ERA through

15 starts with Class A Advanced Myrtle Beach. The right-hander was lights-out in his Double-A debut as

he gave up just two hits in five scoreless innings. Alzolay also matched his career high with 10 strikeouts

in the outing.

Sunday's Top 100 prospect probables

No. 34 overall Jay Groome (Red Sox's No. 2), Greenville vs. Hickory (4:05 p.m. ET on MiLB.TV)

July 16, 2017 Page 17 of 22

No. 36 overall Reynaldo Lopez (White Sox No. 6), Charlotte vs. Gwinnett (5:05 p.m. ET on MiLB.TV)

No. 46 overall Yohander Mendez (Rangers' No. 2), Frisco vs. Corpus Christi (6:05 p.m. ET on MiLB.TV)

No. 53 overall Sean Reid-Foley (Blue Jays' No. 2), New Hampshire vs. Portland (1:35 p.m. ET on MiLB.TV)

No. 95 overall Jack Flaherty (Cardinals' No. 5), Round Rock vs. Memphis (305 p.m. ET on MiLB.TV)

No. 98 overall Luiz Gohara (Braves' No. 9), Mississippi vs. Pensacola (5:05 p.m. ET on MiLB.TV)

More top prospect probables

Tyler Eppler (Pirates' No. 22), Indianapolis vs. Louisville (Triple-A)

Andrew Suarez (Giants' No. 10), Sacramento vs. Salt Lake (Triple-A)

Myles Jaye (Tigers' No. 15), Toledo vs. Columbus (Triple-A)

Hunter Wood (Rays' No. 26), Durham vs. Norfolk (Triple-A)

Gabriel Ynoa (Orioles' No. 11), Norfolk vs. Durham (Triple-A)

Frank Duncan (D-backs' No. 24), Reno vs. El Paso (Triple-A)

Sam Howard (Rockies' No. 13), Albuquerque vs. Las Vegas (Triple-A)

Artie Lewicki (Tigers' No. 21), Erie vs. Akron (Double-A)

Ryan Castellani (Rockies' No. 3), Hartford vs. Trenton (Double-A)

Rookie Davis (Reds' No. 16), Pensacola vs. Mississippi (Double-A)

Fernando Romero (Twins' No. 4), Chattanooga vs. Jacksonville (Double-A)

Tanner Scott (Orioles' No. 10), Bowie vs. Altoona (Double-A)

Devin Williams (Brewers' No. 27), Biloxi vs. Birmingham (Double-A)

Casey Meisner (Athletics' No. 26), Midland vs. San Antonio (Double-A)

Joey Lucchesi (Padres' No. 19), San Antonio vs. Midland (Double-A)

Corey Ray (Royals' No. 24), Northwest Arkansas vs. Springfield (Double-A)

Zac Gallen (Cardinals' No. 22), Springfield vs. Northwest Arkansas (Double-A)

Ian Clarkin (Yankees' No. 19), Tampa vs. Florida (Class A Advanced)

Spencer Turnbull (Tigers' No. 14), Lakeland vs. Palm Beach (Class A Advanced)

Mike Shawaryn (Red Sox's No. 11), Salem vs. Carolina (Class A Advanced)

Brian Gonzalez (Orioles' No. 20), Frederick vs. Down East (Class A Advanced)

Justin Steele (Cubs' No. 20), Myrtle Beach vs. Buies Creek (Class A Advanced)

Cionel Perez (Astros' No. 16), Buies Creek vs. Myrtle Beach (Class A Advanced)

Justin Dunn (Mets' No. 3), St. Lucie vs. Fort Myers (Class A Advanced)

Gage Hinsz (Pirates' No. 9), Bradenton vs. Dunedin (Class A Advanced)

Adonis Medina (Phillies' No. 14), Lakewood vs. Charleston (Class A)

Dustin May (Dodgers' No. 22), Great Lakes vs. Beloit (Class A)

Bryse Wilson (Braves' No. 24), Rome vs. Delmarva (Class A)

Elvin Rodriguez (Angels' No. 19), Orem vs. Billings (Rookie)

Saturday’s best: Devers starts in big Triple-A debut

By William Boor / MLB.com

July 16, 2017 Page 18 of 22

Rafael Devers put his entire skillset on display while leading Pawtucket to a 7-4 win over Syracuse in his

Triple-A debut on Saturday.

Devers, the No. 12 overall prospect (Red Sox's No. 1), was a perfect 4-for-4 at the plate and also

showed off his defensive ability with an impressive bare-handed play at third base.

After slashing .300/.369/.575 through 77 games with Double-A Portland, Devers was bumped up to

Pawtucket and wasted no time proving his promotion was well deserved.

Devers lined singles in his first two at-bats, before upping the ante with a double in the sixth.

Two innings later, the 20-year-old decided that wasn't enough and showed off his 60-grade power with

a two-run homer, his 19th of the year, out to right.

Other top prospect performances from Saturday's action:

• No. 10 overall prospect Brendan Rodgers (Rockies' No. 1) capped his second two homer game of

the season with a 13th-inning walk-off for Double-A Hartford. Rodgers, who finished 4-for-7 with two

RBIs, is hitting .254 through 17 games with the Yard Goats.

"I think tonight was a big night for me," Rodgers told MiLB.com. "I think this is going to get things going.

I had a lot of confidence at the plate tonight. Yeah, I still had a little slow start, but it's just baseball. It's

going to come. I just need to keep playing and putting together good at-bats and good things will

happen."

• No. 32 overall prospect Carson Kelly (Cardinals' No. 2) hit his ninth homer of the season and

finished 2-for-3 with two RBIs in Triple-A Memphis' win over Round Rock. Kelly, who also scored a pair of

runs, showed off his patient approach as he also drew a pair of walks. The catcher has drawn five walks

over his past three games.

• No. 41 overall prospect Riley Pint (Rockies' No. 2) lowered his ERA to 4.02 with six solid innings for

Class A Asheville. Pint, who threw 54 of his 89 pitches for strikes, matched his season high with six

strikeouts while giving up just one unearned run on three hits.

• No. 47 overall prospect Triston McKenzie (Indians' No. 2) carried a no-hitter into the seventh inning

before giving up two runs on a trio of hits for Class A Advanced Lynchburg. The 19-year-old did lower his

ERA to 2.89 and pick up his eighth win with the performance, which also included nine strikeouts.

• No. 62 overall prospect Jake Bauers (Rays' No. 4) collected a pair of doubles on his way to a

season-high four hits for Triple-A Durham. Bauers, who finished 4-for-5 with a run scored, is batting .272

through 83 games this season. While Bauers was collecting hits, Ryan Yarbrough (No. 23) was putting

July 16, 2017 Page 19 of 22

together a strong performance as well. Yarbrough struck out seven and gave up three hits as he pitched

seven scoreless innings.

• No. 71 overall prospect Forrest Whitley (Astros No. 5) notched a career-high 10 strikeouts in his

third start with Class A Advanced Buies Creek. Whitley gave up three hits and walked one over 5 2/3

scoreless frames. The 19-year-old has been nothing short of dominant since he was promoted from

Class A Quad Cities, giving up just one earned run across three starts (15 2/3 innings).

"I felt good about it," Whitley told MiLB.com. "It was one of those starts where obviously things went

well, but I made big strides with things I've been working on. So, I'm pretty happy all around."

• Angels No. 1 prospect Jahmai Jones provided Class A Burlington with its lone run as he hit a solo

homer as part of a 2-for-3 effort. Jones, who has eight homers this season, has gone deep in back-to-

back games and three times in his past six contests.

• Reds No. 8 prospect Tyler Mahle, who has already thrown a perfect game this season, flirted with a

no-hitter for Triple-A Louisville. Mahle carried the no-no into the sixth inning before giving up a one-out

single. The 22-year-old left after six scoreless frames, having allowed just the one hit on 100 pitches (68

strikes).

• Athletics No. 10 prospect Yairo Munoz collected a career-high five RBIs as he led Triple-A Nashville

to an 11-5 win over Omaha. Munoz, who finished 3-for-5, drove in two with his second homer of the

season in the sixth inning. The 22-year-old drove in another with a double in the sixth and then collected

two more RBIs with another double in the seventh.

• Cubs No. 11 prospect Jose Paulino spun a gem and picked up his fifth win of the season as Class A

South Bend topped Cedar Rapids, 1-0. Paulino put together his longest start of the year and his second

straight scoreless outing as he gave up just four hits over 7 1/3 innings. The lefty also had pinpoint

control as he threw 59 of his 88 pitches for strikes, didn't issue a walk and struck out seven.

• Astros No. 13 prospect J.D. Davis went deep for the second time in three games as Double-A Corpus

Christi topped Midland, 13-7. Davis, who has 21 homers this season, hit a three-run blast in the sixth

inning before finishing 2-for-3 with four RBIs.

• Brewers No. 14 prospect Jacob Nottingham only had two at-bats in Double-A Biloxi's win over

Birmingham, but he made the most of them with a pair of extra-base hits and a season-high four RBIs.

Nottingham began his day with an RBI double in the third and then capped the game with a three-run

homer in fifth. Nottingham was hit by a pitch and drew a walk in his other two plate appearances.

• Tigers No. 17 prospect Matt Hall's streak came to an end as he finally allowed an earned run after 44

innings pitched. Hall, who has posted five consecutive scoreless starts, gave up two runs in the second

inning for Class A Advanced Lakeland but still put together a quality start. Hall gave up two earned runs

July 16, 2017 Page 20 of 22

over six innings and has seen his ERA lower from 5.36 to 2.67 since May 28, when the scoreless streak

began.

• Rays No. 30 prospect Ryan Boldt boosted his batting average to .333 this month with a 3-for-4 game

in Class A Advanced Charlotte's win over Jupiter. Boldt, who finished with two doubles and two RBIs,

broke a 1-1 tie with an RBI double in the third and then added an insurance run with a run-scoring single

in the seventh.

FROM ESPN.COM

Morrison homers to help Cobb, Rays beat Angels 6-3

ANAHEIM, Calif. -- Back on June 3, Alex Cobb looked like a pitcher whose season was in trouble. He had

just given up a career-high nine earned runs to fall to 4-5 with a 4.52 ERA.

Six weeks later, the Tampa Bay Rays' right-hander has become an entirely new pitcher.

Cobb continued his turnaround on a warm Saturday night, holding the Los Angeles Angels to one run in

the Rays' 6-3 victory.

He did not allow a run until Luis Valbuena hit a solo home run in the sixth, the first of two homers for

him.

Cobb (8-6) allowed six hits and three walks in his 7 2/3 innings, with four strikeouts. Since that June 3

start against the Baltimore Orioles, he has gone 4-1 with a 2.16 ERA in seven starts, going at least six

innings in each.

"We had a bunch of production kind of spread out through the lineup, but the story is still is really how

Alex pitched," said Rays manager Kevin Cash.

Helped by drives hit almost directly at fielders, Cobb dominated early before falling behind in the count

in his later innings.

"Fortunately when it did get to those counts, I was able to make some pitches or they hit a line drive at

somebody," Cobb said. "It's not something that's a formula for success going down the road, but was

able to get by with it tonight."

He was supported by a 14-hit attack. Logan Morrison provided the key hit with a two-run homer in the

third for a 3-0 lead. It was his 25th home run. Steven Souza Jr. added a solo homer in the eighth to give

him a career-high 18 home runs.

The Angels' JC Ramirez (8-8) allowed four runs on eight hits and a walk, while striking out five.

"JC gave up a bunch of hits early but made some pitches to minimize the damage," said Angels manager

Mike Scioscia. "I thought JC's stuff was OK, not bad, but had trouble at times making pitches when he

had to."

July 16, 2017 Page 21 of 22

ANGELS' OFFENSIVE WOES

The Angels are 28th in baseball in on-base-plus-slugging percentage (.691) and Scioscia is growing weary

of his team's lack of offensive production.

"We have to get a lot more continuity offensively," Scioscia said. "We need to pressure these teams

every inning."

TAMPA DEFENSE

The Rays did not commit an error and backed Cobb up with some timely defensive plays. Cobb said since

he was pitching to contact, it was highly appreciated.

"It's at the caliber right now that we're going to need it to be at to get to where we want to be in

October and into the playoffs," he said. "I think it's amongst the best in baseball right now. It's been fun

to watch the progression."

WRONG DIRECTION

The Angels have lost four of their last five games to fall four games under .500 (45-49) for the first time

this season.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Rays: Catcher Wilson Ramos tweaked his right hamstring running the bases in the 10th inning Friday and

was not in the lineup. Tampa would like to rest him for a couple of days but said he was available. ...

Shortstop Tim Beckham (left ankle sprain) was activated from the disabled list after the game optioned

infielder Taylor Featherston back to triple-A.

Angels: Right-hander Garrett Richards, who hasn't pitched since his season debut April 5 because of a

biceps injury, has played catch the past two days. ... Right-hander Nick Tropeano is scheduled to throw

off a mound Monday for the first time since his Tommy John surgery last August.

UP NEXT

Rays: Right-hander Chris Archer (7-5, 3.95 ERA) makes his first start since the All-Star Game. Archer is 5-1

with a 2.48 ERA in six career starts against the Angels and has won the last four.

Angels: Are scheduled to recall right-hander Parker Bridwell (3-1, 3.42) to start against the Rays on

Sunday. He was optioned back to Triple-A prior to the break so the Angels could add another reliever.

He threw six scoreless innings against the Twins in his last start July 5.

FROM FOX SPORTS

Morrison, Souza Jr. provide the power for Rays in win over Angels

By Steve Dilbeck (Associated Press)

July 16, 2017 Page 22 of 22

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) -- Alex Cobb continued his strong recent turnaround and Logan Morrison hit his

25th home run of the season to lead the Tampa Bay Rays to a 6-3 victory Saturday night over the Los

Angeles Angels.

Cobb (8-6) held the Angels to one run on six hits and three walks in his 7 2/3 innings, with four

strikeouts. After surrendering a career-high nine earned runs on June 3 to fall to 4-5 with a 4.52 ERA,

Cobb has gone 4-1 with a 2.16 ERA in his last seven starts.

Morrison hit a two-run homer in the third to give him 59 RBIs on the season.

Steven Souza added a solo home run and catcher Jesus Sucre had two RBIs on a fielder's choice and a

single. Tampa finished with 14 hits.

JC Ramirez (8-8) allowed four runs on eight hits and a walk, while striking out five.

Luis Valbuena spoiled Cobb's shutout bid with a solo home run in the seventh, a drive that went just

beyond the reach of a leaping Mallex Smith at the wall, and then added a two-run homer against

reliever Jumbo Diaz in the ninth.

The Angels have lost four of their last five games to fall four games under .500 (45-49) for the first time

this season.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Rays: Catcher Wilson Ramos tweaked his right hamstring running the bases in the 10th inning Friday and

was not in the lineup. Tampa would like to rest him for a couple of days but said he was available. .

Shortstop Tim Beckham (left ankle sprain) worked out of the second day and is expected to be activated

Sunday.

Angels: Right-hander Garrett Richards, who hasn't pitched since his season debut April 5 because of a

biceps injury, has played catch the past two days. . Right-hander Nick Tropeano is scheduled to throw off

a mound Monday for the first time since his Tommy John surgery last August.

UP NEXT

Rays: Right-hander Chris Archer (7-5, 3.95 ERA) makes his first start since the All-Star Game. Archer is 5-

1 with a 2.48 ERA in six career starts against the Angels and has won the last four.

Angels: Are scheduled to recall right-hander Parker Bridwell (3-1, 3.42) to start against the Rays on

Sunday. He was optioned back to Triple-A prior to the break so the Angels could add another reliever.

He threw six scoreless innings against the Twins in his last start July 5.