Clips (September 21, 2016)

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1 September 21, 2016 Page 1 of 13 Clips (September 21, 2016)

2 September 21, 2016 Page 2 of 13 FROM THE LA TIMES (Page 3) Today s Clips Contents Things get heated in Angels 5-4 loss to the Rangers FROM THE OC REGISTER (Page 4) Mike Scioscia, Brett Oberholtzer ejected as Angels lose testy game to Rangers On deck: Angels at Rangers, Tuesday, 5 p.m. FROM ANGELS.COM (Page 6) Angels edged by Rangers in Arlington Tempers flare between Angels, Rangers Skaggs feeling pretty good after playing catch Weaver takes on Rangers in series finale FROM THE ASSOCIATED PRESS (Page 11) Rangers closer to AL West after testy 5-4 win over Angels

3 September 21, 2016 Page 3 of 13 FROM THE LA TIMES Things get heated in Angels 5-4 loss to the Rangers Associated Press Rookie Nomar Mazara hit his 20th homer in another testy game with multiple ejections and the Texas Rangers moved closer to their second consecutive AL West title by beating the Angels, 5-4, on Tuesday night. Texas (90-62) cut its magic number to two to clinch the seventh division title in franchise history. Mazara hit a 438-foot drive off rookie right-hander Daniel Wright (0-4) just beyond the Rangers bullpen in right-center, a two-run shot in the fourth that put them up 4-3. Mitch Moreland added an RBI single an inning later after two batters were hit by pitches. Seattle and Houston, which started the day tied for second in the AL West, played separate games on the West Coast later Tuesday night. The Mariners and Astros are both scheduled to play day games Wednesday before the Rangers' series finale against the last-place Angels that night. Angels left-hander Brett Oberholtzer and manager Mike Scioscia were ejected when Elvis Andrus was hit by a pitch in the eighth, an inning after both benches had been warned when Rangers reliever Keona Kela threw a pitch that went behind the head of Andrelton Simmons. Andrus was the third Texas batter hit by a pitcher after Mike Trout was hit by a pitch in the Angels second. In the Ranger's 3-2 series-opening victory Monday night, manager Jeff Banister (arguing a replay review) and Moreland (questioning a called third strike) were tossed early. Nick Martinez (2-3) worked 3 1/3 scoreless innings in relief, and the right-hander made a spectacular play in the fifth, when he reached behind his back for a no-look snag of Simmons' hard liner and turned it into a double play. Sam Dyson worked the ninth for his 35th save in 40 chances. Once Martinez realized the ball was in his glove, he leisurely tossed to first base to complete the double play before a fist pump while a huge smile took over his face. Simmons threw both of his hands up in disbelief and then put them on his hips as Scioscia shook his head in the Angels dugout. Rangers third baseman Adrian Beltre mouthed Wow! when watching the replay on the big video boards.

4 September 21, 2016 Page 4 of 13 There was a short stoppage of play in the Rangers seventh when third-base coach Spike Owen walked toward the Angels dugout and had words with a clearly agitated Scioscia. Umpires and Banister got between them before play resumed. FROM OC REGISTER Mike Scioscia, Brett Oberholtzer ejected as Angels lose testy game to Rangers By STEPHEN HAWKINS / THE ASSOCIATED PRESS ARLINGTON, Texas Andrelton Simmons threw his hands up in disbelief, then put them on his hips and stared toward the mound. In the dugout, all Angels manager Mike Scioscia could do was shake his head. That s not fun, Simmons said about his hard liner on which reliever Nick Martinez made a no-look, behind-the-back snag and turned into a double play. You try to hit the ball hard, and a guy makes a crazy play. That s baseball, I guess. That play by Martinez came in the fifth inning of the Rangers 5-4 win Tuesday night in another testy game to get them closer to their second AL West title in a row while the Angels scuffle in last place. That s just a reaction. You can try that a hundred times, and maybe get it once, Scioscia said. But he comes out and makes the play. Angels left-hander Brett Oberholtzer and Scioscia were ejected when Elvis Andrus was hit by a pitch in the eighth, an inning after both benches were warned following a fastball by reliever Keona Kela that went near Simmons head. Andrus was the third Texas batter hit by a pitch after Mike Trout was hit by a pitch in the Angels second. Scioscia felt the throw at Simmons was intentional, coming an inning after a play at second base when he tagged out Carlos Gomez, who had advanced on an errant pickoff throw but lost contact with the base while sliding. For some reason, they were upset, saying (Simmons) had his foot in front of the slide when Gomez slid into the base and then overslid the bag and was consequently called out, Scioscia said. I guess they took exception to what was a good play by Andrelton. He wasn t in Gomez s way at all. He came up to bat, and they threw a 97-mph fastball at his neck.

5 September 21, 2016 Page 5 of 13 There was also a short delay in the Rangers seventh when third-base coach Spike Owen walked toward the Angels dugout and had words with a clearly agitated Scioscia. I was upset, Scioscia said. He was the closest guy in an opposing uniform. Rangers manager Jeff Banister didn t give any insight about what happened with Owen. I think that my third base coach got asked out to lunch, Banister said. They were trying to make plans, they interrupted the game, so I went over there and made sure we kept the game going. In the Rangers 3-2 series-opening victory Monday night, Banister (arguing a replay review) and Mitch Moreland (questioning a called third strike) were tossed early. Rangers rookie Nomar Mazara s 20th homer was a 438-foot drive off rookie right-hander Daniel Wright (0-4) in the fourth to make it 4-3. Moreland added an RBI single an inning later after two batters were hit by pitches. In between came the play when Martinez (2-3), who threw 3-1/3 scoreless innings, caught the hard liner and threw to first to force out C.J. Cron, who was already almost to second base. I guess it happened so quick that it happened in slow motion, Martinez said. I just kind of threw my glove up there, there s no real explanation for it, in hopes of knocking it down. Martinez, the first of six Texas relievers, came in with two outs in the second after starter A.J. Griffin s last 12 pitches were balls, a stretch when he hit Trout with a pitch to load the bases before consecutive four-pitch walks to Albert Pujols and C.J. Cron that made it 3-1. Martinez s first three pitches were balls before an inning-ending groundout by Simmons. Houston won, 2-1, in 10 innings at Oakland later Tuesday to keep the Rangers magic number at two to win their second consecutive AL West title, and seventh overall. The Astros started the day tied for second in the AL West with Seattle, which was still playing at home late Tuesday. NOTES Wright was hit in the back of the leg by a comebacker in the second, but was OK. Scioscia said Jhoulys Chacin, who had a comebacker ricochet off his lower left leg Monday, was sore but should make his next start.

6 September 21, 2016 Page 6 of 13 On deck: Angels at Rangers, Wednesday, 5 p.m. By STAFF REPORTS Where: Globe Life Park, Arlington TV: Fox Sports West, 5 p.m. Did you know? Jered Weaver will try to join Chuck Finley (165) as the only pitchers to win 150 games in an Angels uniform. Weaver s 17 wins in 39 career starts against Texas are his most wins against any opponent.. THE PITCHERS ANGELS RHP JERED WEAVER (11-12, 5.17) Vs. Rangers: 17-8, 3.38 At Globe Life Park: 5-8, 4.55 Hates to face: Carlos Beltran, 3 for 8 (.375), 2 HRs Loves to face: Ian Desmond, 1 for 11 (.111) RANGERS LHP DEREK HOLLAND (7-8, 4.93) Vs. Angels: 10-7, 5.17 At Globe Life Park: 35-22, 4.59 Hates to face: Mike Trout, 13 for 41 (.317), 3 2Bs, 2 HRs Loves to face: C.J. Cron, 1 for 13 (.077) FROM ANGELS.COM Angels edged by Rangers in Arlington By T.R. Sullivan and Ryan Posner / MLB.com ARLINGTON -- Another comeback and another one-run victory have pushed the Rangers to the brink of the American League West title. The Rangers trailed by two after two innings but went ahead on Nomar Mazara's two-run home run and held on with a superb effort from the bullpen for a 5-4 victory over the Angels at Globe Life Park on Tuesday night. The victory dropped the Rangers' magic number for winning the AL West title to two. Since the Astros and the Mariners were tied for second, the Rangers needed both to lose late Tuesday night on the West Coast to drop the magic number to one and clinch at least a tie for the division, but Houston topped the Athletics in Oakland. "There is no exhale in this league," Rangers manager Jeff Banister said. "This is the best league on the planet. You've got to stay focused and stay ready. It's all about finishing, and we have to find a way to finish."

7 September 21, 2016 Page 7 of 13 The Rangers can clinch the West on Wednesday with an Astros loss to the A's in the afternoon and a victory over the Angels in the series finale. Rangers starter A.J. Griffin went just 1 2/3 innings, allowing three runs on three hits and four walks. Two of the walks forced in runs. But five Rangers relievers combined to hold the Angels to one unearned run over 7 1/3 innings for the win. Nick Martinezwas first out of the bullpen, and he pitched 2 1/3 scoreless innings to get the victory. The Angels went 2-for-13 with runners in scoring position and ended up losing for the 11th time in their last 14 games. Starter Daniel Wright took the loss after allowing five runs in 4 2/3 innings. "I put myself in a lot of bad counts, and I don't have the stuff to pitch out of bad counts," Wright said. "I need to throw strikes and go after guys. They hit some good pitches hard, but there were a lot of bad pitches, too." MOMENTS THAT MATTERED Fireworks in Arlington: With nobody on and no outs in the seventh, Texas right-hander Keone Kela fired a 96-mph pitch behind the shoulders of Andrelton Simmons that sailed to the backstop. Simmons was visibly upset by the pitch, and many of his teammates made their way to the top steps of the dugout. The benches did not clear, but both teams were issued a warning, as Wright had hit Adrian Beltreand Jonathan Lucroy in the fifth. Then, in the eighth, left-hander Brett Oberholtzerhit Elvis Andrus near the ribs and was immediately ejected. Angels manager Mike Scioscia was also ejected. "Obviously, there was an intent to throw at Simmons," Scioscia said. "For some reason they were upset with the slide, saying that he tried to block the base [earlier in the game]. I guess they took exception to what was a good play by Andrelton." Martinez makes dazzling catch: Martinez, holding a one-run lead, walked C.J. Cron to lead off the fifth. Simmons followed with a line drive up the middle that Martinez snatched behind his back and threw to first to double up Cron. The velocity off the bat was 93 mph; per Statcast, similarly batted balls go for a hit 57 percent of the time. The TV camera caught Scioscia just shaking his head in the dugout. "It was pretty wild," Martinez said. "I was just hoping to knock it down." Patience is key: The Angels walked three times in the second inning, resulting in a three-run frame and an early exit for Griffin. Cliff Pennington drew a walk and scored three batters later on a single by Yunel Escobar. That was the only run of the inning that didn't come from a walk. After hitting Mike Trout to load the bases, Griffin walked Albert Pujols and Cron to give the Angels a two-run lead. Griffin was then relieved by Martinez, who got Simmons to ground out to end the inning.

8 September 21, 2016 Page 8 of 13 Mazara hits No. 20: Mazara hit his 20th home run of the season to give the Rangers a 4-3 lead in the fourth. He is the fourth Rangers rookie to hit 20-plus home runs, following Pete Incaviglia (30 in 1986), Mark Teixeira (26 in 2003) and Dave Hostetler (22 in 1982). "I just come to the ballpark and work hard," Mazara said. "In the end it's all about getting the win." QUOTABLE "I was trying to go up and in to see what I could do to get him out. But it didn't work out that way. I missed and I hit him. I think Elvis knew there wasn't any intent behind it." -- Oberholtzer, on being ejected UNDER REVIEW With Carlos Gomez at first and one out in the sixth, left-hander Jose Alvarez fired a pickoff throw to Cron. But Alvarez's throw sailed by Cron, and Gomez, who dove back, looked to advance to second. Gomez beat the throw to second, but Simmons held the tag on him and Gomez was called out, as he was unable to keep his body on the base. Banister challenged, and after a 30-second review, the call on the field was upheld. WHAT'S NEXT Angels: Right-hander Jered Weaver will start the series finale at 5:05 p.m. PT on Wednesday at Globe Life Park. Weaver is one win away from joining Chuck Finley as the only pitchers with 150 wins while with the Angels. Rangers: Left-hander Derek Holland starts against the Angels at 7:05 p.m. CT Tuesday at Globe Life Park. Holland is 2-3 with a 4.23 ERA in five starts since returning from the disabled list on Aug. 23. Tempers flare between Angels, Rangers By Ryan Posner / MLB.com ARLINGTON -- After Rangers outfielder Carlos Gomez singled with one out in the sixth, he looked to advance to second on an errant pickoff throw from Angels left-hander Jose Alvarez. Gomez over-slid second base and was called out, and a challenge upheld the call on the field. Gomez took exception to what he believed was Angels shortstop Andrelton Simmons blocking second base on the putout. And that sparked a night of flared tempers in the Rangers' 5-4 win over the Angels on Tuesday night. "I guess they took exception to what was a good play by Andrelton," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. "He wasn't in Gomez's way at all. Gomez let him know he wasn't happy."

9 September 21, 2016 Page 9 of 13 If you check the tape, I clearly was not close to blocking the bag," Simmons said. "Anybody that thinks I was blocking the bag, that's ludicrous." The next inning, when Simmons was at the plate, right-hander Keone Kela threw a 96-mph pitch that sailed behind Simmons' shoulders and to the backstop. Simmons was visibly upset and gestured to the mound, and both benches were immediately given warnings. Texas' Adrian Beltre and Jonathan Lucroy had been hit by pitches in the fifth. Skaggs feeling pretty good after playing catch By Ryan Posner / MLB.com ARLINGTON -- Angels left-hander Tyler Skaggs is still not sure if he will make another appearance this season as he deals with a mild flexor-pronator strain in his left forearm. But he took a positive step on Tuesday, playing catch from 90 feet. Skaggs, who said he felt good after playing catch for the first time since being scratched from his start last Wednesday, is expected to play catch from 120 feet on Wednesday. He's not sure when he'll be able to start working off a mound. "Just all four-seamers today, nice and easy, getting loose. I felt pretty good," Skaggs said. "The more I throw, the better I'm probably going to feel. The first day is always about feeling out the cobwebs." Manager Mike Scioscia confirmed that the team has not set a timeline for Skaggs' return. It's possible he may finish out his year in the instructional league, not the Majors. "If it does feel good, I'll hopefully go out there and pitch one of the last days [of the season]," Skaggs said. "You can always go to the instructional league and get some innings in. I wouldn't like to, but if it needs to be done, I'm down for whatever." Skaggs returned to the Angels in July after missing nearly two seasons while recovering from Tommy John surgery. He underwent an MRI last week that revealed no damage to the repaired ligament. Even if Skaggs does have to finish the season in the instructional league, he'll consider this year a win, health-wise, as he was able to surpass 80 innings between his time with the Angels and rehab starts in the Minors. "He needs to have a rehab where he feels good," Scioscia said. "Then we can see if he's going to pitch with us, or maybe [it will be] an instructional league situation where he can go out and prove this is all behind him."

10 September 21, 2016 Page 10 of 13 Worth noting Scioscia said that right-hander Garrett Richards felt good after throwing a 30-pitch bullpen session on Monday. It was Richards' second time throwing off a mound since tearing the ulnar collateral ligament in his elbow and opting not to undergo Tommy John surgery. "That comfort level will grow [to the point where] he's fine and ready for Spring Training," Scioscia said. "We're keeping our fingers crossed, but the first couple times off the mound have been resoundingly positive for Garrett, and hopefully, that will continue." Geovany Soto is back to swinging a bat after a fluke injury -- he sprained his ankle on Sept. 12 after slipping in the dugout -- set him back as he recovers from the inflammation in his right knee that's kept him on the disabled list since Aug. 17. "Once he gets to running, we'll have an idea of when he'll be ready," Scioscia said. Kole Calhoun is expected to rejoin the team in Houston for this weekend's four-game series against the Astros. He did not travel with the Angels to Arlington as he and his wife, Jennifer, await the birth of their first child. Right-hander Jhoulys Chacin is expected to make his next start, on Saturday against the Astros, after taking a liner off his left shin during Monday's loss. Weaver takes on Rangers in series finale By Ryan Posner / MLB.com With the division-rival Astros playing during the day on Wednesday, the Rangers, who have a magic number of two, will know as they begin their series finale with the Angels whether they'll have the chance to clinch the division title by the end of the night. They'll have Derek Holland on the mound, opposed by Jered Weaver. Holland will look to solidify his role on the postseason roster. His brief stay in the bullpen, which didn't include an outing, came to an end after he made a start against the Astros last Wednesday. The start didn't go too well, though, as he allowed five runs in 5 1/3 innings. Holland made three straight quality starts after coming off the 60-day disabled list on Aug. 23 but has a 8.38 ERA in his last two. Wednesday may be a good time for a rebound, as he's 1-1 with a 2.55 ERA in three starts against the Angels this season. "Right now I am worried about being on the roster for the playoffs," Holland said after his start against the Astros. "I've got to pitch better. [That] stunk. I didn't do my job."

11 September 21, 2016 Page 11 of 13 Weaver's 5.17 ERA would set a career high, but he's gone 3-1 with a 3.77 ERA in five starts since Aug. 25. One of those came against the Rangers, on Sept. 11, when he struck out a season-high eight and allowed two runs in 6 2/3 innings to pick up a win. He has a 2.13 ERA in two starts against the Rangers this season. Three things to know about this game Weaver is one win away from joining Chuck Finley as the only pitchers to win 150 games with the Angels. Adrian Beltre's 90 at-bats against Weaver are more than any other player has against him, and it's the most Beltre has against a pitcher. Beltre has hit.244 with three home runs and eight RBIs in those at-bats. Since 2014, Weaver is 4-0 with a 2.12 ERA in seven starts against the Rangers. His 17 career wins over them are his most against any opponent. FROM THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Rangers closer to AL West after testy 5-4 win over Angels ARLINGTON, Texas -- Nick Martinez stuck his glove blindly behind his back and stabbed a hard liner out of the air, part of a spectacular double play in a big relief appearance for the Texas Rangers as they got closer to another AL West title. "I don't know how he caught it," manager Jeff Banister said after the Rangers' 5-4 victory over the Los Angeles Angels on Tuesday night cut their magic number to two. "I guess it happened so quick that it happened in slow motion," Martinez said. "I just kind of threw my glove up there, there's no real explanation for it, in hopes of knocking it down." That play in the fifth by Martinez (2-3) came during his 3 1/3 scoreless innings. He was the first of six Rangers relievers after A.J. Griffin, who was feeling ill, fell behind 3-1 in the second. Rookie Nomar Mazara hit his 20th homer, a go-ahead, two-run shot for the Rangers (90-62) in another testy game with multiple ejections. Mazara's 438-foot drive off rookie right-hander Daniel Wright (0-4) in the fourth made it 4-3. Mitch Moreland added an RBI single an inning later after two batters were hit by pitches.

12 September 21, 2016 Page 12 of 13 Houston won 2-1 in 10 innings at Oakland later Tuesday to keep the Rangers' magic number at two to win their second consecutive AL West title, and seventh overall. The Astros are 9 1/2 games back and the Mariners 10 1/2 back in the AL West. Houston and Seattle both have day games Wednesday before the Rangers' series finale against the last-place Angels that night. Angels left-hander Brett Oberholtzer and manager Mike Scioscia were ejected when Elvis Andrus was hit by a pitch in the eighth, an inning after both benches had been warned when Rangers reliever Keona Kela threw a pitch that went behind the head of Andrelton Simmons. Andrus was the third Texas batter hit by a pitch after Mike Trout was hit by a pitch in the Angels second. There was also a short delay in the Rangers seventh when third-base coach Spike Owen walked toward the Angels dugout and had words with a clearly agitated Scioscia. "I was upset," Scioscia said. "He was the closest guy in an opposing uniform." Banister didn't give any insight about what happened with Owen. "I think that my third-base coach got asked out to lunch," Banister said. "They were trying to make plans, they interrupted the game, so I went over there and made sure we kept the game going." In the Ranger's 3-2 series-opening victory Monday night, Banister (arguing a replay review) and Moreland (questioning a called third strike) were tossed early. Sam Dyson worked the ninth for his 35th save in 40 chances. On that play in the fifth, Martinez made the no-look snag on Simmons' hard liner. Once Martinez realized the ball was in his glove, he leisurely tossed to first base to complete the double play before a fist pump while a huge smile took over his face. Simmons threw both of his hands up in disbelief and then put them on his hips as Scioscia shook his head in the Angels dugout. Rangers third baseman Adrian Beltre mouthed "Wow!" when watching the replay on the big video boards. "That's not fun," Simmons said. "You try to hit the ball hard, and a guy makes a crazy play. That's baseball, I guess." TRAINER'S ROOM

13 September 21, 2016 Page 13 of 13 Angels: Wright was hit in the back of the leg by a comebacker in the second, but was OK.... Scioscia said Jhoulys Chacin, who had a comebacker ricochet off his lower left leg Monday, was sore but should make his next start. Rangers: Reliever Tony Barnette, who hasn't pitched since Sept. 4 because of a strained right oblique, threw a bullpen session with 25 pitches off flat ground before 10 off the mound. Barnette called it an "encouraging day." BALL 14, BALL 15 Martinez came in with two outs in the second after Griffin's last 12 pitches were balls, a stretch when he hit Trout with a pitch to load the bases before consecutive four-pitch walks to Albert Pujolsand C.J. Cron that made it 3-1. Martinez's first three pitches were balls before an inningending groundout by Simmons. IN THE NET When Rangers C Jonathan Lucroy lost the bat on a big swing and miss in the second inning, the bat flew into the protective net behind the plate and lodged several feet above the seats. UP NEXT Angels: Jered Weaver (11-12) will try to join Chuck Finley (165) as the only pitchers to win 150 games in an Angels uniform. The right-hander's 17 wins against Texas are his most against any opponent. Rangers: Lefty Derek Holland (7-8) has lost his last two starts, allowing nine runs in 9 2/3 innings.