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Clips

(July 17, 2017)

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Today’s Clips Contents

FROM LOS ANGELES TIMES (Page 3)

C.J. Cron's two-run home run lifts Angels over Rays

Danny Espinosa is designated for assignment by the Angels

FROM ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER (Page 5)

C.J. Cron’s homer lifts Angels to victory over Rays

Miller: Angels find their winning hand in far from a full house

Angels Notes: Time runs out for Danny Espinosa

FROM ANGELS.COM (Page 10)

Cron's clutch homer lifts Angels over Rays

For Cron, preparation is key in platoon role

Angels designate Espinosa for assignment

Sunday's best: Lopez piles up strikeouts for Charlotte

Chavez set for first start against Nationals

FROM THE ASSOCIATED PRESS (Page 18)

Cron's pinch-hit home run in 8th sends Angels over Rays 4-3

Angels designate Danny Espinosa for assignment

FROM ESPN.COM (Page 20)

Rumor Central: Angels seek more controllable pieces?

July 17, 2017 Page 3 of 21

FROM LOS ANGELES TIMES

C.J. Cron's two-run home run lifts Angels over Rays

By Pedro Moura

Facing their first tense situation in their sixth game together, Angels shortstop Andrelton Simmons and

second baseman Nick Franklin huddled in the middle of the Angel Stadium infield to discuss what they

would do with a grounder hit their way in Sunday’s ninth inning.

While pitching coach Charles Nagy visited the mound, the Tampa Bay Ray representing the tying run

waited at third base. With one out, the go-ahead run stood at second, a superfluous runner at first.

Simmons, an elite defender, and Franklin, less so, settled on a decision. If a ball came slowly, they’d take

the out at first base. Fast, and they’d throw home. The possibility of a double play went unmentioned.

The first pitch to Tim Beckham from closer Bud Norris was a cutter cradling the outside corner of the

strike zone. Beckham swung and tapped it to shortstop, not too hard, not too slow. Simmons elected to

freelance, scooping it and shoveling it to second. Franklin unleashed his best throw to first base and it

beat Beckham by a half-step.

Norris clapped his hands and pointed to the sky, Simmons drop-kicked his glove, and Franklin excitedly

shouted. The tying run had touched home, but no matter: The double play meant the Angels had

secured a 4-3 victory and saved themselves from falling five games out of an increasingly taut American

League wild-card race.

“I knew we’d get it,” first baseman C.J. Cron said. “Simmons makes every play.”

An inning earlier, Cron clubbed the Angels’ first pinch-hit homer in 13 months to push them ahead.

Relegated to a reserve role, he had batted only four times in 10 days since his most recent callup, but he

swung at the first pitch when he stepped up against left-handed reliever Adam Kolarek.

Cron sent an over-the-middle fastball into the first row of the right-field seats, just enough distance for a

two-run home run.

“I wanted to be aggressive, because that’s the kind of hitter I am,” he said. “I’m a big dude. That’s kind

of why I’m here, to put a charge into a ball.”

Staked to a two-run lead, Norris struck out Corey Dickerson on three pitches to begin the ninth. Then

the next three Rays recorded hits and produced a run. The fourth, Brad Miller, worked a walk to load the

bases with one out, before the game-ending double play.

July 17, 2017 Page 4 of 21

Early, the Angels extended their streak of hitless at-bats with runners in scoring position from 15 to 20.

It snapped only when Albert Pujols punched a hanging 1-and-2 slider from starter Chris Archer into right

field for a run-scoring single in the fifth. Martin Maldonado squeezed home another run in the sixth.

Rookie right-hander Parker Bridwell made it back to the big leagues after a procedural demotion to

triple A amid the All-Star break. Taking care to remain hydrated for his Sunday start, he had kept water

with him all weekend, drinking as much as he could stomach.

Just before he scaled the dugout steps and took the mound for his second inning, he chugged a 16.9-

ounce bottle. Soon, he felt the uncontrollable urge to burp.

Soon after that, he realized it wasn’t a burp he required. He vomited “pure water” four or five times

while Beckham batted, prompting a visit from Nagy, athletic trainer Adam Nevala and manager Mike

Scioscia. He assured them he was fine.

“I got on the rubber, took the sign, stepped off, and threw up,” Bridwell said. “I just drank it way too

fast. I got water logged.”

Bridwell held the Rays without a run through six innings. He stayed in for the seventh, only to surrender

a quick two-run homer and hefty bat flip to Logan Morrison. Two batters later, his day was done. He still

struck out eight and walked just one in his 6 1/3 innings, sealing his spot in the Angels’ rocky rotation.

Danny Espinosa is designated for assignment by the Angels

By Pedro Moura

Once a talented defender and capable power hitter with a penchant for swinging and missing, Danny

Espinosa’s flaws amplified as an Angel. The strikeouts became too large a burden to bear.

Acquired in December to wield his powerful arm at second base and hit homers, the 30-year-old Orange

County native slowly lost his spot while becoming one of the easiest men in the major leagues to strike

out. His .162 batting average, .237 on-base percentage and .276 slugging percentage were all league-

wide worsts among players who batted at least 200 times.

Late Saturday, the Angels told him his time was up: They were letting him go. On Sunday morning, they

made it official, designating Espinosa for assignment. He’s off their roster, and they have seven days to

formally get rid of him. Regardless, they owe him nearly $2.4 million for the rest of this season.

“Right now, we’re at a point to look through some other avenues to see what’s going to happen at

second base,” Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. “I think Danny brought some good things that helped

us. But on the offensive side, obviously, his struggles were obvious.”

Scioscia said the decision was not a product of the club’s inept offense.

“Even if everything was working on our team and the struggles were as big as they were with Danny, I

think you’d have to do something,” he said. “If there’s a whole offense, it can absorb some shortcomings

July 17, 2017 Page 5 of 21

from a player, whether it’s a pitcher in the rotation or a player in the lineup, but it still just kind of masks

the issue.”

Espinosa started 18 of the Angels’ first 19 games. His opportunities then waned as his struggles

continued. At May’s end, he was hitting .148. He earned only three starts this month after the Angels

acquired Nick Franklin from Milwaukee for a player to be named or cash.

Asked why the Angels concluded Espinosa was no longer worthy of trial, Scioscia said he believed the

player “got a great opportunity.”

Now, the Angels will platoon Franklin and veteran utilityman Cliff Pennington. Scioscia stood far away

from expressing long-term confidence in the duo.

“The one thing they’ll bring, we feel, is some on-base percentage, at the least,” the manager said.

“We’re gonna try to look at some other things to see if there can’t be something done on the offensive

side.”

Neither man offers defensive capabilities close to Espinosa; Franklin’s last two teams transitioned him

into the outfield. But his current club believes he can play passable defense.

A trade to fill the hole is a possibility, as is a callup of former top prospect Kaleb Cowart, who has

primarily played second base in recent weeks.

Short hops

In his four starts since returning from a drug suspension, triple-A left-hander John Lamb has “opened

some eyes,” Scioscia said. Lamb has a 4.91 earned-run average over 22 innings. … Right-handed

reliever Andrew Bailey is on rehab assignment with the Arizona League Angels, working his way back

from continued shoulder trouble. … Scioscia said he will revert to a five-man rotation by July 29th “at

the latest.” Right-hander Alex Meyer is likely to rejoin the team to become that fifth man.

FROM ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

C.J. Cron’s homer lifts Angels to victory over Rays

By Jeff Fletcher

ANAHEIM — When C.J. Cron came to the plate in the eighth inning on Sunday afternoon, a rare

opportunity to get off the bench, he was looking for more than just a hit.

Besides the fact that Cron wanted to maximize the impact he could have when given a shot, he knows

what kind of hitter he is.

“I’m a big dude,” the 6-foot-4, 235-pound Angels first baseman said. “That’s kind of why I’m here … to put

a charge into a ball.”

July 17, 2017 Page 6 of 21

He did just that, blasting a pinch-hit two-run homer that snapped a tie in the Angels’ 4-3 victory over the

Tampa Bay Rays, a game that included a pitcher throwing up on the mound and ended with a shortstop

kicking his glove.

It was a badly needed victory for the Angels, who had lost the first two games of the series against one of

the American League’s wild card leaders. It was also important for Cron, who has become something of a

forgotten man in the organization.

Cron had not played yet in the first series since the All-Star break, and he’d barely played over the past

month. The Angels have stuck with Luis Valbuena, despite his struggles, against right-handed pitchers.

Valbuena hit a pair of homers on Saturday, which will further encourage the Angels to continue starting

him against righties, at Cron’s expense.

“No doubt, it’s tough for any player, let alone a young player who is used to playing every day, to get in

there two days a week,” Manager Mike Scioscia said. “Right now, that’s what we’re presented with. He’s

going to have to make the most of his opportunities.”

Cron seems to have come to grips with the situation: “It’s nothing I can control. I’m just going to going to

go out and do whatever I can to help the team. However many at-bats it is per week, I’m going to be ready

for them. Thankfully, today I was able to help out a little bit.”

In the eighth inning of a 2-2 game, the Rays summoned lefty Adam Kolarek when Valbuena was due with a

runner at first and one out. Cron came out to pinch-hit. Having not seen a pitch in more than a week, he

knew he wanted to be aggressive.

The first pitch looked good, so he whacked it, dropping it just over the fence down the right-field line. It

was the Angels’ first pinch-hit homer of the season. The last was hit by Jefry Marte, last June in New York.

Cron’s homer put the Angels up 4-2, but it was too late to get a victory for Parker Bridwell. The rookie

right-hander gave up two runs in 6 1/3 innings, both coming on a Logan Morrison homer in the seventh.

It was the only stain on an day in which Bridwell lowered his ERA to 3.18 in 39 2/3 innings since the Angels

acquired him in a trade in April.

Well, not the only stain. In the second inning, Bridwell had come to the mound after chugging a bottle of

water.

“I was kind of water logged,” he said. “It’s kind of nasty. I thought I had to burp. It wasn’t a burp.”

Bridwell’s upchuck on the field brought Scioscia and trainer Adam Nevala to the mound, but he was

deemed OK to continue, and he did so effectively and efficiently.

“I love playing behind him,” Andrelton Simmons said. “He throws strikes. He’s not scared. He makes

mistakes once in a while, like everybody, but he comes back like nothing happened. You gotta love a guy

who’s not scared to pitch.”

July 17, 2017 Page 7 of 21

Simmons later had his own high-pressure moment. Closer Bud Norris took the mound in the ninth with a

4-2 lead, and he’d already allowed one run and loaded the bases with one out.

Tim Beckham hit a bouncer to Simmons, who charged in and gloved it. It was an in-between grounder, so

Simmons had to make a split-second decision whether to try for the double play or throw home. He fired

the ball to Nick Franklin at second, who relayed it to first for the game-ending double play.

Relieved, Simmons then drop-kicked his glove into the outfield.

“I was really pumped to get a double play because it was iffy,” Simmons said. “It worked out perfectly. I

was pumped.”

Miller: Angels find their winning hand in far from a full house

By Jeff Miller

ANAHEIM – The Angels aren’t giving up on their season, even as their fans are giving up on them.

At least that’s what it looked like Sunday, when they played Tampa Bay in front of vast stretches of

unoccupied seats, the game sold out only in terms of public indifference.

If these are indeed the dog days of summer, Angel Stadium on this particular day should have been lined

with newspapers just like this one, newspapers that feature columns about the team’s staggering capacity

to bore.

The official attendance was announced as 36,178, which reflected tickets sold and not tickets used, many

of the tickets for this one used for something other than ballpark admission.

It wouldn’t be right to criticize people for bailing, the Angels this season routinely producing offensive

displays that have been the exhausting combination of uninspired and uninteresting.

C.J. Cron, mercifully, wrote a different ending this time with a two-run pinch-hit homer in the eighth

inning, helping lift the Angels to a 4-3 victory that prevented a crippling sweep by the visiting Rays.

“That’s kind of my job,” Cron explained afterward. “That’s kind of why I’m here, to put a charge into a

ball.”

And, by extension, into a ball club, shortstop Andrelton Simmons so excited as the Angels executed a

stirring, buzzer-beating double play to finish the game that he kicked his glove into the air in celebration.

This was a big leaguer behaving like a Little Leaguer, which in this case was a good thing, Simmons proving

that this team can still entertain.

This would be an entirely different column if the Angels were overtly guilty of not hustling or of not

competing or of “according to sources” in-house bickering. None of that is obvious.

July 17, 2017 Page 8 of 21

This instead is simply a team good enough to hang around wild-card contention, taking advantage of the

American League’s general mediocrity while exhibiting little reason to believe a postseason run is a

genuine possibility.

All of which leads us to the fact that this would be an entirely different column, too, if the Angels were in a

position where the act of foolishly clutching to playoff hopes was damaging the franchise’s future.

Believe me, I’d love to tell Billy Eppler right here just how wrong he is in thinking of doing anything other

than selling as the July 31 trade deadline approaches.

I could even give him a biting nickname, like Boneheaded Billy or Eppler the Egghead, and demand that he

be tested for whatever’s the opposite of PEDs.

He wouldn’t be the first Angels general manager to receive – and no doubt ignore like a call from a

telemarketer – my expert advice.

More than once I’ve instructed this franchise’s front office to forget the present and focus on the future. I

think I even did it one year during spring training.

But the problem with that column now is the Angels have little of significance to offer teams looking to

upgrade for the season’s final two months.

Cameron Maybin, a firmly established big leaguer and extremely superb person, isn’t likely to net anything

that would decidedly alter the Angels in 2018 and beyond.

The same is true for Yunel Escobar and Bud Norris and anyone else you’d like to name as potential trade

options over the reminder of July.

The Angels do have pieces that will attract interest. They just don’t have pieces that will attract that much

interest.

I also can’t write about how Eppler and the Angels are absurdly holding back the future by refusing to quit

on 2017 and promote a bunch of promising young players who deserve the chance to start establishing

themselves.

The Angels don’t have a bunch of promising young players, and most of the few they do have are on the

disabled list attempting to come back from various degrees of pitching injury.

So what we’re left with is a group of grinding players trying to prevent their wild-card hopes from

collapsing during a crucial time when Eppler is assessing the Angels’ subsequent direction.

“We had a rough couple games coming off the All-Star break,” Cron said. “To get this one before the off

day is nice.”

On Tuesday, the Angels resume their homestand with the first of two games against Washington followed

by three against Boston, giving them five straight opposite the second-best team from each league.

July 17, 2017 Page 9 of 21

Sitting three games below .500, the Angels and their season can be rightly described today as teetering.

“It was big,” Simmons said of the victory Sunday. “We found a way to hang on. You gotta win those games.

Those games are big. Hopefully, we’ll get something going.”

And if they do, maybe the atmosphere inside their stadium – much like the little boy inside their shortstop

– will delightfully show some life again.

Angels Notes: Time runs out for Danny Espinosa

By Jeff Fletcher

ANAHEIM — The Angels finally ran out of patience with Danny Espinosa.

The Angels cut ties with the veteran second baseman on Sunday morning, designating him for assignment

after he had hit .162 in 72 games.

The Angels traded two minor league pitchers to the Washington Nationals for Espinosa in December,

hoping he could provide good defense and some pop at the plate. He did the former, but not the latter.

“I think Danny brought some good things that helped us, but on the offensive side, the struggles were

obvious,” Scioscia said.

In the final week before the All-Star break, Espinosa said he felt he was making progress at the plate, and

his numbers would be back at his career averages if given the opportunity. As recently as Saturday

afternoon, Espinosa was on the field for early batting practice.

The Angels, who have been slipping in the wild-card race as their offense has struggled, could no longer

afford to wait for Espinosa, though. The move on Sunday created a roster spot for Parker Bridwell, who

was called up from Triple-A to rejoin the starting rotation.

“Danny is an exceptional defensive player, but even if everything was working with (the other hitters on)

our team, and the struggles as big as they were with Danny, you have to look to do something,” Scioscia

said.

The first sign that the Angels’ patience was growing short with Espinosa was the Nick Franklin acquisition

on June 30. Franklin is a veteran utilityman who has gotten the majority of the playing time at second since

the deal. It’s likely now that Franklin and Cliff Pennington will platoon, with Pennington starting against

left-handed pitchers.

Franklin is hitting .180 in 113 plate appearances this season, including 2 for 18 with the Angels. Franklin is

hoping that regular playing time will help him improve offensively.

“It’s tough when you don’t have everyday at-bats,” Franklin said. “You are always searching… This season

is halfway over and I feel like it hasn’t even started.”

July 17, 2017 Page 10 of 21

Another alternative is Kaleb Cowart, a natural third baseman who has played more second lately at Triple-

A. Cowart was hitting .301 with an .834 OPS at Triple-A before Sunday’s game.

“We’re trying to get him some experience at second and we’ll see maybe where he fits in to help us when

he’s ready,” Scioscia said.

The other option is for the Angels to acquire a second baseman before the July 31 deadline. The Miami

Marlins’ Dee Gordon is available, but the $40 million he is owed through 2020 reduces his appeal. Ian

Kinsler of the Detroit Tigers, who has an option for 2018, could also be attractive, but would be costly in

terms of prospects. The Atlanta Braves’ Brandon Phillips would be a rental for two months, so he wouldn’t

cost much in talent.

If the Angels want a younger, controllable player, they could make a run at either Cesar Hernandez of the

Philadelphia Phillies or Yangervis Solarte of the San Diego Padres. Both would require the Angels to part

with some of better prospects from their thin system.

ALSO

Scioscia said Huston Street’s groin injury is improving, but he still hasn’t been cleared to throw. Street had

said a week ago that he expected to be ready by now…

Tyler Skaggs is scheduled for 40-45 pitches on Monday in the Arizona Leauge. It would be his first game

since he was scratched from a rehab start last month with a flare-up of his oblique injury. Presumably,

Skaggs would need at least two more minor league outings after this one before being ready to be

considered for the Angels’ rotation…

Left-hander John Lamb is making his way onto the Angels’ starting pitching depth chart. He has a 4.91 ERA

in his first four starts at Triple-A, including a seven-inning outing his last time out. Lamb was a former top

prospect whose career was sidelined by back issues. This year he missed 50 games while suspended for

failing a test for a drug of abuse. He didn’t pitch in spring training because he was rehabbing from his back

injury. “He’s opened up some eyes,” Scioscia said. “We didn’t get a look at him at all in spring training. His

stuff is picking up. He’s an interesting guy.”

FROM ANGELS.COM

Cron's clutch homer lifts Angels over Rays

By Bill Chastain and Maria Guardado/ MLB.com

ANAHEIM -- C.J. Cron blasted a pinch-hit, two-run home run off Adam Kolarek to snap an eighth-inning

tie and lift the Angels to a 4-3 win over the Rays in Sunday's series finale at Angel Stadium.

In his first at-bat after the All-Star break, Cron crushed a first-pitch sinker to right field for his third

homer of the season, breaking a 2-2 deadlock and putting the Angels ahead, 4-2. It was an encouraging

July 17, 2017 Page 11 of 21

sign for Cron, who has struggled to find his swing this season and has received scant playing time since

being recalled from Triple-A Salt Lake.

"It's been a little bit since I've had an at-bat, and I didn't want to give him a pitch there," Cron said. "I

wanted to be aggressive, because that's the kind of hitter I am. Fortunately it was a good pitch to hit,

and I put a good swing on it."

"I feel just as confident facing righties as I do lefties," Kolarek said. "My plan of attack was to just trust

my sinker and to try and get the ground ball there. Unfortunately, that one was just a little bit up. Good

hitters take advantage of any little mistake in the zone."

Steven Souza Jr.'s RBI single pulled the Rays within one in the ninth, but Bud Norris escaped a bases-

loaded jam by coaxing a game-ending double play from Tim Beckham to preserve the Angels' win and

deny Tampa Bay a three-game sweep in Anaheim.

Angels right-hander Parker Bridwell, who was recalled from Salt Lake prior to Sunday's game, kept the

Rays scoreless through six innings before surrendering a game-tying, two-run homer to Logan

Morrison in the seventh. Bridwell, who lowered his ERA to 3.18 this season, departed after allowing two

runs on six hits while walking one and striking out a career-high eight over 6 1/3 innings.

"We couldn't figure out their pitcher," Rays manager Kevin Cash said. "It's funny, we saw him take the

mound and he looked like a young Jered Weaver. Real thin, and you could tell he had some deception.

We couldn't quite figure him out until LoMo came up with the big two-run homer to tie it."

Chris Archer pitched six solid innings for the Rays, yielding two runs on five hits while walking five and

striking out nine. The Halos put 10 men on base against Archer, but the 28-year-old right-hander

managed to minimize the damage, allowing only an RBI single to Albert Pujols in the fifth and a safety

squeeze by Martin Maldonado that scored Andrelton Simmons in the sixth.

MOMENTS THAT MATTERED

LoMo ties it: Morrison erased the Rays' two-run deficit in the seventh by crushing his 26th home run of

the season and his second in two days. After Evan Longorialed off the inning with a single, Morrison

launched a 2-0 fastball from Bridwell to right-center field, tying the game at 2. The blast had an exit

velocity of 109 mph and traveled a projected 429 feet, according to Statcast™.

"It was a two-seam, and it cut a little bit," Bridwell said. "Started on the outside of the plate, where I

wanted it, but obviously when it cut, it went right over the plate."

Rays threaten in the ninth: The Angels summoned Norris to protect their 4-2 lead in the ninth, but

Norris fell into trouble, surrendering a one-out double to Longoria and back-to-back singles to Morrison

and Souza, which trimmed the Halos' lead to 4-3. Brad Miller then walked to load the bases, but Norris

induced a 6-4-3 double play from Beckham to end the game. Simmons, who initiated the double play,

celebrated the victory by punting his glove on the field.

July 17, 2017 Page 12 of 21

"I was really pumped to get the double play because it was iffy," Simmons said. "Coming in to get the

ball, I was like, 'I don't know, should I just try to get the out at home and keep the lead, or take a

chance?' And it worked out perfect. I was pumped."

QUOTABLE

"You like to find a way to win this game today, but we didn't. We move on. We continue to play really

good baseball in Oakland." -- Cash, on taking two out of three in Anaheim

"I just came in from the inning before that and drank a whole bottle of water, and I went back out and I

was waterlogged. So, kind of nasty. I kind of felt like I had to burp, and it wasn't a burp." -- Bridwell on

throwing up water in the second inning of his outing

SOUND SMART WITH YOUR FRIENDS

Pujols' RBI single in the fifth snapped the Angels' 0-for-20 stretch with runners in scoring position.

Situational hitting still continues to be an issue for the Halos, who finished 1-for-9 with RISP on Sunday.

DIAZ DFA'D

Following the game, the Rays designated right-hander Jumbo Diaz for assignment. Right-hander Andrew

Kittredge was selected from Triple-A Durham and he will join the team in Oakland.

UNDER REVIEW

The Rays challenged in the second after Souza singled to lead off the inning and was called out at second

trying to stretch the hit into a double. After a review, the call on the field was confirmed.

In the seventh, Kole Calhoun was thrown out at second by Adeiny Hechavarriawhile trying to stretch a

double into a single. The Angels challenged that Beckham had tagged Calhoun before he touched the

base, but umpires confirmed the call after a replay review.

WHAT'S NEXT

Rays: Jake Odorizzi (5-4, 4.63) gets the nod when the Rays begin a three-game series against the

Athletics Monday night in a 10:05 p.m. ET contest at the Oakland Coliseum. Odorizzi has served up 20

home run balls this season, and he's allowed one in 21 of his last 22 starts dating back to Aug. 16.

Angels: The Angels will enjoy an off-day on Monday before kicking off a two-game Interleague series

against the Nationals on Tuesday at 7:07 p.m. PT at Angel Stadium. Right-hander Jesse Chavez (5-10,

4.99 ERA) will start the opener and make his first outing of the second half.

For Cron, preparation is key in platoon role

Angels first baseman's pinch-hit homer clinches finale vs. Rays

By Kaelen Jones / MLB.com

ANAHEIM -- C.J. Cron is off and running for the second half of the season. Three games out of the All-

Star break, the Angels first baseman has made just one plate appearance and has seen only one pitch,

but he is a perfect 1-for-1.

July 17, 2017 Page 13 of 21

The hit was a two-run, pinch-hit home run in the bottom of the eighth off Rays left-hander Adam

Kolarek that lifted the Angels to a 4-3 win on Sunday.

"Been a little bit since I've had an at-bat," Cron said. "I didn't want to give him a pitch there. I wanted to

be aggressive, because that's the kind of hitter I am. Fortunately, it was a good pitch to hit."

"It's a huge hit," manager Mike Scioscia said. "Hopefully, it's something that C.J. can carry some

momentum with."

The connection was substantial -- capturing the result to prevent the Angels from being swept by Tampa

Bay, who now hold a three-game lead over the Halos for the second Wild Card spot in the American

League. In fact, that margin was on the verge of being increased to five, had the Rays rallied in the ninth,

furthering the magnitude of Cron's blast.

Nonetheless, the slugger considered the action normal, if not dutiful.

"That's kind of my job. I'm a big dude," said the 6-foot-4, 235-pound Cron, "and that's kind of why I'm

here is to put a charge into a ball and that's pretty much why I hit in that position. It was to drive the guy

in from first, and it was just a good pitch to hit. Hung up that first pitch, and thankfully, I was ready."

Cron had entered as a pinch-hitter for starting first baseman Luis Valbuena, who's been ahead of Cron

on the depth chart for a greater part of the season. Valbuena started each of the Halos' first three

games out of the break at first, marking his 38th appearance at first base.

While Cron has seen his role diminish this year -- he's appeared in 38 games this season after playing a

career-high 116 last season -- the 27-year-old insists he stays prepared for whenever his number is

called.

"You don't want to not be ready," he said.

Scioscia said it can be tough for a young player used to playing on a daily basis to serve in a platoon role,

but was delighted with what Cron provided Sunday.

"For him to just come out there and put a good swing like that, it gave us a big lift," Scioscia said. "I think

he had a good plan up there. He got a pitch he could put some good wood on, but it's not easy to do."

Cron said he maintains a focused, aggressive mindset, regardless of his usage.

"I'm just going to go out there and do whatever I can to help the team," he said. "Whether it's however

many at-bats it is per week, I'm going to be ready for them. Thankfully, today I was able to help out a

little bit."

July 17, 2017 Page 14 of 21

Angels designate Espinosa for assignment

Club likely to use platoon at second base for now

By Maria Guardado / MLB.com

ANAHEIM -- In December, the Angels acquired Danny Espinosa from the Nationals in the hope that he

would be able to fill their gaping hole at second base.

While Espinosa provided above-average defense, his offensive shortcomings proved too great for the

Angels to absorb. On Sunday, Espinosa was designated for assignment, ending his brief tenure with his

hometown team.

Espinosa, 30, batted .162 with a .513 OPS, six home runs, 29 RBIs and 91 strikeouts in 228 at-bats this

season. In a corresponding roster move, the Angels recalled right-hander Parker Bridwell, who started

against the Rays on Sunday.

"I think right now we're at a point to try to look for some other avenues to see what's going to happen

at second base," manager Mike Scioscia said. "I think Danny brought some good things that helped us,

but on the offensive side, the struggles were obvious."

With Espinosa no longer in the fold, the Angels will likely use a platoon at second base over the short

term, deploying Nick Franklin against right-handers and Cliff Pennington against left-handers. Franklin,

who was acquired from the Brewers last month, is batting .186 with a .564 OPS this year, while

Pennington is hitting .234 with a .600 OPS.

"I think that the one thing they'll bring is on-base percentage, at the least," Scioscia said. "We're going to

try to look at some other things to see if there can be something to help us on the offensive side."

While the Angels figure to stick with Franklin and Pennington at second for now, Kaleb Cowart could

also get a look there in the future. Cowart, 25, is batting .301 with an .834 OPS, 10 home runs and 49

RBIs in 83 games with Triple-A Salt Lake this season. Though he is a natural third baseman, Cowart has

begun learning second and has made 30 starts there this year.

"We're trying to get him some experience at second and then see maybe where [Cowart] fits in to help

us when he's ready," Scioscia said.

With the July 31 non-waiver Trade Deadline less than three weeks away, the Angels could also seek

external help for their void at second and have reportedly shown interest in the Marlins' Dee Gordon.

Worth noting

• The Angels will not play five games in a row until July 29, so they're currently using a four-man rotation

comprised of Ricky Nolasco, JC Ramirez, Jesse Chavez and Bridwell. Right-hander Alex Meyer, who was

optioned to Triple-A Salt Lake before the All-Star break, seems to be the likeliest candidate to join the

Angels' rotation as the fifth starter, but Scioscia said left-hander John Lamb is "opening up some eyes."

July 17, 2017 Page 15 of 21

Lamb, who signed a Minor League contract with the Angels over the offseason and spent most of the

season rehabbing from a back injury, has logged a 4.91 ERA over 22 innings in four starts for Salt Lake

this year, though he also served a 50-game suspension following a second positive test for a drug of

abuse.

"We didn't get a look at him in Spring Training, but his stuff is picking up," Scioscia said. "He's an

interesting guy. I don't know if he's been in the conversation with [general manager Billy Eppler] and

those guys, but it hasn't come down to us."

• Right-hander Andrew Bailey began a rehab assignment on Saturday, pitching one scoreless inning in an

Arizona League game. Bailey has been on the disabled list since April 12 with right shoulder

inflammation.

Sunday's best: Lopez piles up strikeouts for Charlotte

By William Boor / MLB.com

Reynaldo Lopez piled up the strikeouts as Triple-A Charlotte topped Gwinnett, 5-4, in walk-off fashion on

Sunday.

Lopez, the No. 36 overall prospect, fired 66 of his 99 pitches for strikes as he generated a season-high 12

strikeouts and yielded just two hits in seven innings of one-run ball. The White Sox No. 6 prospect was

stuck with a no-decision as the Knights bullpen blew a ninth-inning lead, but that doesn't diminish

Lopez's brilliant performance.

"He was very good," Charlotte pitching coach Steve McCatty told MiLB.com. "His changeup was good

and he had a live fastball. When he got ahead, he used his change well. His offspeed got better as the

game went along. I thought he pitched a real nice game. He's a young guy who's learning how to pitch

and about what he does well. He didn't force things and did a very good job of controlling the game."

The 23-year-old righty got off to a fast start, retiring the first 11 batters he faced, seven via strikeout. In

total, Lopez recorded at least one strikeout in six of his seven innings and had multiple strikeouts in five

frames.

After illustrating strong command through six, Lopez's command wavered a bit in the seventh as he

issued two walks and gave up a run via a wild pitch. However, with two on and two out Lopez was able

to escape the jam with a strikeout, concluding his fourth straight quality start.

Other top prospect performances from Sunday's action:

• No. 8 overall prospect Eloy Jimenez (White Sox No. 2) put together his first multihit game since joining

Class A Advanced Winston-Salem. Jimenez, who is 4-for-10 in three games with the White Sox

organization, doubled and went 2-for-3 with three RBIs.

• No. 10 overall prospect Brendan Rodgers (Rockies No. 1) is starting to heat up for Double-A Hartford.

Rodgers got off to a slow start with the Yard Goats, but went 1-for-3 with a homer in the win over

July 17, 2017 Page 16 of 21

Trenton and has hit three homers over his past two games. After hitting .174 through his first six games

at the Double-A level, Rodgers has boosted his average to .257 through 18 contests.

• No. 30 overall prospect Blake Rutherford (Yankees No. 3) came up big with a clutch two-run homer in

the ninth inning of Class A Charleston's 2-1 win over Lakewood. Not only did Rutherford lift his club to

victory, but he also extended his hitting streak to 11 games as part of his 2-for-4 performance.

• No. 76 overall prospect Delvin Perez (Cardinals No. 4) collected a season-high three hits for the Rookie-

level GCL Cardinals. Perez, 18, is off to a slow start this season, hitting .190 through 18 games, but may

be on the verge of turning it around. Perez finished 3-for-4 with a triple and has a hit in four straight

games.

• No. 100 overall prospect Fernando Tatis Jr. (Padres No. 5) got back on track with a 2-for-4 game for

Class A Fort Wayne. After going 0-for-12 over the past three games, Tatis began the game with a

groundout, but broke out of his slump with a fourth-inning double and then hit a three-run homer in the

sixth.

• Angels No. 9 prospect David Fletcher appears to be adjusting quite well to life with Triple-A Salt Lake

as he stuffed the box score, going 3-for-4 with three RBIs and two stolen bases in a 14-11 loss to

Sacramento. After hitting .276 in 64 games with Double-A Mobile, Fletcher was promoted to Salt Lake,

where he is 4-for-8 through two games.

• Marlins No. 4 prospect Dillon Peters spun his second straight scoreless start as he went 4 2/3 innings

for Class A Advanced Jupiter. Peters threw 47 of his 71 pitches for strikes, striking out four and giving up

just three hits. The 24-year-old has a 1.54 ERA across six starts this season and has given up one earned

run or less in each outing.

• Orioles No. 7 prospect Austin Hays showed off his power with his third multihomer game of the

season. Hays, who has 22 homers across two levels, went deep twice in Double-A Bowie's win over

Altoona. Hays also extended his hitting streak to eight games with the 2-for-5, four-RBI performance.

• Red Sox No. 8 prospect Josh Ockimey collected a pair of extra-base hits, including a walk-off homer in

Class A Advanced Salem's 12-inning win over Carolina. Ockimey, who finished 3-for-6, gave Salem a one-

run lead with an RBI double and then ended the game as he led off the 12th with his 10th homer of the

season.

• Phillies No. 14 prospect Adonis Medina put together one of his best starts this season for Class A

Lakewood. Medina pitched six scoreless innings, notching seven strikeouts and giving up just three hits

and no walks. The 20-year-old has a 3.32 ERA through 15 starts and has strung together five quality

starts in his past six outings.

• Phillies No. 22 prospect Carlos Tocci had been hitless in four of his past five games with Double-A

Reading, but snapped out of his funk with a season-high four hits. Tocci singled in each of his first four

at-bats before grounding out and finishing the game 4-for-5.

July 17, 2017 Page 17 of 21

• Rays No. 11 prospect Garrett Whitley collected his fourth three-hit game of the season, going 3-for-4

with two RBIs for Class A Bowling Green. Whitley had a pair of extra-base hits in the game as he doubled

in the third and hit a two-run homer, his eighth, in the fifth.

• Rockies No. 12 prospect Tyler Nevin filled up the box score with a career-high four hits for Class A

Nashville. Nevin, hitting .241 this season, went 4-for-5 with two doubles, a homer and a trio of RBIs.

• Royals No. 3 prospect Eric Skoglund picked up his third win of the season after throwing seven innings

of one-run ball for Triple-A Omaha. Skoglund, who has given up one earned run in four of his past five

starts, gave up nine hits in the outing, but struck out seven and didn't issue a walk as he threw 74 of his

102 pitches for strikes.

• Yankees No. 19 prospect Ian Clarkin lowered his ERA to 2.61 with another quality start for Class A

Advanced Tampa. Clarkin, 22, struck out seven and gave up two runs in seven innings. The lefty has

thrown the ball well in July, giving up four earned runs across 19 innings (three starts).

Chavez set for first start against Nationals

By Kaelen Jones / MLB.com

The Nationals and Angels will open a two-game Interleague series Tuesday in Anaheim, as Washington

continues a nine-game road trip to open the second half of the season.

The Nationals have not announced a starter for the series opener. They are without Joe Ross in the

rotation after he was placed on the 60-day disabled list Friday (torn UCL in his right elbow) and is slated

to undergo season-ending Tommy John surgery on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, the Angels will start right-hander Jesse Chavez after an off-day Monday. The veteran will

make his first start since the All-Star break. In his last start, Chavez surrendered three runs on seven hits

and two walks with six strikeouts in a loss to Texas on July 8.

Things to know about this game

• Despite a rare matchup with the Nats, the Halos could face a pair of familiar foes in relievers Sean

Doolittle and Ryan Madson. Washington acquired the two Sunday in a trade with the A's in exchange for

Blake Treinen and two prospects. Doolittle and Madson have appeared in a combined 46 career games

against the Angels.

• Chavez has appeared in seven career games vs. the Nationals, but Tuesday will mark his first start

against the club. He currently has a 0-0 record and a 3.52 ERA (three earned runs across 7 2/3 innings)

against Washington.

July 17, 2017 Page 18 of 21

FROM THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Cron's pinch-hit home run in 8th sends Angels over Rays 4-3

Associated Press

ANAHEIM, Calif. -- C.J. Cron isn't necessarily happy about his reduced role with the Los Angeles

Angels this season. But when playing time does come, he's determined to make the most of it.

Cron did just that Sunday as a pinch hitter, connecting for a tiebreaking, two-run homer in the eighth

inning and powering the Angels to a 4-3 win over the Tampa Bay Rays.

"It's nothing I can control, so I'm just going to go out there and do whatever I can to help the team,"

Cron said. "However many at-bats it is per week, I'm going to be ready for them and thankfully today I

was able to help out a little bit."

It was 2-all when Cron swung at the first pitch he saw from Adam Kolarek and sent it into the right field

seats. Cron had a simple mindset to keep Kolarek, who entered after Andrelton Simmons singled with

one out off Jumbo Diaz (1-4), from getting settled.

"Be ready to hit," Cron said. "It's been a little bit since I've had an at-bat and didn't want to give him a

pitch there. Wanted to be aggressive because that's the kind of hitter I am and fortunately it was a good

pitch to him and put a good swing on it."

Cron was making just his fourth appearances for the Angels this month, but came through with the

club's first pinch-homer since Jefry Marte on June 9, 2016.

David Hernandez (1-0) got rewarded for one inning of scoreless relief as the Angels avoided a three-

game sweep, but only after escaping a jam in the ninth to hold off the Rays.

Trailing 4-2, the Rays scored once in the ninth and loaded the bases with one out. Bud Norris got Tim

Beckham to ground into a double play for his 14th save, ending the Rays' four-game winning streak.

Evan Longoria doubled off Norris and Logan Morrison singled. Steven Souza Jr. hit an RBI single and a

walk loaded the bases for Beckham, who promptly hit it to Simmons. Cron said the game-ending 6-4-3

double play was a given when it ended up with the sure-handed defender.

"Simmons makes every play, so I knew we were going to get them there," Cron said.

Albert Pujols put the Angels ahead in the fifth with an RBI single. Martin Maldonado squeezed home

another run in the sixth, with Simmons scoring just ahead of catcher Jesus Sucre's tag.

Morrison hit his 26th homer, a two-run drive off Parker Bridwell that tied it in the seventh. Bridwell

struck out eight and allowed six hits in 6 1/3 innings.

Chris Archer gave up two runs on five hits with nine strikeouts in six innings. The Rays missed a chance

to complete their first road series sweep since June 2016.

July 17, 2017 Page 19 of 21

"That stunk, but really happy with the way the guys responded there in the ninth," Rays manager Kevin

Cash said. "We just came up a little bit short."

JUNIOR JERED?

When Bridwell first stepped onto the mound, Cash was reminded of Jered Weaver. Outside of one pitch

to Morrison that Bridwell said just broke a bit too much over the plate, he delivered a performance

more than reminiscent of the long-time Angels ace.

"Real thin and you could tell he had some deception," Cash said. "We couldn't figure out their pitcher.

They couldn't quite figure him out until LoMo came up with the big two-run homer to tie it."

While Angels manager Mike Scioscia pointed out the flaws in Cash's comparison, noting different styles

in delivery and approach, Bridwell is starting to put together outings to invite such connections. He has

gone at least six innings in each of his last four starts, giving some relief to the overworked bullpen.

Bridwell didn't give up a run in last start before the All-Star break, though the logistics of roster

management resulted in a busy travel schedule.

Bridwell was optioned to Triple-A Salt Lake after picking up the win against Minnesota to free up a

roster spot, joining the minor league affiliate for a road series in El Paso, Texas before returning to Utah

for a regular bullpen session. After taking a couple days off during the All-Star Game, Bridwell returned

to Salt Lake for another workout to prepare to rejoin the Angels.

"I understood just cause they didn't need five starters. It's always better when you can carry people you

can use," Bridwell said of the juggling.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Rays: C Wilson Ramos could return to action Monday after missing the last two games with a tweaked

hamstring.

Angels: 2B Danny Espinosa was designated for assignment after hitting .162 in 77 games this

season. Nick Franklin got the start at 2B against the Rays, going 1 for 3 with a walk, and is expected to

platoon with Cliff Pennington going forward.

UP NEXT

Rays: RHP Jake Odorizzi (5-4, 4.63 ERA) spent the All-Star break trying to address his inconsistent

mechanics and will get to test those adjustments when the Rays open a three-game series at Oakland on

Monday.

Angels: RHP Jesse Chavez (5-10, 4.99) will try to break a three-game losing streak when the Angels open

a two-game series against the Washington Nationals on Tuesday. Chavez has won just one of his last

nine starts and hasn't picked up a victory at home since May 15.

July 17, 2017 Page 20 of 21

Angels designate Danny Espinosa for assignment

Associated Press

ANAHEIM, Calif. -- The Los Angeles Angels have designated second baseman Danny Espinosa for

assignment Sunday.

Espinosa was hitting .162 with just 14 extra-base hits and 19 RBI in 77 games for the Angels this season,

with his woes exacerbating team-wide struggles to generate offense.

The Angels rank third-to-last among American League teams in runs and batting average, and have

scored four runs in two games since returning from the All-Star break despite getting two-time

MVP Mike Trout back from a thumb injury.

If Espinosa is released, the Angels would be responsible for the rest of his $5,425,000 salary.

While Angels manager Mike Scioscia appreciated Espinosa's defensive presence, the offensive

production was lacking.

"I think Danny brought some good things that helped us, but the offensive side, obviously, the struggles

were obvious," Scioscia said.

"At that position we definitely need more of an offensive input. You would have to be really deep to

absorb the lack of offensive production."

The Angels will use a platoon of Nick Franklin and Cliff Pennington at second for the time being, though

Scioscia did not rule out additional moves to address the position.

Espinosa, who spent the first seven seasons of his career with the Washington Nationals, was acquired

by the Angels in a trade last December.

FROM ESPN.COM

Rumor Central: Angels seek more controllable pieces?

By John Wilmhoff / ESPN.com

The Los Angeles Angels find themselves in a peculiar position as the July 31 trade deadline approaches.

The team entered Sunday just four games back in the AL wild-card race with close to a dozen players

headed into free agency on the 25-man roster.

Among those players nearing the end of their contracts are right-handed relievers Bud Norris, David

Hernandez and Yusmeiro Petit. "All are making relatively low salaries and probably wouldn’t clear

waivers next month, so if the Angels become sellers this month, it would probably behoove them to

swap that trio before the deadline," writes Buster Olney in his blog.

July 17, 2017 Page 21 of 21

Center fielder Cameron Maybin and third baseman Yunel Escobar are also named by Olney as possible

trade assets. Maybin is making $9 million this year while slashing .238/.341/.370, and he could interest

teams needing an outfielder with positional flexibility. Escobar is earning $7 million this season with a

.287/.344/.413 slash line.

“If the Angels fall back, they could conduct a strategic sell-off to get more controllable pieces as they did

a year ago,” notes Olney. Rival executives, according to Olney, believe that the Angels' play over the

next week may determine if the team will buy or sell.