Quick Hitters
Trout eagerly returns from 39-game injury absence
ANAHEIM, Calif. — Mike Trout never got comfortable away from the action while he sat out 39 games with an injured thumb.
The two-time AL MVP is grateful to be back in the middle of it with the Los Angeles Angels.
Trout returned to the Angels’ lineup on Friday, going 1 for 5 with a third-inning single when Los Angeles came back from the All-Star break to face Tampa Bay. He even stole second base, sliding in headfirst with no apparent worries about the action that caused his injury back on May 28.
“I’m extremely excited,” Trout said. “It’s good to be able to come to the ballpark and see your name in the lineup. It makes you feel good, obviously, (after) all the hard work getting back here.”
Trout got the first significant injury of his baseball life when he tore a ligament in his left thumb with that headfirst slide in Miami. He had surgery before pursuing a steady recovery, which culminated in a rehab stint last week in Class A ball.
“It was different, coming to the ballpark (and not playing),” Trout said. “I think the biggest thing was when they were on the road, coming to the ballpark and seeing just four or five guys here on the DL, and going home that night and watching it on TV, knowing that you’re not there with the team and not participating. But it’s been quick, a few weeks.”
Trout was on pace for another spectacular season before his injury, leading the majors with a .461 on-base percentage while racking up 16 homers, 36 RBIs, 121 total bases, a .742 slugging percentage and a whopping 1.203 OPS.
Trout got huge ovations from the Big A crowd during pregame introductions and again when he stepped into the box for his first at-bat, driving a fly to deep center. He cracked a loud line-drive single to center in the third and then stole second easily.
He also struggled in big spots, grounding out with two runners on to end the seventh and striking out on three pitches from Tampa Bay closer Alex Colome in the 10th inning to end the Rays’ 2-1 victory.
Puig hits 3-run homer in 9th to help Dodgers beat Miami 6-4
MIAMI — Yasiel Puig hit his second homer of the game with two out in the ninth inning Friday night, and the three-run shot helped the Los Angeles Dodgers beat Miami 6-4 for their seventh consecutive victory.
Corey Seager also homered for the Dodgers (62-29), who were one strike from defeat three times before winning for the 27th time in the past 31 games. They’re 33 games above .500 for the first time this year.
The Marlins led 4-3 when Joc Peterson singled on a 1-2 pitch with two out in the ninth against A.J. Ramos (2-4). It was the first hit by the Dodgers since the fifth inning.
Peterson moved up on a wild pitch, Yasmani Grandal walked on a 3-2 pitch, and both runners advanced on another wild pitch.
Puig fell behind 1-2 before pulling a 94-mph fastball into the home run sculpture. He slapped his chest twice with both hands as he looked toward the jubilant Dodgers dugout and began his jog.
It was his 18th homer this year, and the second blown save by Ramos.