Clips (June 30, 2016)

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1 June 30, 2016 Page 1 of 21 Clips (June 30, 2016)

2 June 30, 2016 Page 2 of 21 Today s Clips Contents FROM THE LOS ANGELES TIMES (Page 3) Angels continue to struggle, swept by Astros again, 10-4 It s a rocky road for Angels Street FROM THE OC REGISTER (Page 6) Miller: Only way to save the Angels dumpster fire of a season is trying to restock the farm system through trades Astros complete sweep of Angels, who hold 30-minute meeting after losing for the ninth time in 10 games Angels manager Mike Scioscia not using injuries as a crutch but says depth has been stretched to the limits FROM ANGELS.COM (Page 11) Angels can t pick up Weaver vs. Astros Angels hold team meeting after loss, remain upbeat Soto set to begin rehab stint on Thursday Red Sox, Angels to renew acquaintances at Fenway FROM THE ASSOCIATED PRESS (Page 16) Altuve s 4 hits, 4 runs lead Astros over Angels 10-4 FROM UPI (Page 18) Jose Altuve helps Houston Astros complete sweep of Los Angeles Angels FROM YAHOO SPORTS (Page 20) Closing Time: How much does Huston Street have left?

3 June 30, 2016 Page 3 of 21 FROM THE LOS ANGELES TIMES Angels continue to struggle, swept by Astros again, 10-4 Bill Shaikin Mike Scioscia had seen enough. The Angels manager kept the clubhouse doors closed for more than 20 minutes after his team s latest loss, reminding his undermanned but still underperforming troops of their mission. We need to get better, Scioscia said. The last-place Angels are 19 games behind the first-place Texas Rangers in the American League West. They have not been so far out of first place so soon since 2001, the year the Seattle Mariners won 116 games. The Angels won eight games in June, their lowest total in the month since 1980, when Frank Tanana was the ace. The Angels lost 95 games that year, tied for the franchise record. For now, anyway, this year s Angels are on pace to lose 96. The Houston Astros thumped the Angels on Wednesday, 10-4, completing their second sweep of the Angels in 10 days. The Angels have lost nine of 10 games. After the defeat, and after the team meeting, Scioscia and his players emphasized that effort is not the issue. No one, they said, has given up. I have played on teams where it s pretty clear, in the fourth or fifth inning, guys just phone it in, closer Huston Street said. No one is doing that in here. Not one person is. If the team has not quit, perhaps it is simply not good enough. The Angels have four starters on the disabled list, including ace Garrett Richards and Andrew Heaney, who posted the lowest earned-run average of any Angels starter last season. I don t want to diminish how good Garrett is, or how good Andrew Heaney is, Scioscia said. Those two guys were one and two in our rotation. What s left, the guys in that room, we feel it s a better team than is reflected in our won-loss record. The Angels had their moments Wednesday, and 11 hits. Mike Trout reached base four times. Rookie catcher Jett Bandy hit a home run. But they had one hit in 11 at-bats with men in scoring position, shortstop Andrelton Simmons made two errors, and the pitchers gave up 12 hits and six walks.

4 June 30, 2016 Page 4 of 21 If the Angels cannot win a game, at least they can win what Scioscia called a situation drive in a runner in scoring position, get a key out on the mound, and so on. I don t think these guys are taking losing in stride, Scioscia said. That s a positive. That has to be tempered with filtering out some of the frustration that can easily creep into a clubhouse, creep into a dugout.... The results aren t there, so you have to go back to the process. We need to win situations, starting from the first pitch. Starter Jered Weaver endured into the sixth inning; the Astros scored in four of those innings. The Angels bullpen covered the final three innings; the Astros scored in two of them. Scioscia said the pitchers, particularly the relievers, needed to improve. Two of the current seven relievers Cam Bedrosian and Rule 5 pickup Deolis Guerra have an ERA under The guys that are in that room should be playing better than we are, Scioscia said. Until the Angels start playing better, he said, there is no sense in even considering whether the team is good enough to win. If we play well, he said, and we play well enough and long enough, you find out if you re championship caliber. Right now, even.500 seems far away. The Angels flew far away on Wednesday night, their pitching-poor team headed to Boston for a weekend series against a Red Sox team that leads the major leagues in runs. We can t get everything rolling at the same speed, Weaver said. We have one thing one night, we don t have it the other night. Hopefully, this off day gives us a little breather, and we can come into Boston and give em hell. It s a rocky road for Angels Street Bill Shaikin The Angels wanted closer Huston Street to get an inning of work Wednesday. He did not make it out of the inning. Street faced eight batters and retired two. He gave up three runs on four hits, and he walked in a run, the latest in a series of uneven performances. The Angels were considered unlikely to trade Street to a contending team anyway, but his recent outings would dampen the interest among would-be suitors.

5 June 30, 2016 Page 5 of 21 Street sat out a month because of a strained oblique. In 7 2/3 innings before the injury, he gave up one run, on four hits and two walks. In 7 2/3 innings since coming off the disabled list, he has given up eight runs, on 15 hits and eight walks. He has averaged two men on base in each inning this season, three men on base in each inning since returning from injury. Huston is definitely trying to find his release point, Angels Manager Mike Scioscia said. He s been pitching behind in the count a lot. His stuff looks just the same as it did last year. He s just not able to control counts the way he did last year, and make the pitch to put hitters away. Street has a 5.28 earned-run average, the highest ever at the end of June in his 12-year career. He also has more walks (10) than strikeouts (9). Everybody else pays to get nervous. That s why they buy tickets, Street said. They pay me not to get nervous. My job is to put up zeroes. I haven t gotten the results that I want to get. I m going to go out and find a way to get them. The Angels hope setup man Joe Smith (hamstring) can return from the disabled list this weekend. Scioscia indicated the Angels would be more likely to use Smith in middle relief at first, rather than use Smith as closer and temporarily try Street in lower-leverage situations. Street bemoaned the big hit on Wednesday, a double by Houston Astros shortstop Carlos Correa. Correa is five for five off Street, with three doubles. I ll find a way to get that guy out, Street said. He owns me right now. He s a good player. I tip my hat to him. Short hops Jose Altuve of the Astros leads the majors in consecutive games played, with 169. Mike Trout is second with 141. Both players are more than 15 full seasons behind Cal Ripken Jr., who holds the all-time record of 2,632 consecutive games played.... The Angels lost six of seven games on the homestand, but Trout reached base 22 times in 32 tries. His on-base percentage is.422, trailing only Altuve and David Ortiz of the Boston Red Sox in the American League. Third baseman Yunel Escobar (knee) has not played in the past six games and probably will go on the disabled list if he is not ready to play this weekend Catcher Geovany Soto (knee) is scheduled to start a rehabilitation assignment Friday at triple-a Salt Lake. Scioscia said Soto, who has not played since May 18, would need about a week in the minors.

6 June 30, 2016 Page 6 of 21 FROM THE OC REGISTER Miller: Only way to save the Angels dumpster fire of a season is trying to restock the farm system through trades By JEFF MILLER / STAFF COLUMNIST ANAHEIM So, it s not in the franchise s DNA to rebuild. OK, fine, but it better be in the general manager s plan to repair. Because the Angels aren t just a little broken. They re broken down, all the way down, stalled on the side of the road that leads to being one of the five worst teams in the sport. GM Billy Eppler said Tuesday that the Angels aren t going to sell off everything as baseball s trade deadline approaches, and I believe him. I mean, the Angels don t have a whole lot anyone else would want. They can t trade Mike Trout s prime or Albert Pujols contract, and, personally, I view Kole Calhoun as part of the eventual solution around here. Huston Street certainly will draw interest, though dealing him would leave a gaping hole in all of the Angels ninth innings for the foreseeable future. But, hey, decisions in this business can be painful. Andrelton Simmons cost Eppler two of the organization s top prospects just eight months ago, and he is, relatively speaking, a bargain. The defensively gifted shortstop, however, becomes a little less of a bargain the more he hits below.250 for a lineup that s as shallow as a wading pool for worms. But the Angels do have two legitimate, logical trade assets reliever Joe Smith and third baseman Yunel Escobar and if those two remain here into August it should be only because no one else really wanted them that badly, either. This franchise has a farm system that s referenced now only as a punch line. To not sacrifice the remains of an empty season to at least attempt to start restocking that bare cupboard would be malpractice, and I m certain Eppler understands as much. So any move in that direction Matt Shoemaker, Fernando Salas, Jose Alvarez (I mentioned a lack of enticing trade pieces, right?) has to be considered. I m guessing, more than anything, this is a matter of semantics. Few baseball general managers ever will publicly admit to quitting on the magnificent journey that is each season, even as everyone knows the only place the Angels are heading this summer is nowhere.

7 June 30, 2016 Page 7 of 21 Besides, there really is no reason for Eppler to come right out and say the Angels have given up on this season because the team already did that, back in the winter. By not signing one of the available everyday left fielders, the Angels not only avoided baseball s luxury tax a directive from owner Arte Moreno but also pretty much guaranteed this would be an offense unfit for a pennant run. As hard as it can be to watch his overwhelmingly unentertaining team, Moreno made the right call there, the Angels looking at opponents such as Texas and Houston and realizing Alex Gordon (at $72 million) probably wasn t going to be the difference. Of course, until further notice, the state of the Angels always will go back to Moreno s moves to sign Pujols for 10 years and Josh Hamilton for $125 million. But there s no point in again rehashing the pain those business decisions self-inflicted. While sports fans in Orange County aren t exactly famous for the passion they bring, they do offer a more level-headed perspective than most. And, well-schooled in the nuances of the games or not, they aren t stupid. I m sure anyone paying attention understands why Eppler said what he said, just like they realize his actions eventually will reveal his true measure of this team. That s not to suggest everyone is fine with the general manager s assessment of Mike Scioscia, Eppler praising Scioscia s performance this season and assuring that his job is not on the line. A lot of people want Scioscia fired because, when the Angels aren t winning, a lot of people always want Scioscia fired. I ve even called for his dismissal in the past and, more than once, written that his departure would be in his best interest, as well. But blaming this season on Scioscia, even if it remains on this pace and ends up being the poorest of his 17 here, is as ridiculous as it would have been to project Gregorio Petit as being one of the Angels best players. If Scioscia had the roster he expected to have back in March, the Angels wouldn t be buried now, before even the end of June, no amount of coaching is able to untear an elbow ligament. Now, the idea of replacing Scioscia to bring a fresh outlook to this team is something I believe Eppler will think about at some point. Just not at this point and never out in the wide open, with reporters noting his every word. For the time being, the Angels will stay the course, the crash course, the path to oblivion and perhaps beyond.

8 June 30, 2016 Page 8 of 21 The only certainty is they will reach the end of this awful season, the one possible step forward coming if they can trade in a few pieces along the way, for the sake of the future. That s how the Angels could salvage a 2016 otherwise heading straight toward the dumpster. Everyone understands that, Billy Eppler and his innocuous public utterances included. Astros complete sweep of Angels, who hold 30-minute meeting after losing for the ninth time in 10 games By ELLIOTT TEAFORD / STAFF WRITER ANAHEIM The reeling Angels looked like a team that had reached the breaking point in their season during a dreary 10-4 loss Wednesday afternoon to the surging Houston Astros at Angel Stadium, their ninth defeat in their past 10 games and their 19th in 27 contests in June. Manager Mike Scioscia met with the players for nearly 30 minutes after they fell 15 games below.500 with a record, last in the American League West. He said he stressed a need for improvement and a sharper focus after watching another game slip away far too easily. We need to get better, Scioscia said. Angels right-hander Jered Weaver wouldn t say what was said during Scioscia s postgame talk. We would have had you guys in here if we wanted you to know what was said, Weaver said, referring to a cluster of reporters. You saw us go on a pretty good run for a little while there. We ve just been a little inconsistent from there. We can t get everything rolling at the same speed. Closer Huston Street said the Angels will to win isn t an issue. They haven t quit. Quitting or feeling sorry for yourself, when you see guys doing that, it will not turn (around), and I haven t seen anyone come close to doing that, Street said. We ve got to tell ourselves we ve got to get better results. We ve got to find a way. It sure didn t happen Wednesday. Houston second baseman Jose Altuve singled twice, doubled, tripled and scored four runs, extending the Angels misery. Altuve fell a home run shy of hitting for the cycle, but he did plenty of damage without one.

9 June 30, 2016 Page 9 of 21 Weaver couldn t make it past the sixth inning, departing after right fielder George Springer slammed a 2-and-0 pitch into the visitors bullpen to give the Astros a 6-3 lead. Weaver gave up six runs on seven hits with three strikeouts and four walks in 51/3 innings. Weaver fell to 6-7 with a 5.51 ERA as Houston won its eighth in a row over the Angels. Altuve scored after singling in the first, tripling in the third and doubling in the fifth all off Weaver. Altuve also singled in the ninth against Street, and then scored on Carlos Gomez s bases-loaded single that made it 8-4. Astros lefty Dallas Keuchel (5-9) worked six innings, giving up three runs (two earned) and six hits with four strikeouts and two walks. Center fielder Mike Trout doubled to lead off the seventh against reliever Ken Giles, who loaded the bases before striking out Jett Bandy to preserve a 7-3 lead. Trout singled, doubled, walked twice and struck out in five plate appearances. Otherwise, it was business as usual for the Angels. The question is where do they go from here? Boston, as it turned out. They departed for a 10-game trip to play the Red Sox, Tampa Bay Rays and Baltimore Orioles, which will take them to the All-Star break. How they respond is anyone s guess, although Scioscia said it was evident to him that sharper play would be the biggest factor. The guys who are in that room should be playing better than they are, and that s what we re going to focus on, he said. We re all looking in the mirror and trying to get us going in the right direction. We all need to get better. One thing is good and that s that I don t think these guys are taking losing in stride. I think that s a positive. That has to be tempered with filtering out some frustration that could easily creep into that clubhouse or creep into the dugout. Angels manager Mike Scioscia not using injuries as a crutch but says depth has been stretched to the limits By ELLIOTT TEAFORD / STAFF WRITER ANAHEIM Geovany Soto will begin a rehabilitation assignment Thursday with the Triple- A Salt Lake Bees, where it s expected he ll catch five or six games before possibly rejoining the

10 June 30, 2016 Page 10 of 21 Angels next week. Soto has been out since May because of surgery to mend torn meniscus in his right knee. Hopefully, it won t be more than a week, Angels manager Mike Scioscia said Wednesday. But he s got to go through some paces. We re looking at a five- or six-day window. He s going to get what he needs (to get ready to return to the Angels). As is his custom during this bruised and battered 2016 season, Scioscia wasn t done talking about injured and recovering Angels. He had other updates to give. Soto s progress was perhaps the best news he could deliver, however. Starting pitcher C.J. Wilson still hasn t had a second opinion on his wonky left shoulder. Reliever Joe Smith (strained left hamstring) was scheduled to throw Wednesday. Tyler Skaggs (biceps tendinitis) is set to pitch five innings Saturday at Salt Lake. There was probably more, but forgive Scioscia if he failed to mention all of it. This has been a season unlike any other, on the field and in the trainer s room. There were nine Angels on the disabled list at the start of business Wednesday. Injuries are a part of any season, but our depth certainly is not endless, Scioscia said. We ve tapped into it as much as we can on the pitching side. We just have to find a way to keep moving forward and try to win games. Scioscia declined to use injuries as an excuse for the Angels last-place standing, however. We should be performing better, and that s what we re going to continue to focus on, he said. Scioscia stressed that he was speaking of the Angels pitching and not making a sweeping statement about the club s overall struggles, which included an 8-19 record in June after Wednesday s 10-4 loss to the Houston Astros. This year has brought some unique challenges, but it s not uncommon, he said. That s what happens in baseball. That s why you spend so much time on that depth chart in the winter. We ve stretched it to the limits and, hopefully, we re going to get some guys back within the next week, within the next month. We ll see. UPON FURTHER REVIEW Angels shortstop Andrelton Simmons was charged with two errors, one of which didn t appear to be his fault. Simmons claimed a fifth-inning ground ball off the bat of Carlos Correa struck the knee of the Astros Jose Altuve, who was running from second to third on the play.

11 June 30, 2016 Page 11 of 21 Simmons mishandled the ball and then pointed at Altuve, who was safe at second. Scioscia bolted from the dugout to take up the argument, but to no avail. The umpires met for a few moments before determining the ball did not strike Altuve, who would have been out if they had noticed it. The play was not subject to video review, however. DUBIOUS MARK The Angels 8-19 record in June was their worst for the month since they went 6-21 in FROM ANGELS.COM Angels can t pick up Weaver vs. Astros By Fabian Ardaya and Brian McTaggart ANAHEIM -- Jose Altuve extended his on-base streak to 32 games, collecting four hits and finishing a home run short of the cycle as the red-hot Astros beat the Angels, 10-4, to complete a three-game road sweep on Wednesday -- their second straight sweep of their American League West rivals in the last week. "I feel proud of myself because I'm doing everything I can to help my team," Altuve said. "It's all about your team, it's all about going to the playoffs at the end of the season, and I think we're going the right way." Altuve singled in the first inning, tripled in the third and doubled in the fifth as the Astros kept the offensive pressure going against Angels right-hander Jered Weaver. Altuve added another single in a three-run ninth as Houston poured it on. Weaver gave up a George Springer home run in the sixth and became the first Angels pitcher to give up 20 homers this season, allowing six runs in 5 1/3 innings. The Halos have now lost nine of their last 10 games. "I don't think these guys are taking losing in stride, and that's a positive, but it has to be tempered with filtering out some of the frustration that could easily creep into a clubhouse or a dugout," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. "Those guys seem like they're playing free and giving it everything they have, but the results aren't there." Astros left-hander Dallas Keuchel gave up a pair of runs in the second inning on a Jett Bandy home run and a Kole Calhoun RBI triple, then settled down to retire 11 of the last 13 batters he faced. Keuchel finished with a quality start, giving up three runs (two earned) in six innings as Houston won for the 10th time in its last 11 games.

12 June 30, 2016 Page 12 of 21 The Astros now head home for 10 games before the All-Star break with a chance to continue their run. "We're playing well and it sets up pretty well for us," Astros manager A.J. Hinch said. "The day off tomorrow is much needed. We had a great road trip [5-1] and we go home with a lot of confidence. We're going to run into some tough pitching, I know, but we continue to do our thing and handle our business and we're getting the results we like. It's time to get back to Houston." MOMENTS THAT MATTERED Altuve can't stop, won't stop: Altuve, who went 4-for-5 with four runs scored and extended his hitting streak to 11 games, has the longest on-base streak by an Astros player since Lance Berkman reached in 37 games in a row in the 2004 season. Wednesday marked Altuve's 12th game this season with at least three hits, and it's the second time in a week he finished a hit shy of the cycle. He's batting.431 (50-for-116) in the last 29 games. "The story continues with him," Hinch said. "We continue to talk about him every single day and he continues to perform. Not much you can do to get in his way. He's had a remarkable run here." Leaving friends behind: For the second consecutive game, the Angels struggled to drive home runners in scoring position. Their first three runs came on a solo homer and a pair of extra-base hits to drive runners home from first base. Twice -- once in the first inning and once in the seventh -- they loaded the bases, but weren't able to score a single run. They went 1-for-11 with runners in scoring position and left 12 runners on base, including six who were in scoring position. Keuchel finds quality: This season has been a struggle for Keuchel, but the lefty has won consecutive starts for the first time in By allowing three runs in six innings Wednesday, he earned his third straight quality start -- and ninth in 17 outings -- and beat the Angels for the ninth time in his career, his most wins against any club. "I felt good," he said. "The fastball had a lot of life on it, and it's just one of those days I was trying to figure out where I needed to start the fastball and it took me a little bit, but I got it under control an I finished strong." Not so sharp: Angels shortstop Andrelton Simmons, typically known for his stellar defense, committed two errors that led to runs. In the third, he leaped to snag a Marwin Gonzalez liner for an impressive grab, but his throw to first for the double play hit off Springer and allowed him to advance and eventually score on Altuve's triple. Simmons had a Carlos Correa grounder go between his legs and allow two runs to score in the fifth as well, appealing that the ball had struck Altuve on the basepaths and changed the course of the ball. His appeal was denied, and the error stood. It was Simmons' first two-error game since Sept. 16, 2015, while he was with the Braves, and the fifth of his career.

13 June 30, 2016 Page 13 of 21 "Something looked really strange," Scioscia said of Simmons' second error. "Andrelton was there and knows it hit [Altuve], and it did hit him, but I guess it wasn't noticeable to the umpires. It was tough to see from our vantage point, but obviously Andrelton had a great vantage point and he saw the ball. It's a tough call to make for an umpire." QUOTABLE "We are going to play better. We all believe it. The chemistry in that clubhouse is terrific. We know we've seen some guys performing at their absolute worst for this first half, and we know they're better than that. That's our goal, to get these guys playing better."-- Scioscia, on stopping his team's recent slide SOUND SMART WITH YOUR FRIENDS This is the first time the Astros have swept the same opponent twice in one season since joining the AL in WHAT'S NEXT Astros: The Astros are off Thursday before opening a three-game series at 7:10 p.m. CT Friday against the White Sox at Minute Maid Park, with right-hander Mike Fiers (5-3, 4.41 ERA) taking the mound. Fiers gave up three runs and nine hits in 4 1/3 innings Saturday in Kansas City. Angels: The Angels will have an off-day on Thursday, then travel to Boston for the first game of a three-game set on Friday. Right-hander Jhoulys Chacin (3-6, 5.64 ERA) hasn't gone more than 5 1/3 innings in a start since May 30, but he will take the ball in the opener. First pitch is scheduled for 4:10 p.m. PT. Angels hold team meeting after loss, remain upbeat By Fabian Ardaya ANAHEIM -- It's hard times for the Angels and manager Mike Scioscia. The Halos lost, 10-4, to the Astros on Wednesday, wrapping up a 1-6 homestand and continuing a stretch of nine losses in the past 10 games. They finished the month of June, the franchise's worst since 1980, at 8-19 and with more questions raised about the club's future than answers. Yet as Scioscia sat after the game talking in a team-only meeting after another loss, he said he found the players "upbeat." There are still pieces for a successful club there, the manager said, even after the losses of Garrett Richards, Andrew Heaney and C.J. Wilson among countless others have led the team to use 43 different players. "I don't think these guys are taking losing in stride, and that's a positive, but it has to be tempered with filtering out some of the frustration that could easily creep into a clubhouse or a dugout," Scioscia said. "Those guys seem like they're playing free and giving it everything they have, but the results aren't there."

14 June 30, 2016 Page 14 of 21 Wednesday unfolded much like many others have for the club during this stretch -- going down early, not generating offense in critical situations and relying on an exhausted bullpen to keep things close. Right-hander Jered Weaver worked in and out of trouble, with the ever-declining velocity on his fastball requiring him to be as precise as ever. He wasn't quite precise enough, allowing six runs in 5 1/3 innings. The offense struggled to capitalize, stranding 12 runners on base (six of which were in scoring position). The bullpen, now having worked 37 1/3 innings over this 10-game stretch, gave up four runs, including three off closer Huston Street in the ninth inning. "It's always frustrating when you don't perform up to your capabilities, but quitting or feeling sorry for yourself, when you see guys doing that, it will not turn," Street said. "I'm not feeling sorry for myself. We've got to find a way to get better results." Street agreed with Scioscia after the meeting, which he said simply reemphasized that the Angels have hope entering July. "I have played on teams where it's pretty clear that by the fourth or fifth inning, guys just phone it in," Street said. "No one is doing that here. Not one person. That's what I see, that's what I believe." The Angels, who sit in last place in their division, are 19 games behind first-place Texas in the American League West. The Halos start a 10-game road trip Friday, going through Boston, Tampa Bay and Baltimore before hitting the All-Star break. The challenge seems daunting, especially as the team tries to stagger back and avoid being completely knocked from the playoff picture. Scioscia doesn't see it that way. "We are going to play better," he said. "We all believe it. The chemistry in that clubhouse is terrific. We know we've seen some guys performing at their absolute worst for this first half, and we know they're better than that. That's our goal, to get these guys playing better." Soto set to begin rehab stint on Thursday By Fabian Ardaya ANAHEIM -- Geovany Soto is inching closer to a Major League return, as Angels manager Mike Scioscia said Wednesday that the catcher will begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Salt Lake on Thursday night.

15 June 30, 2016 Page 15 of 21 Soto has not played since going on the disabled list on May 18 with a torn right meniscus. After undergoing surgery, he has begun going through catching drills in the last week and successfully caught a bullpen session on Tuesday in his final test before being sent on the rehab assignment. Scioscia said Soto has been aggressive in his recovery, which was initially projected to take 4-6 weeks. However, the manager said he wants to make sure Soto is as close to 100 percent as possible before officially activating him off the DL. "Hopefully it won't be more than a week, but [Soto's] got to go through some paces," Scioscia said. "We've got about a five- or six-day window, so he's going to get what he needs." Jett Bandy, who was recalled from Salt Lake when Soto was injured, has thrived and taken over the majority of the everyday catching duties in the last week. He's hit.273/.292/.386 with a homer and nine RBIs in 15 games (44 at-bats) in Soto's absence. Bundy has overtaken Carlos Perez for a majority of the playing time, as Perez has hit.190/.225/.298 with three homers and 16 RBIs in 54 games (168 at-bats). "Jett's earned more playing time, for sure," Scioscia said this week. "He's playing well. We really like what Carlos does, and unfortunately he's just trying to find a few things at the plate. Behind the plate, they're both catching well. Jett's been swinging the bat a little better, but Carlos is a guy we're confident is going to be able to re-find his form." Worth noting Angels center fielder Mike Trout, winner of the last two All-Star Game MVP Awards, has said "he hasn't thought about" taking part in his first T-Mobile Home Run Derby. Scioscia said Wednesday that, if Trout were interested, the new format will ease any worries he might have as a manager about his star center fielder participating. "I think everybody's a little more receptive to it, as they've changed the event to be a little less stressful on each contestant," Scioscia said. "You're not going out there having to take 120 swings. You're going out there and just a little closer to what you might do in batting practice. It's more reasonable." Scioscia said he hopes to have third baseman Yunel Escobar available at some point during the team's three-game series in Boston, which starts Friday. Escobar hasn't played since leaving Thursday's 5-4 loss to the Oakland Athletics early with a bone bruise on his left knee.

16 June 30, 2016 Page 16 of 21 Red Sox, Angels to renew acquaintances at Fenway By Ian Browne Fenway Park spectators will get their annual look at superstar Mike Trout, as the Angels visit the Red Sox for a three-game series that starts on Friday night. In 13 career games in Boston, Trout has never homered, but has a.373 average, six doubles and a.930 OPS. Trout will be playing against the two outfielders he might be starting alongside at the July 12 All-Star Game presented by MasterCard in Jackie Bradley Jr. and Mookie Betts. When the latest round of balloting was announced earlier this week, Trout, Bradley and Betts ranked in outfield voting. Knuckleballer Steven Wright, who leads the American League with a 2.18 ERA, also could earn a trip to the Midsummer Classic in San Diego. The right-hander draws the assignment for the Red Sox in the series opener as he tries to bounce back from a rare subpar start. The Angels counter with righty Jhoulys Chacin. Three things to know about this game Daniel Nava, who was an important player for the 2013 World Series champion Red Sox, returns to Fenway with the Angels. In five seasons with the Red Sox, Nava batted.267 with a.744 OPS in 424 games. He is a.277 hitter at Fenway with a.777 OPS. Hanley Ramirez has the most at-bats of any active Boston player against Chacin, going 4-for- 15 with a homer. Albert Pujols has a double and a homer in five career at-bats against Wright. The Red Sox hope to activate left fielder Brock Holt (concussion) and catcher Ryan Hanigan (neck strain) for this series. For the Angels, third baseman Yunel Escobar should return to action over the course of the three-game set, manager Mike Scioscia said. Escobar hasn't played since Thursday against Oakland while dealing with a bone bruise in his left knee. Jefry Marte and Gregorio Petit have each started at third base in Escobar's absence. FROM THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Altuve s 4 hits, 4 runs lead Astros over Angels 10-4 ANAHEIM, Calif. -- Jose Altuve might be tired but it didn't show.

17 June 30, 2016 Page 17 of 21 On a day where Houston manager A.J. Hinch considered giving the second baseman a day off, Altuve went 4 for 5 and scored four runs to help the Astros beat the Los Angeles Angels 10-4 on Wednesday and completed the sweep of the three-game series. It was the second time Houston has swept Los Angeles in the last two weeks. The Astros finished the six games with 37 runs. It was Houston's eighth straight win over their AL West rivals, extending the longest winning streak against Los Angeles in franchise history. Houston has gone since May 1, the third-best mark in the AL in that span. Altuve, who extended his career-high on-base streak to 32 games, was a home run shy of the cycle and finished the series 8 for 14 with two RBI and six runs. "He and I talked late into the night last night and even a little bit this morning because he is a little tired, believe it or not, and he came in to talk about it early," Hinch said. "We didn't connect and luckily, we didn't make the decision to take him out of the lineup." While Hinch said he may get a few days off during the next homestand, Altuve had to protest to stay in the lineup for Wednesday's series finale. "He tried to give me the day off today and yesterday, but I didn't think that was a good idea," Altuve said. "I just said it just to try to be in the lineup." The Angels, who left 12 men on base, finished the homestand 1-6 and went 8-18 over the month of June. The Angels are a season-high 15 games under.500 (32-47). It's the fewest wins the Angels have recorded in June since The loss prompted a team meeting that Angels manager Mike Scioscia said was positive. "We need to get better, and we're going to continue to work hard on that goal." Scioscia said. "There's no sense looking back. We need to start getting some games on our terms and winning situations early, and get some guy coming in out of the pen making pitches, and right now we're struggling." Dallas Keuchel (5-9) limited the Angels to three runs and six hits over six innings to win his second straight decision. "My fastball had a lot of life on it," Keuchel said. "I was trying to kind of figure out where I needed to start the fastball and it took me a little bit I got it under control and finished strong." Jered Weaver (6-7) pitched into the sixth inning but left after giving up a one-out solo home run to George Springer. In his third loss in five starts, Weaver allowed six earned runs and seven hits, walked four and struck out three.

18 June 30, 2016 Page 18 of 21 Houston added three runs in the ninth against Angels closer Huston Street, who has given up eight runs and 12 hits in his last six appearances. KEUCHEL'S COMPLAINT Despite the win, Keuchel didn't seem entirely happy with the way home plate umpire Gerry Davis called the strike zone, lamenting the fact that he walked three batters. "I feel like I have like 20 career walks when Gerry Davis is behind the plate," Keuchel said. "He's a tight one and he's known for that." TRAINER'S ROOM Angels: C Geovany Soto will begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Salt Lake. Soto played 20 games before undergoing surgery to repair a torn right meniscus. He placed on the 15-day DL May 18. UP NEXT Astros: RHP Mike Fiers (5-3) made an early exit in his last start giving up three runs, two earned, in 4 1/3 innings against the Kansas City Royals. Fiers took a no-decision but the Astros have won in all five of his June starts. Angels: RHP Jhoulys Chacin (2-4) is making his second trip to Fenway Park this season and his first with the Angels. Chacin previously recorded a win there as a member of the Atlanta Braves on April 28, but has lost three of his last four starts with Los Angeles. FROM UPI Jose Altuve helps Houston Astros complete sweep of Los Angeles Angels By Joe Haakenson, The Sports Xchange ANAHEIM, Calif. -- Usually when the crowd at Angel Stadium is chanting "MVP! MVP!" it is for Mike Trout. On Wednesday afternoon, the chant -- even if it came from just a handful of fans -- was for Jose Altuve. Altuve finished a homer short of the cycle, and the Houston Astros completed a three-game sweep of the Los Angeles Angels with a 10-4 win at Angel Stadium. Altuve, who has an 11-game hitting streak and has reached base in 32 straight, singled in the first inning, tripled in the third and doubled in the fifth. With a chance for the cycle, he lined out to left in the sixth, then singled to left for his fourth hit in the ninth.

19 June 30, 2016 Page 19 of 21 There is plenty of season to be played, but Altuve's MVP support will only grow if he keeps playing as he is. And certainly, his manager will lead the campaign. "There's so many characteristics, in terms of durability, reliability, high-end performance, impact on your teammates, impact on your team, that constitute MVP-caliber players," Astros manager A.J. Hinch said. "When you have someone that's influential in every single component of the game -- offense, defense, baserunning, clubhouse, performance -- to me, that's very noteworthy, and we have one of the best." Altuve missing out on hitting for the cycle was about the only thing that hasn't gone the Astros' way lately. They have won 10 of their past 11 games, which includes a sweep of the Angels last week in Houston. The Astros (42-37) finished their June schedule with 18 wins, their most in June since And it was Altuve leading the way, as usual. Besides the four hits that raised his average to a league-leading.357, the second baseman also scored four runs, drove in one and stole a base. And to top it off, Hinch considered giving Altuve the day off. "He tried to give me today off, he told me yesterday," Altuve said of Hinch. "But I didn't think that was a good idea, so thank God he didn't give me the day off." George Springer and Luis Valbuena homered for Houston, which got a serviceable performance from starter Dallas Keuchel (5-9). The left-hander gave up three runs (two earned) on six hits and three walks in six innings. Keuchel struck out four. The Angels' offense, such as it was, was led by Trout, who had a single, a double and two walks. Jett Bandy hit a home run, and Kole Calhoun and Albert Pujols each had an RBI. Angels starter Jered Weaver (6-7) labored through 5 1/3 innings, giving up six runs on seven hits and three walks. He had only one clean inning, retiring the side in order in the second. The last-place Angels (32-47) have dropped nine of their past 10 games and are 15 games under.500 for the first time since Aug. 23, After the game, Angels manager Mike Scioscia held a team meeting. He refused to go into details, but he said the meeting was upbeat and that no one is pointing fingers at anyone else, saying the club has great clubhouse chemistry. "If they're pointing a finger, they're pointing at themselves," he said. If the Angels are unable to turn things around soon, they could find themselves in last place at the All-Star break for the first time since Scioscia became the manager in They were in

20 June 30, 2016 Page 20 of 21 last place at the break in 1999, leading to the club's overhaul with the resignations of manager Terry Collins and general manager Bill Bavasi and the subsequent hiring of Scioscia. For now, Scioscia said his players simply need to focus on the process and not get caught up in the standings. "We know we've seen some guys performing at their absolute worst for the first half," he said, "and we know they're better than that." NOTES: Houston 2B Jose Altuve has played in 169 consecutive games, going back to last season, the longest active streak in the majors.... Angels C Geovany Soto, out since May 18 because of a torn meniscus in his right knee that required surgery, is scheduled to begin a rehab assignment at Triple-A Salt Lake on Thursday. Soto was hitting.283 in 20 games when he was hurt.... The Astros finished with 17 wins in June, the most they have had in June since winning 17 in They last won 18 in June in Angels RHP Joe Smith was scheduled make a second rehab appearance for Class A Inland Empire on Wednesday. Smith has been out since June 5 with a strained left hamstring. FROM YAHOO SPORTS Closing Time: How much does Huston Street have left? By Scott Pianowski It s hard to believe the Angels were baseball s best team back in No one topped their 98 wins that season, and the future looked bright with Mike Trout at the head of the line. Trout is still in The OC, of course, signed to a team-friendly contract that runs through But the rest of the Angels roster is a mess, a collection of problems that s led to a crash landing this year. Your sun-baked Angels are currently buried under 30 feet of snow, 19 games back in the AL West. This team isn t going anywhere. The blame is shared between offense (18th in runs) and pitching (23rd in runs), with some bad luck thrown into the mix. And at some point you work your way to the back of the bullpen, where closer Huston Street might be on his last legs. Street s game has been well known for several seasons now. He s a solid but unspectacular closer, and someone who needs some maintenance along the way. He hasn t hit the 70-inning mark since He s bounced around the majors, closing for the A s, Rockies, Padres and Angels. He was a stopper at the University of Texas, too. Street has already had a disabled-list stint this year, missing time with an oblique injury. With that, he s been limited to 15.1 erratic innings. He was knocked around for four hits and three

21 June 30, 2016 Page 21 of 21 runs in a get-work appearance Wednesday, pushing his ERA up to He s also carrying a 1.89 WHIP, with 10 walks against nine strikeouts. His fastball velocity, never a Street selling point, has cratered to a personal low of 87.9 mph. A stable closing situation is somewhat of a luxury for contending clubs. The Angels have so much red ink on the current roster, it could be a while before the Street situation draws heavy attention. The most frustrating angle of Street struggling comes in the theoretical trade market; the club might want to make Street available in the July trading season, but his current numbers don t drive the market. You re entitled to make excuses for Street if you prefer. His ugly resume this year is obviously based off a small sample of work. He s allowing an unlucky.346 BABIP. Perhaps he ll get back in form in a few appearances, more removed from the DL stint. Mike Scioscia is a veteran-coddling manager, unlikely to do anything rash with his vested closer. On the flip side, Street does turn 33 in August, and eventually the circus leaves town for everybody. He s been working with under-90 gas since Anytime a pitcher has more walks than strikeouts, I don t want to go anywhere near him. But that could merely be descriptive of Street battling mechanical problems; it doesn t have to be predictive of where the story is going. Nonetheless, in some leagues it pays to be proactive when a closer is struggling, and with that, I want to talk about Cam Bedrosian. The 24-year-old righty has been the team s best reliever, posting a 1.29 ERA and 1.11 WHIP over 28 innings. He s struck out 29 men, walked just eight. There s a pedigree and a legacy to consider; Bedrosian was a first-round pick in 2010, and his father, Steve, was a notable closer in the 1980s (he even won the 1987 NY Cy Young Award, although that speaks to how crazy and uninformed the voters used to be). Bedrosian might be the No. 3 option in this bullpen when Joe Smith (hamstring) returns, but there s something to be said for chasing skills and performance and letting the roles fall where they may. I ve added a few Baby Bedrock shares in pools where you need to be ahead of the closing curve. If he merely gives me quality innings, I ll take it; and if Street comes into another injury, continues to slump or is dealt, maybe a handshake role is on the way. Bedrosian is owned in just one percent of Yahoo leagues. This card is available to most of you.