Los Angeles Times

Angels to face pitcher they cut

- By Pedro Moura pedro.moura@latimes.com

BOSTON —The situation is set, bound to make someone look good. At Fenway Park on Sunday, the Boston Red Sox will start veteran right-hander Doug Fister, the man they claimed off of waivers from the Angels on Friday.

To oppose him, the Angels will start rookie righthande­r Parker Bridwell, the man they chose to remain in their rotation instead of Fister. Bridwell has struck out seven, walked six, and allowed five runs in 11 innings over two starts.

Adding to the afternoon’s intrigue, the Red Sox scout who twice watched Fister in recent weeks is special assistant Eddie Bane, the man responsibl­e for drafting Mike Trout while Ban was the Angels’ scouting director in 2009.

The Angels fired Bane, well regarded within the industry, the next year.

Angels reliever Huston Street spent time with Fister between triple-A and extended spring training. He said he was impressed with what he saw in his last start last week, with Fister demonstrat­ing command of his pitches and improved velocity.

Cron again demoted

Requiring another arm to pitch out of the bullpen, the Angels recalled righthande­r Eduardo Paredes from triple-A Salt Lake and demoted first baseman C.J. Cron back there for his third stint this season.

One of those stints was while on rehab assignment, but Cron’s status within the organizati­on has clearly fallen. An opening-day starter in three consecutiv­e seasons, the 27-year-old has this year hit .212 with a .562 onbase-plus-slugging percentage in 128 plate appearance­s.

Of late, he had primarily played against left-handed pitchers. Luis Valbuena will now garner those starts, although Angels manager Mike Scioscia said Albert Pujols will start at first base in one of two games at Dodger Stadium next week.

Paredes struck out 43 men in 38 innings between double-A and triple-A this season.

Short hops

The Red Sox retired David Ortiz’s number in a pregame ceremony and draped the Dominican Republic’s flag over the Green Monster during the country’s anthem. Fellow Dominican Pujols said he was excited to see his friend so honored. He said his favorite story about Ortiz had happened more than once. When struggling, Pujols asked Ortiz for advice, and Ortiz told him to take off his jersey, look at the name stitched onto the back, and remember who he was.

 ?? Robert Gauthier Los Angeles Times ?? ANGELS pitcher Parker Bridwell will start Sunday against Doug Fister, who was released in his favor.
Robert Gauthier Los Angeles Times ANGELS pitcher Parker Bridwell will start Sunday against Doug Fister, who was released in his favor.

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