Stepping up
Trout and the Angels are on a roll and in contention
WASHINGTON - Mike Trout glanced around the clubhouse like he didn’t want to leave anyone out.
Shortstop Andrelton Simmons and first baseman C.J. Cron are hitting well. Parker Bridwell is pitching like an ace. Tyler Skaggs is finally healthy.
“There’s a lot of guys stepping up,” Trout said.
The Los Angeles Angels have won seven of eight games to vault into the second AL wildcard spot, and there’s plenty of credit to go around. Trout’s hitting since he returned from a six-week absence because of a torn ligament in his left thumb, solid hitting, surprising pitching and one of baseball’s best defences have combined to allow the Angels to start thinking about the playoffs after appearing out of contention in late July.
“It’s coming right at the right time,” said Bridwell, who has allowed two runs or fewer in nine of his last 11 appearances. “The way our defence and offence have been coming together late in games, coming back to win games, especially at this time of the year as the race is going on like it is, it’s huge. It gives us a lot of momentum. We just look to keep it going and stay hot.”
Five of the Angels’ last seven victories have been comebacks as they’ve improved to 62-59 and jumped over Minnesota, Baltimore, Seattle, Tampa Bay and Kansas City in a crowded AL wild-card race. A four-game sweep of the Mariners and a split with the NL East-leading Washington Nationals set Los Angeles up for another important series this weekend at Baltimore — and have them thinking about not just getting into the wild-card game but hosting it.
“If we’re getting some pitching back and we keep hitting the ball like we have, playing great defence, we may catch up to the Yankees,” outfielder Ben Revere said. “I really think everybody’s kind of overlooking us right now.”
Based on where the Angels were on the morning of July 28 — 5 1/2 games back of the Royals for the second wild-card spot, it’s easy to understand. But no team with Trout can be overlooked.
Manager Mike Scioscia said the Angels “managed to hold (their) heads above water” amid injuries to their pitching staff and Trout, which allowed them to stay in it. They’re 17-12 since Trout came back, with the star centerfielder batting .343 with seven home runs, 19 RBIs, 26 walks and 22 runs scored. “When a player of Mike’s calibre comes back in and you see him in the starting lineup, everyone’s kind of hitting closer to where they’re used to and hopefully the game flow goes to where you can start to get the game on your terms more often because you can pressure teams,” Scioscia said. “We’re still trying to get that offensive consistency and we can be better at it, but getting Mike back in the lineup goes a longer way to bring you to that goal.”
Trout feels like his timing is “getting there”.