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Clips

(July 8, 2017)

July 8, 2017 Page 2 of 17

Today’s Clips Contents

FROM LOS ANGELES TIMES (Page 3)

Ricky Nolasco hammered for eight runs in Angels' 10-0 loss to the Rangers

Angels' Garrett Richards is getting closer to a return

FROM ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER (Page 6)

Rangers make quick work of Angels’ Ricky Nolasco in 10-0 blowout

Angels Notes: Matt Shoemaker shut down with nerve issue

FROM ANGELS.COM (Page 9)

Trout on track following second rehab game

Angels can't overcome Rangers' early surge

Richards improving but not cleared to throw

Shoemaker gets cortisone shot after setback

Chavez hoping third time is charm vs. Rangers

Cron rejoins Angels, Bridwell sent to Triple-A

FROM THE ASSOCIATED PRESS (Page 13)

Hamels, Beltre lead Rangers past Angels 10-0

Angels' Chavez will try to solve Angels

FROM NBC SPORTS (Page 16)

Matt Shoemaker will be shut down for 7-10 days with posterior interosseous

nerve syndrome

July 8, 2017 Page 3 of 17

FROM THE LOS ANGELES TIMES

Ricky Nolasco hammered for eight runs in Angels' 10-0 loss to the Rangers

By Pedro Moura

As Rougned Odor rounded third base in Friday’s second inning at Globe Life Park, Angels manager Mike

Scioscia scaled the stairs in the Angels’ dugout. As Odor stomped on home plate to complete his home

run, Scioscia signaled for a reliever to come in from the bullpen.

His starter, Ricky Nolasco, was done, drubbed for eight runs in the Rangers’ 10-0 trouncing of the

Angels. Odor’s blast to right represented the coup de grace.

Some nights, a ballgame’s outcome is determined in the late innings, on a manager’s pinch-hitting

decision or a particularly prescient play by an infielder. Other nights, it is established on the basis of one

man’s simple struggles. Friday was one of those.

“Just a pretty terrible game,” Nolasco said. “Just a bad game.”

Nolasco had been so successful in his last two starts, unscored upon each time. His last time out, he

turned in the club’s first complete game of the year.

Friday, he retired the first two Rangers he faced on a groundout and a called strikeout. Of the next

dozen to bat, Nolasco set down only three — one of whom sacrificed himself with a bunt.

With two outs and two men on base in the first, Odor poked a run-scoring single into right. Jonathan

Lucroy soon drove a two-run double into left field.

Jurickson Profar began the next inning with a single. After a bunt and a walk, Nolasco yielded another

two-out single to allow a fourth run. Adrian Beltre ripped open the game with a three-run homer and

prompted a visit from pitching coach Charles Nagy.

After Odor’s homer, right-hander Yusmeiro Petit entered, and the four Angels relievers who appeared

were generally effective.

It was, of course, too late, for Nolasco had turned in his shortest start not related to an injury since Sept.

14, 2013, when he was still a Dodger.

“It’s one of those games where it’s so ugly that you just forget about it,” Nolasco said. “I just feel bad for

putting a team down in such a big hole so early. You’re definitely not going to climb out of that hole

against a guy like Cole Hamels.”

As Hamels plied his trade, inducing nine groundouts and striking out six, the Angels did not advance a

man past first base all night. The closest they came to a run was the first inning, when Albert

Pujols clubbed a drive about five feet short of a homer to center.

July 8, 2017 Page 4 of 17

Otherwise, their offense was limited to an Andrelton Simmons walk, two Pujols singles, and a Martin

Maldonado single. Three double plays meant the Angels sent up only one batter over the minimum all

night.

“The double-play balls kind of put a damper in anything we had going,” right fielder Kole Calhoun said.

“The biggest thing was getting ground balls when he needed them.”

The Angels described a Hamels they had seen before, flashing pinpoint control while delivering pitches

near the inside corner. At 95 pitches through 72/3 innings, he might have been fit to finish the game,

but, up so much, Rangers manager Jeff Banister called in his bullpen.

The Angels, too, treated it like a laugher. Scioscia began to remove his top players in the seventh:

Simmons, Calhoun, Maldonado and Cameron Maybin.

Nolasco went into this season with a stated goal of vesting his team option for 2018. His contract

contains a means for him to do so: All he has to do is throw 2021/3 innings and he is guaranteed $13

million more.

But his poor first half has rendered that feat nearly impossible. He has pitched neither well nor for long

stretches, and he owns a 5.06 earned-run average in 1011/3 innings.

The Angels will play 70 games in the second half. If he pitches 14 times, he’ll have to average more than

seven innings per start. No one has managed to reach that marker this year.

That’s a concern for a later date. Now, the Angels (44-46) are losers of four of five games, and they must

win twice this weekend to avoid entering the All-Star break as a losing team.

“It’d be nice to win a series going into the break,” Calhoun said. “We have a chance to do that starting

tomorrow.”

Angels' Garrett Richards is getting closer to a return

By Pedro Moura

Sidelined since the season’s third day because of an irritated nerve in his biceps, Angels right-

hander Garrett Richards on Friday inched a bit closer to a return.

Richards visited a neurologist who detected substantial improvement of the irritation, which had been

causing substantial weakness in the muscle. According to a person with knowledge of the situation who

requested anonymity because the Angels had not announced the results, the neurologist did not

diagnose a 100% recovery. Some weakness remains.

Based on the results of Friday’s examination, the Angels’ team physicians opted to not yet clear Richards

to begin a throwing program, according to a club announcement. To pitch sometime this season,

Richards would need to begin soon.

July 8, 2017 Page 5 of 17

Since May, Richards has understood that he was months from a return. He said then that he hoped to

make it back in the final two months of this season. September is now probably the best hope.

Richards suffered a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his elbow on May 1, 2016. Two weeks later, he

received a stem-cell injection into the area as an alternative to ligament replacement surgery.

He spent the rest of the year rehabilitating the injury and pitched normally through spring training.

Richards dominated into the fifth inning in his first start this season, then exited because of a cramp in

his biceps that was later diagnosed as nerve irritation.

Teammate Andrew Heaney underwent elbow ligament replacement surgery last July, after a stem-cell

injection did not foster enough improvement in his torn ligament. His recovery has been seamless. He’s

nearing a rehab assignment and could return before Richards.

Shoemaker injured

Right-hander Matt Shoemaker, out three weeks because of what was originally diagnosed as a forearm

strain, on Friday was diagnosed with a more serious condition: posterior interosseous nerve syndrome.

He received a cortisone injection in the area and will take at least one week off from throwing.

Reports from past instances of the injury suggest he could require even more time away.

“It’s disappointing,” Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. “We hoped it was something that was really

simple. Hopefully, he’ll get back on the mound in a reasonable amount of time. Obviously, it’s not where

maybe we thought it was two weeks ago. We’re gonna have to take some time and see what’s

happening.”

Shoemaker made a minor league rehab start Tuesday and reported pain in the muscle, which prompted

further examination.

Short hops

After two games as designated hitter, Mike Trout did not play for Class-A Inland Empire on Friday. He

was scheduled to resume his rehab assignment Saturday, playing the outfield for the first time since

returning from an injured thumb. He is scheduled to play with Inland Empire through at least Monday,

Scioscia said. … The Angels recalled first baseman C.J. Cron from triple-A Salt Lake and optioned right-

hander Parker Bridwell there. Bridwell is expected to remain in the club’s rotation, but because of the

All-Star break and off days, his spot would not come up until July 19. He will likely return then.

July 8, 2017 Page 6 of 17

FROM ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

Rangers make quick work of Angels’ Ricky Nolasco in 10-0 blowout

By Jeff Fletcher

ARLINGTON, Texas — Either Ricky Nolasco’s previous two starts were a brief interruption to a horrible

season or this start was a brief interruption to the turnaround.

The Angels hope it’s the latter.

Nolasco was blasted for eight runs, while recording just five outs, in the Angels’ 10-0 loss to the Texas

Rangers on Friday night.

“Just a pretty terrible game,” Nolasco said. “I put us in a huge hole. Just a bad game all around. … I feel bad

putting our team down in such a big hole so early. You’re definitely not going to climb out of a hole like

that against Cole Hamels.

“That was definitely on me.”

It was the worst start in a bad season that just started to shown signs of a improvement. Nolasco didn’t

give up a run in either of his two previous starts, one against the sizzling Dodgers and the other a complete

game against the Seattle Mariners.

Those two games sliced his ERA from 5.23 to 4.42, which is more in line with the type of pitcher he’s been

throughout his career. Just when Nolasco was giving the Angels and their fans hope, this happened.

Nolasco retired the first two hitters of the game, and then he walked Nomar Mazara. Adrian Beltre then

lined a single into left, followed by Rougned Odor’s run-scoring singleinto right. Jonathan Lucroy then

yanked a line drive off the base of the left-field fence, for a two-run double to make it 3-0.

In the second inning, Jurickson Profar led off with a single. After the Rangers gave Nolasco an out on a

sacrifice, Nolasco walked Shin-Soo Choo. He struck out Carlos Gomez for the second out.

He never got the third.

Mazara singled, Beltre blasted a three-run homer to left and Odor followed with a homer to right, ending

Nolasco’s night.

“He was just getting behind guys and when he did get ahead, he couldn’t put guys away,” Manager Mike

Scioscia said. “His stuff wasn’t as crisp today.”

It was just the fifth time in Nolasco’s 297-start career that he didn’t finish the second inning, and one of

those was because of an injury. The last time his performance knocked him out of a game so quickly was

Sept. 14, 2013. It was the 12th time he’d allowed at least eight runs, the first since Aug. 31, 2014.

July 8, 2017 Page 7 of 17

This start was so off-the-charts bad, and following two that were so good, that it’s difficult to know what to

make of it. Both Scioscia and Nolasco expressed confidence that the direction Nolasco turned in his

previous starts is still where he’s headed, this one notwithstanding.

“It’s one of those games that’s so ugly you just forget about it and move on,” Nolasco said.

At least the Angels didn’t waste any offense on a hopeless night.

Cole Hamels blanked them over 7-2/3 innings. The Angels didn’t even get a runner into scoring position.

Three of their four baserunners were erased on double plays.

“He didn’t do anything we didn’t expect,” Scioscia said, “but he did it well.”

Angels Notes: Matt Shoemaker shut down with nerve issue

By Jeff Fletcher

ARLINGTON, Texas — Matt Shoemaker’s injury has turned out to be more serious than first thought,

although the Angels are still hoping to get him back in a matter of weeks.

Shoemaker was diagnosed on Friday with posterior interosseous nerve syndrome, which is rare in baseball

players. Shoemaker received a cortisone injection and will not throw for seven to 10 days.

After he is cleared to resume throwing, it will presumably take Shoemaker at least a couple weeks to get

ready to pitch in games.

Manager Mike Scioscia called the news “disappointing.”

“We had hoped it was something that was really simple,” Scioscia said Friday. “Hopefully he’ll get back on

a mound in a reasonable amount of time. Obviously, it’s not where we thought it was two weeks ago. So

we’re going to have to take some time to see what’s happening.”

Shoemaker was placed on the disabled list after his June 14 start. At the time, he said he hoped to miss

only one start. He pitched in the minors on Tuesday, and reported feeling continued forearm tightness

after his three-inning outing.

RICHARDS UPDATE

The Angels announced that Garrett Richards, who underwent further testing on Friday, has shown

improvement, but still has not been cleared to throw.

Richards has missed almost the entire season with irritation in a nerve. He has not thrown in the more

than three months since he’s been on the disabled list. On Friday he underwent a battery of tests, more

extensive than he routinely undergoes. Richards will continue to be monitored and tested weekly.

July 8, 2017 Page 8 of 17

TROUT UPDATE

Mike Trout was scheduled to go through a pregame workout with Inland Empire on Friday, and then

return to playing Saturday. After serving as the DH in his first two games with the 66ers, Trout is scheduled

to play the outfield on Saturday.

Scioscia said the plan is for Trout to keep playing with Inland Empire through Monday, at least. The

schedule gets murky after that. Both Inland Empire and Triple-A Salt Lake City are off on Tuesday, and

when Inland Empire resumes on Wednesday, it is playing in Stockton.

The Angels’ goal of having Trout back in the lineup by Friday, the first game after the All-Star break, is still

“very reasonable,” Scioscia said.

DEADLINE DAY

The Angels failed to reach an agreement with fifth-round pick Joseph Booker before Friday’s deadline for

signing draft picks. Booker, a right-hander from Alabama, has a scholarship to South Alabama.

The slot value for Booker was $346,500, and the Angels could have gone as high as about $400,000 to sign

him without losing a future draft pick.

The Angels signed 29 of their 40 picks. The next highest unsigned pick was 15th-rounder Hunter Brittain, a

catcher who was Booker’s teammate in high school.

Peyton Glavine, the son of Hall of Famer Tom Glavine, also did not sign. The younger Glavine, who has a

scholarship to Auburn, was the Angels’ 37th-round pick.

Right-hander Devon Perez (21st round), right-hander Cobi Johnson (29th), right-hander Weston Smith

(34th), right-hander Brady Feigl (35th), outfielder Steven Rivas (36th, Etiwanda High), third baseman Jacob

Rogers (38th), outfielder Josh Hatcher (39th) and right-hander Matt Russell (40th) also did not sign.

ALSO

C.J. Cron was recalled and was in the lineup at first base against left-hander Cole Hamels. Cron has been

optioned twice this season. “It’s not how I envisioned my season to go, but things change,” he said.

“Rosters are always changing. Things had to happen and I had options. I’m going to work hard to stay up

here. That’s my goal.” …

Cron took the roster spot of Parker Bridwell, who was optioned after he pitched on Wednesday night.

Bridwell would not have been available to pitch before the All-Star break, so the Angels could option him

and still bring him back before he’d be needed to pitch in the second half.

July 8, 2017 Page 9 of 17

FROM ANGELS.COM

Trout on track following second rehab game

By Sam Butler / MLB.com

ARLINGTON -- All-Star outfielder Mike Trout didn't get many productive at-bats during his second rehab

game with Class A Advanced Inland Empire on Thursday, but manager Mike Scioscia said Trout is still on

schedule to return next Friday.

Trout went 0-for-2 in his appearance with Inland Empire on Thursday. He struck out and grounded out,

but he reached base twice: on a hit-by-pitch and catcher's interference. Scioscia said the pitch hit Trout

on the elbow pad he was wearing, so he wasn't injured.

Trout's recovery from a torn UCL in his left thumb, the skipper noted, is more about getting the

intricacies of batting and playing down rather than simply producing runs during his rehab time.

"He's just trying to find some timing, seeing some velocity today," Scioscia said. "He'll take a recovery

day, work out, he'll play the outfield tomorrow."

The projected return date for Trout isn't set in stone, though. The Angels aren't going to rush him back if

he's not ready.

"We're not going to get him ready to a schedule," Scioscia said. "He's going to be ready when he's ready.

... I think on the offensive side, getting Mike back is going to give us an important lift to an area we've

struggled in, and hopefully the rest of it will continue to add depth as we continue to move forward."

So for now, Trout will continue playing with Inland Empire through the middle of next week. Some

thought was given to letting him play with Triple-A Salt Lake, but with the Triple-A All-Star break as well,

it made more sense to give him actual playing time.

"He just needs to see velocity and hopefully find a little bit of timing," Scioscia said. "You can find that in

A-ball as far as Triple-A. The thing with Triple-A was going to be disjointed. They're off on Monday where

he can play all the way through in A-ball until whatever he needs next week."

The Angels have hovered around .500 since Trout was placed on the DL on May 29. But Friday

night's 10-0 loss to the Rangers was the third time in five games that the Angels haven't scored a run.

"Our bullpen has been really strong. Our rotation, we feel, has been holding its own. There are some

guys who are going to be in uncharted water, but I feel one thing is we need is to start scoring more

runs," Scioscia said. "Not that Mike's going to be the catalyst to do that, but it's certainly not going to

hurt to get him back in the lineup."

July 8, 2017 Page 10 of 17

Angels can't overcome Rangers' early surge

By T.R. Sullivan and Sam Butler / MLB.com

ARLINGTON -- Starter Cole Hamels, staked with an eight-run lead after two innings, pitched 7 2/3

scoreless frames and the Rangers hit three home runs en route to a 10-0 victory over the Angels on

Friday night.

This was Hamels' second straight win, as he held the White Sox to two runs in 6 2/3 innings in his

previous start, retiring the last 19 batters he faced. Hamels was making his third start since coming off

the disabled list after missing two months with a strained right oblique muscle. He allowed three hits,

one walk and struck out six before he exited at the 95-pitch mark.

"I'm getting there ... just being able to go deep in the game," Hamels said. "I'm getting a feel for what I

can do to get guys out. I feel good and there is that trust that I am going to feel good between starts. I

just have to get in a comfortable rhythm and I'm getting there."

Angels starter Ricky Nolasco entered the game with a 13-inning scoreless streak, but that ended quickly

when he allowed eight runs in 1 2/3 innings. It's only the fifth time in 297 career starts that Nolasco has

not completed two innings. It's the most runs he has allowed in a start since giving up eight against the

Orioles on Aug. 31, 2014.

"It's easy [to forget]," Nolasco said. "It's one of those games where it's so ugly that it's easy to forget

about it. I just feel bad for putting our team in such a big hole so early. They're definitely not going to

climb out of that kind of hole against somebody like Cole Hamels."

Adrian Beltre, Rougned Odor and Nomar Mazara all went deep for the Rangers, who are 29-13 when

they hit multiple home runs. They have out-homered their opponents 45-19 in their past 20 games.

Nolasco gave up two of the three home runs. He has allowed 25 this season, the most in the American

League.

MOMENTS THAT MATTERED

Rangers deliver two-out hits: After entering the game hitting .237 with runners in scoring position and

two outs, eighth best in the league, the Rangers came through early against Nolasco in those situations

on Friday. Odor had an RBI single and Jonathan Lucroy had a two-run double in the first. With two out in

the second, Mazara had an RBI single and Beltre followed with a three-run home run.

"Looked like two quick outs in the first inning, then those guys backed up hit after hit," Angels manager

Mike Scioscia said. "In the second, just getting behind guys and then when we did get ahead, just putting

guys away. His stuff wasn't as crisp today, and those guys had a good offensive day."

Odor launches one: Odor followed Beltre's home run with a shot of his own in the second inning. It

marked the first time the Rangers have hit back-to-back home runs this season. Odor's home run was

July 8, 2017 Page 11 of 17

projected to travel 432 feet, his longest of the season, according to Statcast™. The exit velocity of 110.5

mph was his second highest on a home run.

"I feel really good at the plate," Odor said. "Even when I make an out, I feel good at the plate."

QUOTABLES

"Unbelievable. That 'stache was working today. He was throwing strikes, in and out, keeping pretty good

hitters off balance. It's the Cole we came to know the last couple of years here. It seems like he's getting

his stuff back."-- Beltre on Hamels, who shaved his beard but kept the moustache for this start

"All games are important. It'd be nice to win a series going into the break, so we got a chance to do that

starting tomorrow."-- Angels right fielder Kole Calhoun, on bouncing back

SOUND SMART WITH YOUR FRIENDS

Beltre hit two more milestones with his first-inning single and three-run home run in the second. The

two hits allowed him to go over 5,000 total bases in his career. He has 5,003, the 21st most in Major

League history. The three RBIs give him 1,596 for his career.

WHAT'S NEXT

Angels: Right-hander Jesse Chavez (5-9, 4.97 ERA) will start the middle game of the series on Saturday at

6:05 p.m. PT. He's faced the Rangers twice this season, both times in April, and he took losses in each

start. Chavez hasn't allowed a homer in either of his past two starts after giving up at least one in a club-

record 13 straight appearances.

Rangers: Right-hander Tyson Ross will face the Angels on Saturday at 8:05 p.m. CT in his fifth start since

coming off the disabled list. Ross allowed four runs in five innings in his last start on Sunday against the

White Sox. He is 1-1 with a 1.98 ERA in five starts and four relief appearances in his career against the

Angels.

Richards improving but not cleared to throw

By Sam Butler / MLB.com

ARLINGTON -- Angels pitcher Garrett Richards isn't returning yet, but he's getting closer.

Richards, who has been on the 60-day disabled list since April 22 with a right biceps strain he suffered in

his only start this year against the Athletics on April 5, received an electromyogram on Friday.

The test showed "improvement in the musculocutaneous nerve." The Angels said he will continue his

strengthening and rehab program and will be continually re-evaluated each week to monitor

progression. The Angels also said Richards has not been cleared to begin throwing.

July 8, 2017 Page 12 of 17

Shoemaker gets cortisone shot after setback

By Jackson Baer / MLB.com

Matt Shoemaker will be recalled from his rehab assignment three days after his first start due to a nerve

issue in his right forearm, the Angels announced on Friday.

Team doctors diagnosed Shoemaker with posterior interosseous nerve syndrome following his start with

Class A Advanced Inland Empire on Tuesday. The issue was treated with a cortisone shot, which will

result in Shoemaker being shut down for seven to 10 days. Once his symptoms subside, he will be able

to begin throwing again.

"That's disappointing," manager Mike Scioscia said. "We hoped it was something really simple, and

hopefully he'll get back to the mound in a reasonable amount of time, but obviously it's not what maybe

we thought it was two weeks ago. We'll have to take some time and see what's happening."

Shoemaker was originally placed on the disabled list in mid-June with a forearm strain. He pitched well

in his rehab start, striking out five in three scoreless innings.

Chavez hoping third time is charm vs. Rangers

By Sam Butler / MLB.com

Angels right-hander Jesse Chavez will be looking for his first win in three tries against the Rangers this

year when he squares off against righty Tyson Ross on Saturday at Globe Life Park.

Chavez (5-9, 4.97 ERA) has two losses to the Rangers this season. Over the previous two starts, both in

April, he allowed a combined nine earned runs and three homers in 10 1/3 innings. Chavez has struggled

of late to keep his pitch count under control -- topping 90 pitches in his past three starts, but he didn't

log more than 5 1/3 innings in any of those outings.

"I think Jesse's had to work very, very hard to get to certain points in the game that he was doing earlier

in spring and early in the season," manager Mike Scioscia said. "He's not missing by much, but he's lost a

lot of counts, he's pitching behind the count a lot. I think it just comes down to making pitches."

Ross (1-1, 6.41 in four starts), who is working on five days' rest, will be making his fifth start of the

season since returning from thoracic outlet syndrome surgery that kept him out until June. He owns a

stellar track record against the Angels.

In nine games -- five starts -- against the Angels, Ross is 1-1 with a 1.98 ERA, his lowest ERA against any

club that he's faced at least six times. However, he hasn't faced the Angels since May 25, 2015, when he

took a no-decision while pitching for the Padres.

Three things to know about this game

July 8, 2017 Page 13 of 17

•: Rangers shortstop Elvis Andrus will return for Saturday's game. He has been on the paternity list since

Wednesday to prepare for the birth of his son, Elvis Emilio, who was born on Thursday morning.

•: Andrus owns a .375 average against the Angels this year, and he's batting .315 against them in his

career, his third-highest average against any AL team.

•: Only two Angels have faced Ross at least 10 times: Yunel Escobar and Albert Pujols. Escobar has two

hits in 10 at-bats, and Pujols has just one and has struck out three times.

Cron rejoins Angels, Bridwell sent to Triple-A

By Sam Butler / MLB.com

ARLINGTON -- The Angels optioned right-hander Parker Bridwell to Triple-A Salt Lake on Friday and

recalled infielder C.J. Cron, adding an extra position player for the final stretch before the All-Star break.

Cron went 0-for-3 in a 10-0 loss to the Rangers at Globe Life Park.

Bridwell pitched in Wednesday's 2-1 win against the Twins, and since his spot wouldn't come back up in

the rotation before the break, he's temporarily being optioned to give the Angels an extra bat.

"We'll see how it goes game-to-game and see if [Cron] can contribute," manager Mike Scioscia said

before Friday's series opener. "Our roster, as we make the turn into after the All-Star break, is

something we're going to pay a lot of attention to in the next couple days to see what it's going to look

like afterwards. But right now, he'll get some at-bats this series for sure."

Cron noted that time in Triple-A is a chance to get at-bats he wouldn't otherwise receive in a bench role

with the Angels.

"Any time you can add at-bats to your season it's going to be beneficial," said Cron, who hit seventh in

the order for Friday night's game against the Rangers. "Hopefully, I can try to get my timing down and be

able to contribute to the team."

FROM THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Hamels, Beltre lead Rangers past Angels 10-0

Associated Press

ARLINGTON, Texas -- The new-look Cole Hamels still looked like an ace for the Texas Rangers on Friday

night.

Hamels, whose shaggy beard was gone and a bushy mustache left behind, threw 7 2/3 shutout innings

as the Rangers blanked the Los Angeles Angels 10-0.

July 8, 2017 Page 14 of 17

Hamels (4-0) allowed three singles, two to Albert Pujols, and one walk. He struck out six, matching his

season high, in his third start since returning from the disabled list on June 26.

"It's really just trusting that you can throw strikes," Hamels said. "If you have good movement on stuff,

sometimes it works in your favor. That's kind of what worked today."

Hamels is 26-6 since joining Texas on July 31, 2015, his winning percentage of .813 during that span

topping the American League.

"He didn't do anything we didn't expect," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. "He did it well."

Hamels was aided by three double plays turned by his infield.

"The biggest thing he did was getting groundballs when he needed them," Angels right fielder Kole

Calhoun said. "Double plays kind of put a damper in anything we had going."

Ricky Nolasco (4-10) was rocked for eight earned runs in 1 2/3 innings and gave up back-to-back homers

to Adrian Beltre and Rougned Odor in the Rangers' five-run second inning. Nolasco entered the game

with 15 1/3 consecutive scoreless innings that included his sixth career shutout.

Scioscia and Nolasco dismissed the starter's struggles.

"Shake it off and just keep going," Nolasco said.

Every run scored with two outs. Nolasco retired the Rangers' first two batters in the first inning before

allowing three runs, with Jonathan Lucroy doubling in two.

Beltre's homer barely cleared the 14-foot wall in left field as he fell to his right knee on the swing. He

also singled, giving him 2,977 career hits and 5,003 total bases.

"It means I've been playing a long time," said Beltre, who turned 38 in April.

Odor had three hits, matching a season high. He has homered in five of his last seven games.

DARVISH NO-GO FOR ALL-STAR GAME

RHP Yu Darvish, the Rangers' only All-Star selection, complied with a team request to sit out Tuesday

night's game in Miami since he's Texas' scheduled starter on Sunday.

"I think Yu understands," manager Jeff Banister said. "How it's lined up and where he's at, we are

worried about winning baseball games."

CRON RETURNS YET AGAIN

1B C.J. Cron was recalled from Triple-A Salt Lake on Friday for his third stint with the Angels this season.

He hit .212 with Los Angeles before Friday's game, batted .268 in 22 games with Salt Lake. Cron was 0

for 3 on Friday night.

July 8, 2017 Page 15 of 17

"I'm just here to help the team," said Cron, who first played for the Angels in 2014 and made 103 starts

last season. "Hopefully, I can get my timing down and contribute."

SHORT HOPS

The Rangers wore blue jerseys to honor the five law enforcement officers who were killed in an ambush

in downtown Dallas on July 7, 2016. ... The Angels were shut out for the eighth time this season, the

third time in their last 10 games. ... Texas INF Drew Robinson was recalled from Triple-A Round Rock

with SS Elvis Andrus missing his second straight game while on the paternity leave list.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Angels: The rehab of RHP Matt Shoemaker was shut down following the diagnosis of posterior

interosseous nerve syndrome. He received a cortisone shot and won't throw for 7-10 days. ...

RHP Garrett Richards (right biceps strain) underwent an electromyogram on Friday and wasn't cleared to

begin throwing.

Rangers: 3B-1B Joey Gallo (sore left hamstring) entered the game in the eighth inning at first base and

didn't bat.

UP NEXT

Angels: RHP Jesse Chavez (5-9) has three losses and two no-decisions in his last five starts. He didn't

allow a home run in his last two starts after giving up at least one in each of his previous 13

appearances.

Rangers: RHP Tyson Ross (1-1) will start on five days' rest. He hasn't pitched beyond six innings in four

starts after being activated in mid-June following thoracic outlet syndrome.

Angels' Chavez will try to solve Angels

Associated Press

ARLINGTON, Texas -- The Los Angeles Angels are hoping the Jesse Chavez who starts Saturday against

Texas pitches like he hasn't recently overall and not like he has against the Rangers during his career.

Chavez (5-9, 4.97 ERA) has allowed two or fewer runs in five of his last seven starts. And while he hasn't

won since June 6, his ERA in his last four starts is 4.64.

He allowed just two runs in five innings in his last outing and that has manager Mike Scioscia optimistic

about what he'll see in Chavez's 19th start of the season.

"Jesse's had to work very, very hard to get to certain points of the game that he was doing easier in

spring and early in the season," Scioscia said. "He's not missing by much, but he's lost a lot of counts.

He's pitching behind in the count a lot. And I think it just comes down to making pitches."

July 8, 2017 Page 16 of 17

To beat the Rangers, Chavez will have to overcome a rough career against Texas. He has made 18

appearances against the Rangers, with five of those starts.

He's 2-5 in his career with a 6.00 ERA. Saturday will also mark the third time he has faced Texas this

season, and he struggled in the first two starts. Chavez is 0-2 with a 7.84 ERA against Texas in 2017.

"I don't think he's pitched bad in some of the games where the line score might show," Scioscia said.

"He's having to work harder to get where he wants to be. Hopefully, he refreshes a little bit here with

the All-Star break, he'll get back into his game and execute pitches. Hopefully tomorrow night he'll be

able to do that."

The Rangers would like to see right-hander Tyson Ross (1-1, 6.41 ERA) find some consistency. He hasn't

been able to put together consecutive solid outings. He struggled in his last start, allowing four runs in

five innings and walking five against the Chicago White Sox.

Ross has had his best career success against the Angels, but he hasn't faced them since 2015. He is 1-1

with a 1.98 ERA in nine appearances against Los Angeles, with five of those outings starts. Before his

start against Los Angeles in 2015, he hadn't faced the Angels since he was with Oakland in 2012.

While a good start from Ross would be ideal for a Texas club that's clinging to wild-card hopes with

three weeks remaining before the trade deadline, a bad one won't force the Rangers to panic.

"I want to go into the break with a good start," Ross said.

Manager Jeff Banister knows what his team is capable of and believes that rotation is poised for a strong

second half. Ross has only made five starts since coming off the disabled list after missing time for

surgery for thoracic outlet syndrome. The club has said it expected the Opening Day rotation intact for

just two weeks.

"We know what it's like when we see the team that's together on the field and has all its parts together

and fresh," Banister said. "We're a club that needs to have the break. I know it's going to help some

others, too."

FROM NBC SPORTS

Matt Shoemaker will be shut down for 7-10 days with posterior interosseous nerve syndrome

By Ashley Varela

Angels’ right-hander Matt Shoemaker hit another bump in the road to recovery this week and is facing a

shutdown period of 7-10 days after team doctors diagnosed him with posterior interosseous nerve

syndrome in his right forearm. He was treated with a cortisone shot on Thursday and officially recalled

from his rehab assignment in High-A Inland Empire, per a team announcement on Friday.

July 8, 2017 Page 17 of 17

Shoemaker, 30, is currently serving his fifth run with the Angels. He was initially placed on the 10-day

disabled list in mid-June with a right forearm strain and was expected back in the Angels’ rotation

sometime after the All-Star break. Prior to his setback, he was riding a 6-3 record through 14 starts, with

a 4.52 ERA, 3.2 BB/9 and 8.0 SO/9 over his first 77 2/3 innings of the year.

While Shoemaker’s first rehab start looked promising, incurring only two hits and striking out five

batters in three scoreless innings, the righty felt discomfort in his pitching arm following the outing.

According to Jeff Fletcher of the Orange County Register, he likely won’t rejoin the team for another 3-4

weeks, putting his estimated return date somewhere around the beginning of August.