July 26, 2017 Page 2 of 16
Today’s Clips Contents
FROM LOS ANGELES TIMES (Page 3)
Edwin Encarnacion's walk-off grand slam spoils Angels' comeback
Angels report: With Alex Meyer out, they have few options for a starting pitcher
FROM ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER (Page 5)
Angels’ comeback comes up short in loss to Indians
Angels Notes: Kaleb Cowart feels ready to be a big leaguer
FROM ANGELS.COM (Page 9)
Angels rally for 7 unanswered but fall in extras
Adell leads Angels' midseason Top 30 list
Thin starting depth taking its toll on Halos
FROM THE ASSOCIATED PRESS (Page 13)
Encarnacion's slam sends Indians past Angels 11-7 in 11
Zimmer looks to guide Indians to series win over Angels (Jul 26, 2017)
July 26, 2017 Page 3 of 16
FROM LOS ANGELES TIMES
Edwin Encarnacion's walk-off grand slam spoils Angels' comeback
By Pedro Moura
Ben Revere stepped up to bat with one teammate near first base and two outs in Tuesday’s 10th inning,
the score tied between the Angels and Cleveland Indians. When he fell behind 0 and 2, Revere retreated
three steps to settle his nerves. He battled the count back into his favor and earned a fastball over the
middle, at which he cocked his chiseled 5-foot-9 frame and swung with all his limited might.
As the ball shot toward the center-field wall, he took off sprinting, thinking surely he had at least a hit. It
would be a huge hit, his first in so long, his once-promising career now on the verge of irrelevance at age
29. And the Angels could finally take the lead and complete their three-hour comeback from a seven-run
deficit.
It was not to be. Cleveland’s Bradley Zimmer tracked the baseball throughout its trajectory and hurtled
into Progressive Field’s padded barrier to procure it. Revere launched his helmet as he struggled to
process his misfortune. He stared into the outfield until Kole Calhoun came with his cap and glove.
“I try to tell myself I love this game,” Revere said. “But it just keeps coming back to me, saying, ‘No.’”
All the Angels had to feel some of the same sentiment. They had mounted a lengthy, unlikely revival,
only to see their work undone with one swing, in such indivisible fashion. Edwin Encarnacionwhacked a
walk-off grand slam off of Bud Norris in the bottom of the 11th inning, when the game went quickly
awry and Cleveland won 11-7.
“Our team did an unbelievable job coming all the way back,” Norris said. “Unfortunately, I was very
sloppy in my one inning of work. I was pretty terrible, to be honest.”
Steadily, the Angels chipped away after starter Jesse Chavezimploded in the second inning. Twice, they
even appeared on the verge of speeding past Cleveland. When Yunel Escobar tied the score with a
double, he continued to third base and was thrown out without a slide. He made the sixth inning’s first
out as Mike Trout approached the plate.
“That’s a bad read by Yunel,” Angels manager Mike Scioscia said.
The Angels faced Cleveland’s upstart right-hander Mike Clevinger, whom they parted with in an ill-
advised trade for reliever Vinnie Pestano three years ago. Now in the independent leagues, Pestano
hardly pitched for the team.
Wielding pinpoint command, Clevinger struck out the first two Angels he faced Tuesday. He began to
falter in the second, After Andrelton Simmons singled, Revere whacked a double down the right-field
line. Simmons flirted with going home but opted against it and would not score.
July 26, 2017 Page 4 of 16
Encarnacion bashed Chavez’s second pitch of the second inning for a double. Jose Ramirez stroked his
fifth for a run-scoring double. After Carlos Santana struck out, Chavez issued three consecutive walks,
loading the bases and forcing in a run.
“Today was a case of the walks,” Chavez said. “And then you have to go over the plate at some point.”
That point was 3 and 1 to Zimmer, who mashed a grand slam. Soon, Michael Bradley notched a solo
shot, and the Indians had their seven-run lead.
The Angels struck back for four in the third. Kaleb Cowart lined a double to center, Trout walked, and
Calhoun crushed a three-run home run. Simmons soon notched an infield single and scampered to
second on an errant throw. He scored when Luis Valbuena snuck a single into center.
The Angels added two more runs when Valbuena homered in the fifth and pumped his fist as he
rounded first base. As their bullpen kept the game within reach, they squandered further chances. They
were hurt by Escobar’s gaffe, several star turns from Indians outfielders, and, perhaps, a sacrifice bunt in
the top of the 11th.
Norris did not record an out in the bottom of the inning. After two unintentional walks and one
intentional pass to set up a force play, Encarnacion clubbed the first pitch into the left-field bleachers.
With a little luck, Revere’s strike could have averted it all. He’s not the team’s savior, but it was almost
his night to shine, despite his .230 average, unsteady playing time, and remarkably unorthodox swing.
“He’s a how not-to video in the making,” one National Leaguescout said of Revere this spring.
Again, the same could be said for the Angels. They have no established, effective, and healthy starting
pitchers. The right side of their infield has been by far baseball’s worst. And yet they entered the final
days before the deadline with a chance.
“It’s still unfortunate, it still sucks that we got all that way, play 11 innings, and not win the game,”
Simmons said. “But at least we showed that we can put up some runs.”
Angels report: With Alex Meyer out, they have few options for a starting pitcher
By Pedro Moura
The Angels have a vacant rotation spot and little time to find someone to fill it. Inflammation in Alex
Meyer’sthrowing shoulder forced the team to place the 27-year-old right-hander on the disabled list.
For now, they have four starters on their roster. They will need a fifth come Saturday in Toronto, and
they lack an obvious in-house replacement. The only healthy starting pitcher in the minors from the
club’s 40-man roster is right-hander Daniel Wright, who started Tuesday for triple-A Salt Lake and would
thus be on short rest.
July 26, 2017 Page 5 of 16
Deploying a bevy of bullpen arms is an option, according to manager Mike Scioscia. Rushing back left-
hander Tyler Skaggs from a rehab assignment with Salt Lake is not.
Left unsaid but also a possibility is a trade.
Whatever it is, it may be a short-term fix. The Angels are confident Meyer will return before season’s
end, though they declined to place a more specific timeline on his recovery.
Scioscia revealed that the pitcher had dealt with lesser inflammation earlier in the year. It flared up after
his most recent outing, last Wednesday in Anaheim, when he threw the best game of his career.
“But all the tests that he had done point to the fact that hopefully he’ll back in a reasonable amount of
time,” Scioscia said. “We’ll just let it calm down and get him back out there.”
Cowart called up
The Angels promoted infielder Kaleb Cowart from Salt Lake and installed him as their starting second
baseman. The 25-year-old former first-rounder performed well in triple A and arrived feeling more
confident than in his previous stints.
“For the first time in my career, I can come up here and feel like I belong,” Cowart said. “It feels great. I
really know what I’m doing, how to fix things. In the past, I was younger, and didn’t really know how to
fix things right away.”
When he returned from a one-day call-up a month ago, Cowart began to specialize at second base. He
was told general manager Billy Eppler wanted him to gain more experience at the position.
“It was just a matter of doing it every day,” Cowart said. “Knowing you’re gonna play every day and
going out there, it became way more comfortable.”
Short hops
Recovering right-handers Garrett Richards and Matt Shoemaker continue to play catch in Anaheim.
…Injured reliever Huston Street, out with a strained groin, has not picked up a baseball in three weeks,
Scioscia said. After expecting to quickly return from injury, Street has said he has no update on his
situation.
FROM ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Angels’ comeback comes up short in loss to Indians
By Jeff Fletcher
CLEVELAND — The Angels’ rollercoaster night looked like an ugly loss from the start, and it was certainly
ugly in the way it finally ended.
July 26, 2017 Page 6 of 16
In between, plenty of good things were wasted.
The Angels dropped an 11-7 game to the Cleveland Indians in 11 innings on Tuesday night, overcoming an
early seven-run deficit on the strength of solid hitting, pitching and defense.
And then it all got away.
Bud Norris threw the final pitch of the game, which Edwin Encarnacion crushed for a game-winning grand
slam, putting a disappointing finish on what could have been a rousing victory.
“I was pretty terrible, to be honest,” Norris said. “We did an unbelievable job of battling back. We played
unbelievable defense. Our bullpen pitched outstanding. Unfortunately, I was very sloppy in my one inning
of work.”
Norris, the Angels’ second-to-last available reliever, walked his first three batters, one intentionally. The
Angels then brought in a five-man infield as Encarnacion stepped to the plate.
He hit Norris’ first pitch over everyone, into the bleachers.
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In between the Indians’ two grand slams — Bradley Zimmer hit the first, as part of a seven-run second
inning against Jesse Chavez — the Angels played well enough to win.
Relievers Keynan Middleton, Jose Alvarez, Yusmeiro Petit (three innings), Blake Parker and David
Hernandez (two innings) followed Chavez to the mound and didn’t give up any runs.
They got the help of outstanding defense, specifically from shortstop Andrelton Simmons and catcher
Martin Maldonado.
Simmons made two nice plays, ending the seventh and eighth innings. One was a barehand pickup of a
slow roller and one a ball he fielded in the hole. Maldonado also erased three baserunners, nailing two
trying to steal second and picking one off first.
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Offensively, the Angels’ got a three-run homer from Kole Calhoun in the thirdand a two-run shot from Luis
Valbuena in the fifth.
In the sixth inning, the Angels completed the comeback. Kaleb Cowart singled and scored when Yunel
Escobar’s hit got under the glove of a diving Zimmer in center. Escobar, however, was thrown out easily
trying to stretch the hit to a triple, for the first out of the inning.
“That’s just a bad read by Yunel,” Scioscia said.
The next time the Angels had a chance to take the lead, they were robbed by Zimmer.
July 26, 2017 Page 7 of 16
In the 10th, with two outs and Simmons at first, Ben Revere smoked a ball toward the fence in
center. Zimmer ran back and leapt, catching the ball just before hitting the fence. Revere slammed his
helmet into the dirt as he came around first.
“It’s frustrating,” Revere said, shaking his head. “I try to tell myself I love this game.”
The Angels had another shot in the 11th, but Albert Pujols bounced back to the pitcher, stranding two
runners. Pujols, who had been robbed of a two-run hit on a catch by Michael Brantley in the fourth, was
hitless in six at-bats.
After Norris’ meltdown sent them trudging back to the clubhouse with a loss, they could only try to look at
the positives.
“It was good for us to come back like that against a good team,” Revere said. “Usually, they blow teams
out of the water. We fought back and made it interesting, and in the end some stuff didn’t go our way. It’s
frustrating. It definitely is.”
Angels Notes: Kaleb Cowart feels ready to be a big leaguer
By Jeff Fletcher
CLEVELAND — Kaleb Cowart is ready to show that he’s ready to be a major leaguer.
“I think, for the first time in my career, I come up here and feel like I belong,” Cowart said Tuesday. “It feels
great. I really know what I’m doing. I know how to fix things. In the past, I was younger and didn’t know
how to fix things right away. Now I do.”
The Angels promoted Cowart from Triple-A on Tuesday and immediately put him in the lineup at second
base, the start of what could be an extended trial at a position that has been a trouble spot for the Angels
this season. Danny Espinosa was released after hitting .162 and Nick Franklin has hit .087 in his first 11
games with the Angels.
“We’re going to try to mix Kaleb in as much as we can,” Manager Mike Scioscia said. “He can play multi
positions so that will help, but right now he’s going to get an opportunity at second base.”
As for how much of an opportunity, Scioscia wouldn’t elaborate: “Let’s take it one step at a time.”
Cowart had played third for most of his pro career, only last year beginning to learn second. He’d also
struggled at the plate for most of his career, including in the minors. He’d hit just .187 in 143 plate
appearances in the majors prior to Tuesday.
So the two questions that keep him from getting a shot at the majors were how he’d done with the
defensive transition, and whether he’d made enough strides offensively.
As for the first question, Cowart was still playing mostly third until June, when the Angels began having
him play second almost exclusively.
July 26, 2017 Page 8 of 16
“I think it was just a matter of doing it every day and knowing you were going to play it every day,” he said.
Scioscia said Cowart’s defense has continually improved since last year: “He’s made an incredible amount
of progress.”
Offensively, Cowart hit .311 with an .865 OPS at Triple-A, including a 9-for-12 weekend. A switch-hitter,
Cowart said the difference has been his discipline.
“Just getting good pitches and swinging at the right pitches, and the results took care of themselves,”
Cowart said.
MEYER’S SHOULDER
Scioscia said the Angels are hoping, based on tests on Alex Meyer’s shoulder, that this won’t be a serious
injury.
“Hopefully he’ll be back in a reasonable amount of time,” Scioscia said. “We’ll just let it calm down and get
him back out there.”
The Angels placed Meyer on the disabled list on Monday with shoulder inflammation. Scioscia couldn’t be
more specific as to how long Meyer might be out.
“We’re optimistic that this thing will turn the corner quickly and he’ll get back out there,” Scioscia said.
Meyer has a history of shoulder trouble, including missing most of last season before the Angels acquired
him from the Minnesota Twins.
With Meyer out, the Angels have a vacancy in the rotation for Saturday’s game in Toronto. The options are
sparse for that game. Tyler Skaggs is not an option, Scioscia said, because they want him to get more work
in the minors before activating him from the disabled list. The other Triple-A starters haven’t fared well
lately. Scioscia said a bullpen game is a possibility.
ALSO
Huston Street (groin) still has not thrown since he’s been on the disabled list, Scioscia said. Street, who has
now missed three weeks, was not expecting to be out this long. …
Andrew Heaney, who is coming back from Tommy John surgery, is scheduled for his third start in the
rookie Arizona League on Tuesday. Scioscia said it’s possible that his next outing could be at a higher level.
…
Matt Shoemaker and Garrett Richards are still throwing, but neither is yet throwing from a mound.
July 26, 2017 Page 9 of 16
FROM ANGELS.COM
Angels rally for 7 unanswered but fall in extras
By Maria Guardado and William Kosileski / MLB.com
CLEVELAND -- As fireworks lit up the night sky and the Cleveland faithful erupted in cheers, the Indians
celebrated their third walk-off win of the season by mobbing Edwin Encarnacion at home plate.
Encarnacion played the role of the hero, as his walk-off grand slam in the bottom of the 11th lifted the
Indians over the Angels, 11-7, in Tuesday night's series opener at Progressive Field.
Encarnacion's walk-off blast -- his 21st homer of the season -- came on a first-pitch slider from Angels
reliever Bud Norris and gave the Indians their fifth straight win to maintain their 1 1/2 game lead over
the Royals in the American League Central division. It is Encarnacion's sixth career walk-off homer and
his 10th career walk-off hit.
With Encarnacion's grand slam, the Indians became the first team in Major League history to hit two
grand slams in one game with the second being a walk-off.
"I bet it does [feel good]. I bet it does," Indians manager Terry Francona said of Encarnacion's first walk-
off hit with the Indians. "I know it felt good to me. Any time you get mobbed by your teammates, that's
a good feeling."
Encarnacion's slam in the 11th was the first walk-off grand slam for the Indians since Nick Swisher did so
on June 19, 2014, also against the Angels.
"It's a wonderful feeling," Encarnacion said through team translator Anna Bolton. "Yes, this is my first
walk-off with the Indians and it's an amazing feeling and it felt amazing to connect with the ball and to
hit it out like I did."
The Angels, who fell to 49-52 and now sit four games back of the second American League Wild Card
spot, crawled their way back into the game thanks to a three-run homer from Kole Calhoun and a two-
run shot from Luis Valbuena. Valbuena also added an RBI single, and Yunel Escobar drove in the tying
run with an RBI double.
"There's some positive to it," Angels shortstop Andrelton Simmons said. "We're down early by quite a
bit of runs, but it shows what this team has been about all year. We didn't throw in the towel. We
battled, we chipped away. We had two good innings and ended up tying the game. We had a couple
chances, and they made some good plays or we ran into some outs, but we showed fight today."
Both starters had a tough time on the mound. Indians right-hander Mike Clevingerwent 4 1/3 innings
and allowed six runs (five earned) on nine hits and two walks while striking out five. Angels starter Jesse
Chavez did not fare any better, allowing seven runs, five hits and four walks with three strikeouts in 2
1/3 innings.
July 26, 2017 Page 10 of 16
"It looked like [Clevinger] was trying not to give up any runs as opposed to just limiting the damage,"
Francona said. "I think maybe that comes with maturity. After we score the seven first, he ran [a] full
count to the first hitter. You'd like to see him really attack after that. Make them earn every single bit of
what they get."
The Indians scored seven in the second inning thanks to Bradley Zimmer's first career grand slam
and Michael Brantley's solo homer. Jose Ramirez added an RBI double, and Giovanny Urshela picked up
an RBI on a bases-loaded walk.
MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
Zimmer's first slam: After the Indians were set down in order by Chavez in the first, they broke through
in a big way in the second. Chavez gave up back-to-back doubles and later issued three straight walks to
plate the Tribe's first two runs. With the bases loaded, Zimmer stepped up to the plate. Chavez fell
behind 2-0 before getting a fastball over, breaking a streak of 11 straight balls. With the count 3-1,
Zimmer belted a fastball over the heart of the plate a projected 435 feet to the bullpen in center for his
first career grand slam to give the Indians the 6-0 lead. More >
"It was awesome," Zimmer said. "I mean, he was struggling to throw strikes there. I just stayed with my
approach and didn't give in. He left the ball out over the plate, and I put a pretty good swing on it."
"Today was a case of the walks," Chavez said. "Walks killed me today. … I didn't get ahead, and by not
getting ahead, you kind of pigeonhole yourself to come over the plate. To a hitter like [Zimmer] who's
hot, you don't want to elevate a little too much when you come over the dish, and that sinker just kind
of stayed flat."
Angels draw even: The Angels fought their way back from a 7-0 deficit and eventually tied the ballgame,
7-7, in the top of the sixth. After Kaleb Cowart led off the inning with a single to right off Indians
reliever Nick Goody, Escobar dug in. He connected on a 1-0 fastball and drove a sinking liner to center.
Zimmer charged in and made a diving attempt, but the ball skipped by him and bounced to the wall.
Even though Escobar was thrown out trying to stretch it into a triple, the hit allowed Cowart to score the
tying run all the way from first.
"That's a great comeback to give yourself a chance at that game," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said.
"It was a big play right there," Zimmer said. "It gets them back in the game, so maybe [I was] a little too
aggressive right there. I got a good jump and thought I could make a play, but like I said a little too
aggressive and it didn't work out."
QUOTABLE
"I thought they really picked each other up. Both bullpens really did a great job. We had to kind of
stagger it a few times. Each guy kind of picked each other up and [Bryan] Shaw was tremendous. [Dan
Otero] with a big out getting [Albert] Pujols. There was a lot of good things. It was kind of a fun game to
be a part of. It was a weird game. There was a lot going on." -- Francona, on the bullpen
July 26, 2017 Page 11 of 16
UPON FURTHER REVIEW
After catcher Yan Gomes drew a leadoff walk against Angels reliever Blake Parker in the bottom of the
eighth, Francona opted to bring in Erik Gonzalez to pinch-run. With Urshela at the plate, Gonzalez took
off for second, but Martin Maldonadothrew to shortstop Andrelton Simmons covering to catch him
stealing. The Indians challenged the call at second, but after a one minute and 20 second review, the call
stood.
BRANTLEY MAKES FIVE-STAR CATCH
With Ben Revere at the plate to lead off the top of the eighth, the Angels left fielder blooped a ball to
shallow left near the line. Brantley came charging in and made a diving catch on a ball that had a 7
percent catch probability, per Statcast™, to rob Revere of a leadoff hit. Brantley covered 66 feet in 3.8
seconds to make the diving catch, making it a five-star play, his second of the season. On catches with
more than 50 feet distance needed and under four seconds of opportunity time, Brantley is tied for the
second-lowest catch probability this season.
SOUND SMART WITH YOUR FRIENDS
Per Statcast™, Zimmer's grand slam in the second had an exit velocity of 112.2 mph, which is the hardest
regular season home run for Cleveland since Statcast™ was introduced in 2015. The only homer that was
hit harder in that span came from catcher Roberto Perez in the 2016 postseason, when he hit a 112.9
mph blast.
Tuesday marked the first time that the Indians had two grand slams in a game since September 24,
1999, when Dave Roberts and Manny Ramirez each hit one in an 18-4 victory over the Blue Jays.
WHAT'S NEXT
Angels: Right-hander Ricky Nolasco (4-11, 5.13 ERA) will start the second game of the three-game series
between the Angels and Indians on Wednesday night at 4:10 p.m. PT at Progressive Field. Nolasco has
logged a 5.54 ERA in seven career appearances against Cleveland.
Indians: The Indians will send right-hander Carlos Carrasco (10-4, 3.62 ERA) to the mound for
Wednesday's 7:10 p.m. ET tilt against the Angels at Progressive Field. Carrasco is coming off a strong
outing against the Giants, where he took a no-decision after allowing two runs on six hits while striking
out six in six innings of work.
Adell leads Angels' midseason Top 30 list
18-year-old outfielder was 10th overall pick in the 2017 MLB Draft
By Maria Guardado / MLB.com
CLEVELAND -- One month after being drafted with the 10th overall pick, outfielder Jo Adell has vaulted
to the top of the Angels' Top 30 prospect list, as ranked by MLBPipeline.com.
Adell, 18, made his professional debut with the Arizona League Angels earlier this month and is batting
.350 (14-for-40) with three home runs and seven RBIs in 11 Rookie-level games. Adell supplanted fellow
July 26, 2017 Page 12 of 16
outfielder Jahmai Jones for the top spot, though Jones remains one of the most promising talents in the
Halos' farm system and shifted to No. 2 in the Midseason prospect rankings.
Two other 2017 draftees, right-hander Griffin Canning and outfielder Jacob Pearson, also entered the
Angels' Top 30 list at No. 4 and No. 5, respectively.
Here's an updated look at the Halos' Top 10 prospects:
1. Jo Adell, OF
2. Jahmai Jones, OF
3. Matt Thaiss, 1B
4. Griffin Canning, RHP
5. Jacob Pearson, OF
6. Brandon Marsh, OF
7. Chris Rodriguez, RHP
8. Jaime Barria, RHP
9. Grayson Long, RHP
10. Nate Smith, LHP
The Midseason Top 30 includes five other prospects who were not on the preseason list: Right-
hander Parker Bridwell (No. 13), right-hander Jesus Castillo (No. 16), shortstop Leonardo Rivas (No. 19),
outfielder Brennon Lund (No. 20) and left-hander Jose Suarez (No. 26).
Two members of the Angels' preseason rankings, right-handers Alex Meyer and Keynan Middleton, have
lost their prospect status after graduating to the Majors. Six others -- Abel De Los Santos, Brooks
Pounders, Kevin Grendell, Caleb Adams, Manny Banuelos and Chad Hinshaw -- have also dropped out of
the Angels' Top 30.
No Angels prospect was included in MLBPipeline.com's list of the Top 100 prospects.
The ranking of baseball's top prospects is done by MLBPipeline.com Draft and prospect experts Jonathan
Mayo, Jim Callis and Mike Rosenbaum, who compile input from industry sources, including scouts and
scouting directors. It is based on analysis of players' skill sets, upsides, proximity to the Majors and
potential immediate impact to their teams. Only players with rookie status are eligible for the list.
Players who were at least 23 years old when they signed and played in leagues deemed to be
professional (Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Cuba) are not eligible.
Thin starting depth taking its toll on Halos
By Maria Guardado / MLB.com
CLEVELAND -- The Angels used a mix of timely hitting, strong defense and solid pitching to erase a
seven-run deficit and claw back into Tuesday night's series opener against the Indians at Progressive
Field. They pushed the reigning American League champions to 11 innings before Edwin
July 26, 2017 Page 13 of 16
Encarnacion ended the four-hour affair with a walk-off grand slam off Bud Norris, lifting Cleveland to
an 11-7 victory.
Though Norris faltered at the end, the Angels were also hampered from the beginning by right-
hander Jesse Chavez, who surrendered seven runs over 2 1/3 innings in his worst outing of the season.
Chavez gave up a pair of doubles, four walks, a grand slam and a solo home run in a disastrous second
inning, allowing the Indians to build an early 7-0 lead.
"Today was a case of the walks," Chavez said. "Walks killed me today. Shortened up the outing a lot and
took pitches away from innings we could have used today. The walks, and then you have to come over
the plate at some point without walking more guys, and when I came over the plate, they did damage."
Entering Tuesday, Chavez had allowed at least five runs in five starts this season, though the Angels had
often managed to pick him up, going 3-1 over those last four outings. While the Halos fought back to
make it interesting against the Indians, they ultimately fell short in their quest to bail out the 33-year-old
veteran.
"Coming out of that [second] inning, I'm just thinking of how much I pigeonholed us," Chavez said. "I put
us in a bad position to succeed, in a way. First game of a road trip, you never want to do that."
With the loss, the Angels fell to 49-52 and dropped four games back of the second American League
Wild Card spot with five games left to play before Monday's non-waiver Trade Deadline. That stretch
has the potential to define the Halos' season, and they'll have to get through it behind a rotation that
has struggled to deliver consistent success after being thinned by injuries this year.
Rookie right-hander Parker Bridwell (3.09 ERA) has been a revelation since the Angels acquired him from
the Orioles in April, but the Halos have received uneven results from Chavez (5.35 ERA), Ricky
Nolasco (5.13 ERA) and JC Ramirez (4.38 ERA). But with Garrett Richards, Matt Shoemaker, Tyler
Skaggs, Alex Meyer, Andrew Heaney and Nick Tropeano on the disabled list, the Angels don't have many
other viable in-house options to turn to right now.
Skaggs is the closest to a return and could rejoin the Angels' rotation by early August, though it remains
to be seen if a Wild Card berth will still be within reach for the Halos at that point.
FROM THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Encarnacion's slam sends Indians past Angels 11-7 in 11
Associated Press
CLEVELAND -- Bradley Zimmer didn't care one bit that his mouth was filled with talcum powder.
To the rookie, it tasted like victory.
July 26, 2017 Page 14 of 16
Edwin Encarnacion connected for a grand slam in the 11th inning as the Cleveland Indians, who wasted a
seven-run lead and were held scoreless for eight innings, beat the Los Angeles Angels 11-7 on Tuesday
night for their fifth straight win.
Encarncion's shot off Bud Norris (1-3) soared over a five-player, drawn-in infield and landed in the left-
field bleachers to cap a strange night for the Indians, who led 7-0 after two innings.
"You could put the whole team on the infield and it's not going to work," Zimmer said of the Angels' shift
on Encarnacion. "The guy was made for situations like that. There was no doubt in my mind that he
wasn't going to come through there."
According to the Indians, they are the first team since at least 1930 to hit two grand slams in one game
with the second being a walk-off.
After roughing up Angels starter Jesse Chavez for seven runs in the second, Cleveland couldn't do
anything until the 11th, which began with Zimmer drawing a leadoff walk and stealing second. Zimmer,
who hit a grand slam in the seven-run second, moved up when Norris unleashed a wild pitch while
walking Francisco Lindor.
Angels manager Mike Scioscia then walked Michael Brantley and brought one of his outfielder's onto the
infield grass before Encarnacion drove Norris' first pitch into the stands.
When he reached the plate, Encarnacion was doused with water and white powder as the Indians
celebrated their second walk-off win in four games.
The homer put Encarnacion over 1,000 career RBI, and it was his first walk-off for Cleveland, which
signed him as a free agent this winter.
"It's a wonderful feeling," Encaracion said through a translator. "It felt amazing to connect with the ball
and to hit it out like I did."
Dan Otero (2-0) got the win, working out of a jam in the 11th by retiring Albert Pujols on a hard
comebacker with a runner at third and two outs. Otero was the final reliever to leave Cleveland's
bullpen.
Zimmer had an eventful night. He connected for his first slam, stole a base and ran down Ben Revere's
drive to deep center for the final out in the 10th before crashing into the padded wall. Zimmer also got
picked off first and made a poor defensive choice to help the Angels tie it in the sixth.
Brantley also homered and made two terrific catches for the Indians, who have won 10 of 11 over the
Angels.
Kole Calhoun hit a three-run homer and Luis Valbuena had a two-run shot for Los Angeles. Scioscia was
proud of the way his team battled.
July 26, 2017 Page 15 of 16
"That's a great comeback, and we had our chances to push it all the way through," he said. "Our guys
kept battling. We pressured them a lot, but they made some big plays defensively that were the
difference."
GLOVE STORY
Indians starter Mike Clevinger was forced to change gloves after the first inning by crew chief Bill Miller.
The umpires felt the color of his glove was too light and he had to borrow one from teammate Corey
Kluber.
"They said it was Scioscia's least favorite color," Clevinger said. "They just said you can't use gray, and it
was gray."
ROCKY START
Chavez didn't make it out of the third inning, forcing Scioscia to use six relievers. Scioscia expects to add
at least one pitcher from Triple-A Salt Lake on Wednesday. "You can't start a road trip like that -- having
to use all those guys -- and it's my fault," said Chavez, who gave up seven runs in 2 1/3 innings. "I let us
down with the way I pitched."
TRAINER'S ROOM
Angels: RHP Alex Meyer (shoulder inflammation) underwent an MRI that revealed no structural damage.
He was placed on the 10-day disabled list Monday, but no timetable has been set for his return.
Indians: 2B Jason Kipnis ran the bases for the first time as he recovers from a strained right hamstring.
He could play in a minor league rehab game as soon as this weekend.
UP NEXT
Angels: RHP Ricky Nolasco has the second-most losses in the American League with 11. He is 0-2 with a
10.66 ERA over his last three starts, totaling just 12 2/3 innings.
Indians: RHP Carlos Carrasco is 2-0 with a 1.80 ERA in eight previous appearances -- four starts -- against
the Angels.
Zimmer looks to guide Indians to series win over Angels (Jul 26, 2017)
Associated Press
CLEVELAND — Bradley Zimmer, whose rookie season continues to excite the Indians and their fans, will
be in center field again Wednesday night when Cleveland hosts the Los Angeles Angels in the second
game of a three-game series.
“Everybody talks about his tools. He can show all of them in a number of ways,” Indians manager Terry
Francona said after Zimmer put on a dominating performance in an 11-7, 11-inning win over the Angels
on Tuesday night. “It’s pretty exciting to watch.”
July 26, 2017 Page 16 of 16
Zimmer was 3-for-5 with a grand slam, two stolen bases and two runs. He also made a spectacular
leaping catch against the center field wall to rob Ben Revere of extra bases, a hit that would have driven
in the go-ahead run in the 10th inning.
Zimmer, 24, is batting .277 with six home runs and 33 RBIs. He also leads the Indians with 12 stolen
bases even though he has only played in 60 of the team’s 98 games, having spent the first six weeks of
the season at Triple-A Columbus.
Francona enjoys watching Zimmer play for a number of reasons, a big one being his speed, which is
useful both on offense and defense.
“To get him on base is really helpful because he can run and you don’t automatically have to sacrifice
bunt,” said Francona, whose team will take a five-game winning streak into play Wednesday.
Both the Angels and Indians have bullpens that are a little gassed from working overtime Tuesday. Los
Angeles starter Jesse Chavez only pitched 2 1/3 innings, while Cleveland starter Mike Clevinger was done
after 4 1/3 innings.
Each team employed six relievers.
“Our ‘pen did a great job, but we’ll have to see how we are (Wednesday),” Angels manager Mike
Scioscia said. “We’ve got a couple guys out there who could probably use a day off.”
The managers will be rooting for lengthy outings from their Wednesday starters, Los Angeles’ Ricky
Nolasco and Cleveland’s Carlos Carrasco.
Through 20 starts this season, Nolasco (4-11, 5.13 ERA) is second in the American League in losses. At
one point in May and June, he lost seven consecutive starts.
In his past 12 starts, Nolasco is 2-9 with a 5.67 ERA. He is 0-2 with a 5.54 ERA in his past three starts.
Nolasco is coming off a shaky outing against the Boston Red Sox on Friday. In a 6-2 loss, he only lasted
four innings, giving up six runs on nine hits.
In seven career appearances, against Cleveland, Nolasco is 0-2 with a 5.54 ERA.
Carrasco (10-4, 3.62 ERA) ranks sixth in the American League in strikeouts (130) and is tied for sixth in
opponents’ batting average (.230).
In four July starts, Carrasco is 2-1 with a 3.42 ERA. He got a no-decision in his most recent start, July 19
at San Francisco, where he allowed two runs in six innings.
He has not faced the Angels this season, but in eight career appearances against them, Carrasco is 2-0.
His 1.80 ERA vs. Los Angeles is his lowest career mark against any opponent he has opposed as a starter
more than once.