Clips (August 21, 2016)

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1 August 21, 2016 Page 1 of 19 Clips (August 21, 2016)

2 August 21, 2016 Page 2 of 19 FROM THE LA TIMES (Page 3) Today s Clips Contents Angels Albert Pujols ties Mark McGwire for 10 th on all-time home run list Angels look back at their 2002 World Series on a night they lose to the Yankees Angels cut Johnny Giavotella and look toward 2017 FROM THE OC REGISTER (Page 7) Final: Nolasco loses third game in four starts as Yankees win, 5-1 Anderson opens up for Angels Hall of Fame honor On deck: Yankees at Angels, Sunday, 12:30 p.m. FROM ANGELS.COM (Page 11) Pujols ties Big Mac for 10 th on homers list Angels bats remain cold against Yankees Garret Anderson joins Angels Hall of Fame Chacin gets the call as Angels try to stop Yankees Angels DFA Giavotella, put Escobar on 7-day DL FROM THE ASSOCIATED PRESS (Page 16) Cessa wins in first big league start, Yanks beat Angels 5-1 FROM FOX SPORTS (Page 18) Yankees-Angels Preview

3 August 21, 2016 Page 3 of 19 FROM THE LA TIMES Angels Albert Pujols ties Mark McGwire for 10 th on all-time home run list Bill Shaikin Albert Pujols has been remarkably disciplined during his ascent on the all-time home run list. He appreciates the interest in his records and in the Hall of Famers he passes along the way but he says he cannot put his welfare ahead of his team s welfare. I believe, if I start doing that, that s being selfish, Pujols said. I m aware of the guys ahead of me and the guys that I pass. It s not like I m disrespecting those guys. In this dreary Angels season the team has 72 losses; only the Atlanta Braves and Minnesota Twins have more Pujols allowed himself a moment of sentiment late Saturday night. His home run Saturday was No. 583 of his career, vaulting him into a 10th-place tie with Mark McGwire. Pujols started the season in 14 th place, passing the likes of Reggie Jackson and Harmon Killebrew. McGwire is different, and not only because Pujols holds him in historical regard. He was the guy he and Sammy Sosa that turned baseball around, said Pujols, referring to the great home-run record chase of But the McGwire connection is personal too. In 2001, when Pujols had one minor league season under his belt, McGwire famously helped persuade St. Louis Cardinals Manager Tony La Russa that Pujols should make the major league team. The rest, as they say, is history. As a young 21-year-old, I was just following him around, Pujols said. The two talked hitting all the time then, and they still do. Pujols said he expected that McGwire would call or text once he realized he had been tied on the home-run list by the guy he mentored in St. Louis. Pujols hit the milestone home run Saturday in the ninth inning, off New York Yankees closer Dellin Betances. Pujols, 36, is batting.249, with 23 home runs and 96 runs batted in. He leads the major leagues with 36 RBI since the All-Star break. Ricky Nolasco, the losing pitcher in the Angels 5-1 defeat, expressed his admiration for Pujols by noting that he had struggled to get him out. In 31 career at-bats against Nolasco, Pujols batted.419, with three home runs and one strikeout.

4 August 21, 2016 Page 4 of 19 He s always a pain, Nolasco said. He s always a really good hitter. He ll be in the record books in a lot of categories. He s a no-doubt Hall of Famer. It s nice to have him on my side for once. Angels look back at their 2002 World Series on a night they lose to the Yankees Bill Shaikin There are those professional athletes that wear a championship ring wherever they go, long after their careers have ended. And then there is Garret Anderson, who thought he ought to wear his championship ring for his induction into the Angels hall of fame but had to find it first. I had to actually knock the dust off it, Anderson said. It s been sitting in a drawer. The Angels staged a lovely ceremony for Anderson on Saturday. They mowed GA into the grass in left field, invited an impressive collection of former teammates and franchise heroes, and played an Anderson highlight reel that ended with the only World Series-winning hit in club history. In the video, the fans went crazy, banging the thunder sticks that were the soundtrack to the 2002 World Series. In person, the video elicited surprisingly little response from the sellout crowd, perhaps because the reminders of a glorious past are a stark contrast to the painful present. On Saturday, the Angels played the New York Yankees, the giants they slayed in the first round of the 2002 playoffs. These are different times and different teams, with the fourth-place Yankees and the fifth-place Angels entering play Saturday a combined 28 games out of first place. The Yankees, who traded away their two best pitchers last month, started a kid wearing No. 85 on his back. Albert Pujols hit the 583rd home run of his career, tying Mark McGwire for 10th on the all-time list. That was the lone highlight for the Angels in a 5-1 loss. So, really, it was a perfect night to look back, and to appreciate that Anderson finally let his guard down. He was a metronome of excellence hit after hit, rarely diving in the outfield so as not to risk an injury that would remove him from the lineup for weeks, well aware that his value was at bat, well-spoken but not particularly interested in explaining himself to fans or media. I wouldn t have changed the style of play that I had, he said in a press conference. It wouldn t have been true to who I am. What I learned over the last two or three years is to be a little more accessible.

5 August 21, 2016 Page 5 of 19 He said he was an introvert, trained by veterans that young players should be seen and not heard. I took that probably way over to the other end, but I didn t err on the other side of saying a lot of stupid things, either, he said. Public speaking does not come easily to Anderson. He is taking classes at Irvine Valley College he said he hopes to get a business degree from Chapman or Concordia and asked a writing instructor to look over the remarks he prepared for Saturday s ceremony. He was terrific. He talked about emotions that men do not like to admit that we have. He spoke about being raised as an only child, born to a 17-year-old father and 15-year-old mother who did not stay together. I was a statistic waiting to happen, he said. He saluted his wife, Teresa, for keeping a household with three children running smoothly during his 17-year career, and he admitted he did not realize how demanding that task was until he retired and saw so up close every day. I found out it s easier to face Pedro Martinez, he said. Anderson credited Manager Mike Scioscia for instilling a championship culture into the Angels organization, and a belief that winning was an expectation, not just a hope. Even though fans sometimes despise Scioscia s contact play run from third base on a ground ball, even if you get thrown out at home he said Cal Ripken once told him it was the most exciting play in baseball. Finally, he told the fans, he understood what being part of the team was all about. I realize I didn t really grow up all alone, like I thought, Anderson said. I take you all into the Angel hall of fame. Angels cut Johnny Giavotella and look toward 2017 Bill Shaikin Even with six weeks left in this season, the Angels already are planning for next season. Johnny Giavotella was not in those plans, so the Angels cut him Saturday. Giavotella, 29, the Angels opening-day second baseman this season and last, had one hit in 19 at-bats this month and had not started any of the last five games.

6 August 21, 2016 Page 6 of 19 Of the 10 position players the Angels used on opening day, they have removed four from their roster. Giavotella and outfieldersdaniel Nava and Craig Gentry were designated for assignment, and catcher Carlos Perez was sent to the minor leagues before returning as a backup. The Angels recalled infielder Kaleb Cowart from triple-a Salt Lake on Saturday. Manager Mike Scioscia said Cowart,Gregorio Petit and Cliff Pennington would share playing time at second base, as the Angels try to determine whether one of those players, or a combination of them, could suffice at the position next season. The three more likely project as bench players, but all can play all over the infield, and Petit has started in the outfield this season as well. With the Angels projecting a young rotation next season, they could need eight relievers, meaning three bench players. Our roster is going to have to demand more flexibility, General Manager Billy Eppler said. Giavotella won a four-way competition in the spring of 2015 to replace Howie Kendrick as the Angels second baseman, and he batted.272, with four home runs and a.318 on-base percentage. He batted.260 this season, with six home runs. His.287 on-base percentage ranked 86th among the 90 American League players with at least 350 plate appearances, and his defense, while improved, was no better than average. Johnny for a time was an incredible spark plug for us, Scioscia said. But, just being able to play second base, his opportunities started to diminish. Not being versatile, it was going to be tough, especially if we were not going to commit to him to play second base every day. We re going to take a look at a couple different options and hopefully get the production we need, both offensively and defensively, at second base. Yunel Escobar is put on the disabled list The Angels put third baseman Yunel Escobar on the disabled list after he was diagnosed with a concussion. Players on the DL because of a concussion must sit out at least seven days. Jeffry Marte started at third base Saturday. Petit, Pennington and Cowart also can play the position. Escobar fouled a ball off his face while bunting in Friday s game. The ball caromed off his nose and cheek and onto his helmet. Scioscia said no bones were broken. Escobar is batting.320, second in the AL to Jose Altuve of the Houston Astros. Escobar is batting.416 with runners in scoring position, second in the AL to Coco Crisp of the Oakland Athletics.

7 August 21, 2016 Page 7 of 19 Escobar, the Angels leadoff batter, has grounded into a league-high 20 double plays. FROM OC REGISTER Final: Nolasco loses third game in four starts as Yankees win, 5-1 By CLAY FOWLER / STAFF WRITER ANAHEIM A day after Angels owner Arte Moreno cited a lack of pitching in defense of Manager Mike Scioscia s role in the team s dip 20 games below.500, Ricky Nolasco didn t debunk the argument. The trade deadline acquisition, who Moreno owes $12 million next year, dropped his third game in four starts in an Angels uniform, surrendering an early lead to the Yankees in a 5-1 loss on Saturday at Angel Stadium. Entering Saturday, Angels starters had a collective 5.04 ERA, the fourth worst in the major leagues. Nolasco gave up five runs in six innings, swelling his ERA to 5.22 on the season, but allowed all seven of his hits with two outs. I thought I was pretty good, just couldn t finish two guys off with two outs, Nolasco said. That was the whole game. In Nolasco s defense, the Angels have scored a total of two runs while he s been on the mound in his three losses, representative of a disturbing trend. In 10 of their past 13 games, the Angels have failed to score more than three runs. It took them 17 innings to get on the scoreboard in a three-game series with the Yankees that concludes Sunday. Albert Pujols is responsible for the Angels lone run in the series, a solo home run in the ninth inning on Saturday. It didn t contribute to a victory, but Pujols home run was significant in its own right. It pulled the future Hall of Famer even with Mark McGwire for 10th place on the all-time home run list. Pujols first lamented the loss, but acknowledged the personal impact of tying a mentor of his beginning when they were teammates in St. Louis McGwire s last season in 2001.

8 August 21, 2016 Page 8 of 19 Tied with Mark is pretty special because he s a pretty close friend of mine, Pujols said. A guy who helps me out whenever I go through a slump and just a guy who mentored me in St. Louis my first year. Just to see how he was approaching the game and how all the pressure was on him because he was the guy. Him and Sammy Sosa turned baseball around. Before Pujols shot into the left-field seats, only twice did the Angels advance a runner to second base. Aside from Pujols, Gregorio Petit, Jefry Marte and Kole Calhoun managed the other three hits for the Angels. Calhoun advanced Petit to second in the third inning courtesy of an infield single and Calhoun himself reached second on a walk and a wild pitch in the eighth. Not exactly an encouraging showing against Luis Cessa, a reliever for the Yankees who made his first career start Saturday and his ninth career appearance in a major league game. Cessa, 24, didn t allow a run on three hits with five strikeouts in six innings. Nolasco gave up his fifth home run as an Angel in the first inning. Gary Sanchez s solo shot into the left field corner swiftly brought back memories of the Yankees four home runs off Jered Weaver in Friday s 7-0 victory. The home run was the first of four consecutive Yankee hits with two outs in the first inning. Brian McCann s two-run single gave the Yankees a 3-0 advantage in the first. Nolasco quickly settled down, retiring all but one of the next 15 batters, the lone exception a throwing error that didn t cause the Angels any damage. The Yankees tacked two more runs onto their lead in the sixth inning with three consecutive two-out hits. Aaron Judge s single drove in Starlin Castro and McCann to swell the Yankees advantage to 5-0. It s really a shame because Ricky had really good stuff tonight, Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. I thought he really pitched better than that linescore showed, but still in the end, it s five runs. The Angels have lost 14 of their last 16 games to fall 21 games under.500 and 211/2 games behind the first-place Texas Rangers. Anderson opens up for Angels Hall of Fame honor By CLAY FOWLER / STAFF WRITER ANAHEIM Garret Anderson knocked the dust off his 2002 World Series championship ring Saturday morning.

9 August 21, 2016 Page 9 of 19 The Angels all-time leader in seven offensive categories called it the only tangible thing from his 20-year baseball career. He wore it when he became the 14th individual inducted into the Angels Hall of Fame in a pregame ceremony on Saturday, where Angels owner Arte Moreno presented Anderson with a couple more tangible reminders of his lofty place in Angels history, a Hall of Fame ring and a bright red jacket. Even watching video (of my career), it still doesn t feel real to me, Anderson said before the ceremony. I can drive by the stadium taking my kids somewhere and it still feels like I honestly didn t play there. I wish I could hold onto something to let me know it was real. Even though I played 20 years of pro ball, snap, it was gone. Anderson, 44, most famously provided the three-run, winning double in Game 7 of the 2002 World Series. The three-time All Star only recently discovered his three children two are in high school and one is in college shared repeated viewings of the famed hit. Answering questions was far from Anderson s forte during his baseball career. He was notoriously reserved with the fans and the media, something he expressed remorse about Saturday. Perhaps he softened his image with the 1,000-watt smile he routinely flashed during remarks from former teammates Tim Salmon, Troy Percival and Torii Hunter during the pregame ceremony. Of all the players that have come through here, there haven t been many that have been as talented as Garret, Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. I think his passion to play this game was very real, although it didn t manifest itself the way it did with some other players. Anderson gave a lengthy speech to the crowd in addition to gushing about the honor of joining the Angels Hall of Fame in a news conference before the ceremony. He wasn t reserved about his acknowledgment of the gesture, but that didn t apply to everybody in his family. He told his mother of the honor when the Angels informed him a month ago. I texted her the other day and said I ll see you Saturday, Anderson said. And she said For what. Anderson chuckled when he recalled the moment knowing his mother was already in the stands with many other members of his large family in attendance Saturday who participated in the raucous cheers for Anderson from the Angel Stadium crowd. Giavotella designated for assignment The Angels designated Johnny Giavotella for assignment on Saturday and will give a number of different players a crack at second base the remainder of the season. Giavotella, 29, was the Angels starting second baseman 214 of the last 284 games, but he has just one hit in August and was held out of the lineup the last five games.

10 August 21, 2016 Page 10 of 19 I think being just able to play second base, his opportunities had started to diminish, Scioscia said. And not being versatile, it was going to be tough, especially if we re not going to commit to him to play second base every day, it was going to be tough for him to get at-bats and contribute. So I think we re going to take a look at a couple other different avenues. Those other avenues consist of Gregorio Petit, Cliff Pennington and Kaleb Cowart, who will split time at second base. Pennington has spent considerable time on the disabled list this season while Petit and Cowart have been up and down from the minor leagues. ALSO C.J. Cron was reinstated from the disabled list after missing 35 games because of a broken hand.... Yunel Escobar was placed on the seven-day concussion DL after sustaining a concussion Friday when he fouled a ball into his face. Kaleb Cowart, who will likely see time at second base and third base, was recalled from Triple-A. On deck: Yankees at Angels, Sunday, 12:30 p.m. By JEFF FLETCHER / STAFF WRITER Where: Angel Stadium TV: Fox Sports West Did you know? Angels outfielder Mike Trout (94 runs going into Saturday) is approaching the 100-run plateau for the fifth consecutive season. He can join Alex Rodriguez as the only players to log five 100-run seasons before their age-25 season. THE PITCHERS ANGELS RHP JHOULYS CHACIN (3-8, 5.92) Vs. Yankees: 0-1, 8.44 At Angel Stadium: 2-2, 4.53 Hates to face: Jacoby Ellsbury, 2 for 5 (.400) Loves to face: Chase Headley, 3 for 18 (.167), 7 Ks YANKEES RHP CHAD GREEN (2-2, 4.05) Vs. Angels: He has never faced them. At Angel Stadium: He has never pitched here. Hates to face: None Loves to face: None

11 August 21, 2016 Page 11 of 19 FROM ANGELS.COM Pujols ties Big Mac for 10 th on homers list By Austin Laymance / MLB.com ANAHEIM -- There are only nine men who have hit more home runs than Albert Pujols, who slugged career homer No. 583 in the ninth inning of the Angels' 5-1 loss to the Yankees on Saturday night at Angel Stadium, tying him with former teammate Mark McGwire for 10th on the all-time list. Pujols said it would have been sweeter if the home run came in a winning effort and added he doesn't want to dwell on his career numbers, but he admitted tying his former mentor with the Cardinals was a big deal. "Tied with Mark is pretty special, because he's a close friend of mine," said Pujols, who was beaming as he read a congratulatory text from McGwire on his way out of the Angels' clubhouse after the game. "We stay in touch, a guy who always helped me out whenever I went through a slump." Pujols went deep to left field off Dellin Betances to lead off the ninth, making the Yankees' closer the 375th pitcher Pujols has homered off. The ball traveled a projected 423 feet and had an exit velocity of 108 mph, according to Statcast. "Every time Albert does something, there's always a little footnote of who he's passing, and you hear the names that we've heard for the last couple years of guys that are the immortals of this game," said Angels manager Mike Scioscia. "It's just fun to see every time he does something, whether it's a double or an RBI or a home run, I think it just puts in perspective the incredible career he's had and really how strong he's still going." Pujols, 36, can now set his sights on Hall of Famer Frank Robinson, who is ninth all-time with 586 homers. The rest of the Top 10 includes: Barry Bonds (762), Hank Aaron (755), Babe Ruth (714), Alex Rodriguez (696), Willie Mays (660), Ken Griffey Jr. (630), Jim Thome (612) and Sammy Sosa (609). "Now, any homer he hits, it's just going to keep being history and history," said Angels utility man Gregorio Petit. "He's always hungry for more, he always wants more. He's always working hard to keep making history, to keep putting up numbers." Pujols learned at a very young age what it takes to be a great hitter. In 2001, he made the Cardinals' Opening Day roster at age 21, crediting McGwire with prodding manager Tony La Russa to find a spot for him. From there, Pujols studied McGwire's work ethic, preparation and ability to shoulder immense pressure.

12 August 21, 2016 Page 12 of 19 "A guy that mentored me in St. Louis my first year, just to see how he was approaching the game, how all the pressure was on him because he was the guy," said Pujols, who has 23 homers and 96 RBIs in 120 games this season. "He and Sammy Sosa pretty much turned baseball around. And just the way that he approached the game and his focus and his work ethic. It was pretty amazing as a young 21-year-old, I was just following him around, just seeing his preparation, and obviously he helped me along my way." Angels pitcher Ricky Nolasco believes Pujols will head to the Hall of Fame when all is said and done. "He's always a pain, always a really good hitter, and obviously he's going to be in the record books in a lot of categories," said Nolasco, who has allowed three homers to Pujols over the years. "I'm sure he's a no-doubt Hall of Famer." Angels bats remain cold against Yankees By Jack Baer and Austin Laymance / MLB.com ANAHEIM -- On a night when the Angels inducted a 17-year Major League veteran into their Hall of Fame, it was the Yankees' youth movement that stole the show. The Yankees once again got major contributions from a number of rookies and rolled to a 5-1 win over the Angels on Saturday at Angel Stadium. Rookie right-hander Luis Cessa scattered three hits over six-plus innings in his first career start, rookie catcher Gary Sanchez homered and rookie right fielder Aaron Judge drove in two runs for the Yankees, who moved within four games of the Orioles for the second American League Wild Card spot. "Our development people have done a really good job with these kids," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. "A number of our kids, you look at adjustments Sanchez has made, and Judge and Tyler Austin, there's more coming. We've done a really good job developing these kids." Albert Pujols homered in the ninth inning for the Angels' first run of the series, tying him with former teammate and mentor Mark McGwire for 10th all-time with 583 in his career. The Yanks also enjoyed production from their veterans, as Brian McCann had two hits and two RBIs, Starlin Castro added two hits and two runs and Brett Gardnerrobbed C.J. Cron of a tworun homer with an amazing catch over the left-field wall. Ricky Nolasco remained winless in three starts with the Angels since coming over in a Trade Deadline deal with the Twins. The veteran right-hander took the loss after allowing five runs on seven hits in 6 1/3 innings, striking out five against no walks. All five runs were scored with two outs.

13 August 21, 2016 Page 13 of 19 "I just couldn't finish guys off with two outs. That was the whole game," Nolasco said. "If I do, different story." MOMENTS THAT MATTERED Early power: Sanchez was supposed to have power, but the numbers are starting to get ridiculous. The catcher's homer in the first inning gave him a fourth straight game with an extrabase hit and 11 extra-base hits in his 15 games with the Yankees this season. He's hitting.379/.419/.776 in 61 plate appearances. "He did a really good job," Girardi said. "All five runs we got were with two outs today. He started the first inning, and that's a big pickoff of Kole Calhoun. He blocks the ball, recovers and picks him off. That's a big play, too, because of who was hitting [Mike Trout]." Pujols enters the Top 10: There are only nine men who have hit more home runs than Pujols, who slugged career homer No. 583 in the ninth inning to tie McGwire for 10th on the all-time list. "Tied with Mark is pretty special, because he's a close friend of mine," said Pujols, who received a congratulatory text from McGwire shortly after the game. "We stay in touch, a guy who always helped me out whenever I went through a slump." Gardner goes horizontal: A 365-foot fly ball from Cron in the seventh inning would have made it a 5-2 game, but Gardner would have none of that. The left fielder timed a jump perfectly, going horizontal as he leaned back over the wall and hauling in the would-be homer with a pair of fans cushioning his fall and likely keeping him from toppling into the stands. "I wasn't sure off the bat," Gardner said. "I knew he hit it pretty well and then the more I got closer to the wall, I knew I was going to be able to get to the ball, it was just matter of if I was going to run out of room or not." Crisis averted: Trout was drilled in the back of his left shoulder on a pitch by Cessa in the sixth inning. Trout remained in the game, fortunate the ball did not hit him in the helmet. The Angels already lost a player to a concussion in this series, as Yunel Escobar went on the 7-day disabled list on Saturday after fouling a pitch off his face in Friday night's game. QUOTABLE "As a fan, it's amazing to see what he's done." -- Angels utility man Gregorio Petit, on Pujols SOUND SMART WITH YOUR FRIENDS Pujols homered off Yankees closer Dellin Betances, the 375th pitcher he's taken deep in his career. GARRET HONORED BY ANGELS Garret Anderson rarely wears his World Series championship ring from 2002, but the Halos'

14 August 21, 2016 Page 14 of 19 former outfielder proudly brought it out Saturday for a special occasion, as he was inducted into the Angels Hall of Fame in an emotional pregame ceremony. WHAT'S NEXT Yankees: Chad Green (2-2, 4.05 ERA) is likely to stay in the Yankees rotation for the rest of the season, especially after striking out 11 over six scoreless innings on Monday in his first start back from Triple-A. The 25-year-old will face the Angels for the first time on Sunday as the Yanks seek a series sweep at 3:35 p.m. ET. Angels: Jhoulys Chacin (2-6, 6.10 ERA) takes the mound for the Angels on Sunday in the finale of a three-game series against the Yankees. Chacin will be looking to work deeper into the game after pitching a combined six innings over his last two starts. First pitch is scheduled for 12:35 p.m. PT. Chacin gets the call as Angels try to stop Yankees By Jack Baer / MLB.com With the Yankees seeking a series sweep at Angel Stadium, Chad Green will try to follow up his brilliant debut as a likely permanent member of the rotation in Sunday's finale against Jhoulys Chacin and the Angels. It took five innings for the Blue Jays to reach base against Green on Monday in his first start back from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. The 25-year-old finished with 11 strikeouts against just two hits allowed in six innings and is expected to remain in the rotation for the rest of the season as the Yankees prioritize finding young talent. Chacin returned to the Angels' rotation less than two weeks ago, but his tenure has not gone as well. He's lasted a combined six innings while allowing 11 earned runs in two starts since coming back from the bullpen. Chacin took a loss against the Yankees in the Bronx on June 9, when he allowed five runs on seven hits and three walks with three strikeouts in 5 1/3 innings. Things to know about this game Chase Headley and Chacin are pretty familiar with each other, having both spent in the National League West. Chacin has gotten the best of Headley, holding him to a.167/.286/.222 line in 21 plate appearances. Headley has been dealing with Achilles tendinitis so his status for Sunday could be questionable, but the third baseman said Saturday he felt ready to play. With his home run Saturday night, rookie catcher Gary Sanchez has four straight games with an extra-base hit and six homers in 15 games with the Yankees this season.

15 August 21, 2016 Page 15 of 19 Angels DFA Giavotella, put Escobar on 7-day DL Cron activated, Cowart recalled as infield gets a shakeup By Austin Laymance / MLB.com ANAHEIM -- The Angels will take a look at a number of players at second base for the final six weeks of the season after designating Johnny Giavotella for assignment on Saturday as part of a slew of roster moves that also included activating C.J. Cron from the disabled list, recalling Kaleb Cowart from Triple-A Salt Lake and placing Yunel Escobar on the 7-day concussion DL. Angels manager Mike Scioscia said playing time at second would be split up between Cliff Pennington, Gregorio Petit and Cowart moving forward. "We're going to take a look at a couple of other different avenues and hopefully get the production we need, both offensively and defensively, at second base," Scioscia said before Saturday's game against the Yankees at Angel Stadium. Giavotella, who earned the everyday job at second in 2015, had seen his playing time diminish in recent weeks and had not appeared in a game since Sunday in Cleveland. Giavotella was hitless in his last 16 at-bats and had been passed on the depth chart by Pennington, who returned from the DL on Aug. 2. Pennington, Petit and Cowart can all play multiple infield positions. Pennington, a switch-hitter, and Petit are better defenders than Giavotella, who hit.260/.287/.376 in 99 games this year and made 90 starts at second. "Johnny, for a time, was an incredible sparkplug for us," Scioscia said. "But I think being just able to play second base, his opportunities had started to diminish, and not being versatile was going to be tough, especially if we were not going to commit to him to playing second base every day. It was going to be tough for him to get at-bats and to contribute." Pennington, signed through next season, will have an opportunity to earn a larger role. He was hitting.281 over his last 19 big league games entering Saturday. "I think Cliff is definitely going to be part of the rotation at second and part of the solution at second," Scioscia said. "We'll see how many days it turns into, how many days a week, but you definitely want to keep guys fresh and don't grind them too hard. We'll see how much Cliff can play. We have enough depth there." With Escobar suffering a concussion after fouling a ball of his nose and cheek in Friday night's game, Scioscia said playing time at third base would be divided between Pennington, Cowart, Petit and Jefry Marte, who started there on Saturday. Escobar is second in the American League with a.320 batting average.

16 August 21, 2016 Page 16 of 19 "We've got a lot of versatility," Scioscia said. "All the guys at second base can play third base also. We'll mix and match and move some guys around and see what lineup makes sense at a time." Cron, six weeks removed from breaking his left hand, started at first base and hit sixth on Saturday. Worth noting Reliever Cam Bedrosian (right middle finger flexor tendinitis) has not thrown in two days after beginning a throwing program earlier this week. "He's in a little holding pattern right now," Scioscia said. "Hopefully he's moving in the right direction." FROM THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Cessa wins in first big league start, Yanks beat Angels 5-1 ANAHEIM, Calif. -- Luis Cessa stood in the dugout before his first major league start with nerves building as each minute passed. A pregame ceremony ran long, and anticipation built for his first-inning showdowns with Mike Trout and Albert Pujols. By the time he released his first pitch, he was at ease. Cessa pitched six scoreless innings to win his first start and help the New York Yankees beat the Los Angeles Angels 5-1 on Saturday night. "You always worry about how kids are going to react," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. "You wonder how he's going to react to that, waiting and waiting and he can't wait to get out there. But I thought he handled that really well." Brian McCann went 2 for 4 with two RBI and a run, Starlin Castro went 2 for 4 with two runs and Aaron Judge drove in two. Gary Sanchez hit his fifth home run in six games in the first inning, a two-out solo homer to left field. Pujols got his 583rd home run in the ninth inning, tying him with formerst. Louis Cardinals teammate Mark McGwire for 10th on the career list.

17 August 21, 2016 Page 17 of 19 "I think it would have been a little bit more special if we had won," Pujols said. "But to tie with Mark is very special because he's a very close friend of mine. We stay in touch and he's a guy that always helps me out whenever I go through a slump and a guy that mentored me." Pujols already had a congratulatory text from McGwire and one of his sons waiting for him after the game. "He was always pulling for me from day one," Pujols said. "The whole reason I'm in the big leagues is because when he was in St. Louis he told (former manager Tony LaRussa), `You need to take this kid." Cessa (3-0) struck out five and walked one. He struggled just twice, giving up back-to-back twoout singles in the third and hitting Trout in the sixth. An early 3-0 lead further relaxed Cessa. "I was more aggressive," Cessa said. "I could throw more fastballs and be more aggressive with everyone." After giving up a single to Jefry Marte in the seventh, Cessa was relieved by Tyler Clippard, who nearly gave up a home run to C.J. Cron, but Brett Gardner dived into the stands in left to make the out. "Right off the bat, I thought it was a home run," Girardi said. "And then he got closer and closer and I thought, `Maybe, maybe. Stay in here, stay in here.' Outstanding catch. That was a big out." After giving up three earned runs in the first inning, Ricky Nolasco (4-11) settled in to cruise through the next five. But with two outs in the sixth, Nolasco gave up back-to-back singles to Castro and McCann. With Judge batting, McCann stole second base -- his first steal of the year - - allowing both runners to score on Judge's single to center. Nolasco gave up five earned on seven hits with seven strikeouts and still hasn't won at home since May 25, 2015, as a member of the Minnesota Twins. His 15-game home winless streak is the longest active streak in baseball. ANDERSON'S DAY Garret Anderson was inducted into the Angels Hall of Fame on Saturday. Anderson spoke during a pregame on-field ceremony that included speeches and videos from former teammates, including Tim Salmon and Chili Davis. One of the most productive offensive players in club history, Anderson is still the Angels' leader in games played, at-bats, runs, hits, total bases, extra-base hits, doubles and RBI. Anderson spent 15 of his 17 major league seasons with Los Angeles and is best known for his basesclearing three-run double that helped the Angels clinch Game 7 of the 2002 World Series.

18 August 21, 2016 Page 18 of 19 TRAINER'S ROOM Yankees: 3B Chase Headley was out of the lineup for the second day with left Achilles tendinitis. Although Headley has been playing on it, he said he's been having problems for about a week. Angels: 3B Yunel Escobar was placed on the 7-day concussion disabled list after taking a foul ball off of his face on Friday night. Kaleb Cowart was called up from Triple-A Salt Lake to take his place on the roster.... RHPCam Bedrosian hasn't thrown for two straight days. Manager Mike Scioscia said he's in a "holding pattern." Bedrosian was placed on the 15-day disabled list on Aug. 9, with right middle finger tendinitis. UP NEXT Yankees: RHP Chad Green will make his sixth major league start in the series finale. Green struck out a career-high 11 in his start against Toronto and is 2-2 with a 4.05 ERA in his fifth stint with the Yankees this season. Angels: RHP Jhoulys Chacin lasted only 4 2/3 innings in his last start on Tuesday against Seattle, but didn't factor into the decision. In his only start against the Yankees, Chacin allowed five earned runs on seven hits and took the loss. FROM FOX SPORTS Yankees-Angels Preview ANAHEIM, Calif. -- The pitching matchup for Sunday's game between the New York Yankees and the Los Angeles Angels at Angel Stadium reflects the teams' conflicting approaches to reconstructing their rosters. Right-hander Chad Green represents the Yankees' immediate focus on youth. But another righthander, the Angels' Jhoulys Chacin, belongs to the squadron of stopgap solutions for an injuryriddled pitching staff. Green comes off one of the best performances by a starting pitcher in the Yankees' history. In just his fifth major league start, Green the first 13 batters he faced, amassed 11 strikeouts in six shutout innings, conceded just two hits and issued no walks Monday night in a 1-0 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays. The 25-year-old compiled the most strikeouts by a Yankees rookie since Masahiro Tanaka struck out 11 Seattle Mariners in Green also became just the second rookie pitcher in team history to compile at least 11 strikeouts without permitting a walk or a run. Stan Bahnsen

19 August 21, 2016 Page 19 of 19 pitched a three-hit shutout with 12 strikeouts against the Boston Red Sox in 1968, the year he was named the American League's rookie of the year. Green's start Monday night marked the beginning of his fifth stint with the Yankees after being promoted from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. "Each time, he took his demotion the right way and said, 'OK, this is what I need to work on, and I'm going to get better,' " New York manager Joe Girardi said. "He's got good stuff and his stuff has developed this year." Part of that development includes the rapid improvement of his slider. "It was terrible," Green told the New York Times. "It was pretty much non-existent. But the strides with that pitch have been huge. I didn't really change the grip too much. I think it was more like a mind-set. Just being more confident with it was huge." Chacin, meanwhile, has experienced little success after the Angels acquired him from the Atlanta Braves in May. The seven-year veteran has lost five consecutive starts since his last victory June 14. But after being sent to the bullpen in mid-season, Chacin collected 20 strikeouts in eight relief appearances covering 17 2/3 innings while allowing just five runs, 11 hits and five walks. When Chacin returned to the rotation, however, that effectiveness evaporated. In his two starts since his return, the right-hander gave up 11 runs, 13 hits, five walks and a hit batsman while collecting just two strikeouts and pitching only six total innings. Against the Mariners in his last start Tuesday night, Chacin threw 88 pitches in 4 2/3 innings, allowed four runs on seven hits, walked two, hit one and struck out two. Seattle scored all four of its runs against Chacin with two out. "He had trouble closing out innings," Los Angeles manager Mike Scioscia said. "It usually comes down to one pitch. The more a team gets looks when they're ahead in the count, they're going to put better swings on pitches." The Angels will play without Yuniel Escobar, who began Saturday ranked second in the American League with a.320 average and ninth with a.368 on-base percentage. The veteran third baseman went on the seven-day disabled list for concussions after bunting a ball off his nose in the fourth inning of a 7-0 loss Friday night.