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TRANSCRIPT
May 12, 2016 Page 1 of 37
Clips
(May 12, 2016)
May 12, 2016 Page 2 of 37
Today’s Clips Contents
FROM THE LOS ANGELES TIMES (Page 3) Angels acquire starting pitcher Jhoulys Chacin from Atlanta for a minor
leaguer
Angels pitcher Matt Shoemaker continues to struggle
FROM THE OC REGISTER (Page 6)
Angels acquire Braves right-hander Jhoulys Chacin
Matt Shoemaker struggles in return to rotation as Cardinals hand Angels
their fifth straight loss
Angels manager Mike Scioscia says Albert Pujols will remain in cleanup
spot
Miller: Angels confident in Albert Pujols, regardless of the numbers
Angels aim to bring back Ji-Man Choi after designating him for assignment
FROM ANGELS.COM (Page 19) Pujols frustrated with hits hard to find
Angels can't contain Cards in 4th straight loss
Angels acquire righty Chacin from Braves
Trout, Angels laugh off talk of trade
Weaver matches up with Wainwright in finale
Halos stay positive as injuries, losses pile up
FROM THE ASSSOCIATED PRESS (Page 35)
Garcia shines as Cardinals beat Angels, 5-2
May 12, 2016 Page 3 of 37
FROM THE LOS ANGELES TIMES Angels acquire starting pitcher Jhoulys Chacin from Atlanta for a minor leaguer
Geovany Soto parked himself in front of his locker Wednesday afternoon and began to sing.
"Don't worry," the Angels catcher crooned, "about a thing."
He let himself get louder and louder, and, after a few refrains, he motioned over an Angel
Stadium clubhouse attendant and asked if he could play the song loud enough for everyone to
hear. Soon, they found a phone that had the Spotify app installed, cued up "Three Little Birds,"
and plugged it into speakers.
Bob Marley's voice radiated throughout the room: "'Cause every little thing is gonna be all
right."
Heads began to bob. Soto continued to sing. Mike Trout asked to put it on repeat. It already
was programmed to do so, Soto told him.
"I want to play it over and over," Soto said.
For the Angels, there is much to worry about. They have started slowly and been beset by
injuries to their struggling starting rotation. Earlier Wednesday, they turned to an unlikely
source to buttress the staff, trading a rookie-league nonprospect to lowly Atlanta in exchange
for right-hander Jhoulys Chacin, who will start Saturday in Seattle.
Not long ago, Chacin was Colorado's ace. But the Rockies designated him for assignment during
2015 spring training to avoid paying his full arbitration salary, and this will be his fifth
organization since.
He's 28 now. At 22, Chacin starred for Colorado and posted a 3.28 earned-run average,
improbable considering half his starts came at Coors Field. He had a 3.60 ERA over the next
three seasons, and then suffered through a variety of shoulder ailments and quickly lost nearly
3 mph off his fastball. So began his spiral through the fringes of Major League Baseball.
The Venezuela native went from Colorado to Arizona to Cleveland to Atlanta and, now, to
Anaheim. With Cleveland's triple-A affiliate, the Columbus Clippers, he was coached by current
Angels pitching coach Charles Nagy, who was then the Indians' special assistant to player
development.
May 12, 2016 Page 4 of 37
Chacin made four major league starts for Arizona last season, at a 3.38 ERA, and five starts for
Atlanta this year, at a 5.40 ERA. His 27-8 strikeout-walk ratio this year portends a better mark.
In a limited sample, he has regained about half of the lost velocity.
He has always relied heavily on a sinker to get ground balls.
"He's an experienced guy that has, I think, gotten his stuff back to where he can pitch well in
the big leagues," Angels Manager Mike Scioscia said. "We'll give him his chance. Hopefully, he's
going to give us what we need to fill out our rotation."
Chacin will complete a rotation currently composed of left-hander Hector Santiago and right-
handers Matt Shoemaker, Nick Tropeano, and Jered Weaver. Only once this month has an
Angels starter finished six innings in a start. Because of that and the corresponding stress
placed upon their relievers, the Angels will carry an unorthodox nine-man bullpen before
Chacin becomes part of the team.
"Until we really get our rotation settled, until we get these guys into their game and they pitch
effectively until a certain point in the game, we're gonna have to carry that extra pitcher right
now," Scioscia said.
The Angels sent 23-year-old left-hander Adam McCreery to Atlanta for Chacin. A 2014 draftee
out of Azusa Pacific, McCreery has never pitched above rookie-league ball in two professional
seasons and is not considered a prospect.
Angels pitcher Matt Shoemaker continues to struggle
Pedro Moura
The Angels sent Matt Shoemaker down to triple A 10 days ago after he struggled for the
second consecutive start. What he needed to fix to have success in the majors was not
complicated, they insisted, but he needed to do it before he pitched here again.
He needed to locate his fastball down in the zone and use it to set up his remaining offerings,
particularly his once-great splitter.
"It's in him," Manager Mike Scioscia said Wednesday afternoon, as the Angels turned to him to
fix their plagued pitching rotation.
It was not on Wednesday night, when Shoemaker finished only four innings, yielding seven hits
and four runs and taking his fifth loss of 2016 in the Angels' 5-2 defeat to St. Louis. It was an
May 12, 2016 Page 5 of 37
improvement on his last start, in which he lasted only 21/3 innings, but not by much: He struck
out only one of the 20 men he faced.
He worked his way through Wednesday's first inning easily. But, in the second, he walked the
first hitter he faced, and yielded singles to the second, third, fourth and fifth — scoring two
runs. The sixth and seventh batters of the inning each notched sacrifice flies — scoring two
more.
"It happened quick," Scioscia said. "He settled down after that. He definitely showed that his
stuff was there, but he couldn't combine it like he usually can."
The runs held up. Facing left-hander Jaime Garcia, the Angels were hitless until the fourth
inning, when C.J. Cron launched a two-run home run after Albert Pujols reached base on an
error. Kole Calhoun notched their second hit, a single, in the sixth inning, and Pujols had their
third in the seventh, another single. Geovany Soto followed with a double to push Pujols to
third, but the Angels could not convert the scoring chance. Scioscia said Johnny Giavotella and
Shane Robinson expanded their strike zones in the key situation.
They went down without a hit in the eighth and ninth innings, but worked two walks to bring up
Giavotella again as the tying run with two outs in the ninth. He lined out against Cardinals
closer Trevor Rosenthal.
But, Scioscia said, the source of the loss was not the offense, but again poor starting pitching.
"That's the only way we're going to get this thing rolling in the right direction, controlling that
part of the game," he said.
The loss dropped the Angels to 13-20 this season. Their .394 winning percentage is the third-
worst in baseball, in front of only Atlanta and Minnesota. Their five-game losing streak is the
team's longest since a six-game streak July 28-Aug. 2, 2015.
Short hops
To make room for Shoemaker, the Angels designated first baseman Ji-Man Choi for assignment.
Choi, who had one hit in 24 plate appearances as an Angel, will go through the waiver process.
If he clears, Baltimore can accept him back. If the Orioles turn that down, he can return to the
Angels organization, likely in triple A. Scioscia said the team would want him to bat more often
if retained. … Closer Huston Street played catch again. He has an oblique strain. … Outfielder
Craig Gentry, now eligible to return from his stint on the 15-day disabled list for a lumbar
strain, resumed baseball activities. He remains at least several days away from being activated.
May 12, 2016 Page 6 of 37
FROM THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER Angels acquire Braves right-hander Jhoulys Chacin
By JEFF FLETCHER / STAFF WRITER
ANAHEIM - For the second day in a row, the Angels swung a deal to attempt to plug the leaks
that have sprung on their injury ravaged roster.
The Angels on Wednesday acquired right-hander Jhoulys Chacin (pronounced YO-lease chah-
SEEN) from the Atlanta Braves, a day after getting shortstop Brendan Ryan from the
Washington Nationals.
The Angels sent 23-year-old left-hander Adam McCreery to the Braves. McCreery, a 22nd-round
pick in the 2014 draft, has pitched two half-seasons in Rookie ball.
Chacin, who was scheduled to start for the Braves on Wednesday night, will make his first start
Saturday at Seattle, Angels manager Mike Scioscia said.
"He’s an experienced guy that has, I think, gotten his stuff back to where he can definitely pitch
and pitch well in the big leagues," Scioscia said. "We’re going to give him his chance and
hopefully he’s going to give us what we need to fill out our rotation."
The Angels had been down to three starters after Matt Shoemaker was sent to Triple-A because
of his struggles and Garrett Richards got hurt, likely headed for season-ending Tommy John
surgery.
May 12, 2016 Page 7 of 37
Shoemaker was recalled to start Wednesday, essentially replacing himself, and Chacin fills the
hole left by Richards' absence
In order to create a spot on the 25-man roster for Shoemaker and on the 40-man roster for
Chacin, the Angels designated first baseman Ji-Man Choi for assignment. They will need to
make another roster move - or more - to make room for Chacin on the 25-man roster when he
joins the Angels on Thursday.
At the moment, the Angels have 13 pitchers on the roster, so it's possible they will add a
position player, in addition to Chacin, on Thursday.
Chacin, 28, is 1-2 with a 5.40 ERA this season for the Braves, who have languished to a 7-24
start. He spent the first six years of his major league career with the Colorado Rockies, followed
by splitting last year between the Cleveland Indians and Arizona Diamondbacks.
He has a 3.82 career ERA. Taking into account the hitter-friendly environments in which he's
pitched, his adjusted ERA is 118, meaning he's been 18 percent better than average.
Chacin has 27 strikeouts, eight walks and four homers allowed in 26 2/3 innings. Chacin had a
3.27 ERA through his first four starts, but then gave up eight runs, on four homers, in his last
start, against the New York Mets.
"We believe he's better than his ERA," Angels GM Billy Eppler said. "We like the fact that he
attacks the strike zone, can throw four pitches for strikes, gets ground balls and misses bats. We
May 12, 2016 Page 8 of 37
feel he can go compete and provide some innings and give us an opportunity to win a baseball
game."
Chacin, who is a free agent at the end of the season, is making $1.1 mllion this season, so the
Angels' payroll increase is negligible.
Choi, a Rule 5 pick who was hitting .056 with a .292 on-base percentage in 24 plate
appearances, could remain in the Angels system. If he goes unclaimed on waivers, which is
likely, he would have the option of re-signing with the Angels on a minor league deal.
"We really appreciated his approach at the plate and his flexibility (defensively)," Eppler said,
"He can play some first and outfield. We wish we were in a situation where we could get him a
few more at-bats and understand what we was, but that situation didn’t present itself."
McCreery is a 6-foot-8 left-hander who had posted a 3.55 ERA in the Arizona League over the
past two summers. He struck out 49 and walked 33 in 38 innings. He is currently working out in
Angels extended spring. A product of Bonita High in LaVerne, McCreery pitched at Arizona State
and then Asuza Pacific.
This marks the second trade in two days by Eppler as he tries to patch together a team ravaged
by injuries.
On Monday, the Angels picked up Ryan in exhange for cash considerations, helping them fill the
void left by Andrelton Simmons' thumb injury.
May 12, 2016 Page 9 of 37
Eppler said he remains interested in upgrading the team at just about any position, but he
wouldn't comment specifically on whether this move impacts the chances of signing another
veteran starter like Tim Lincecum or Kyle Lohse.
"We'll always continue to improve if we can," Eppler said.
Matt Shoemaker struggles in return to rotation as Cardinals hand Angels their fifth straight loss By JOEY KAUFMAN / STAFF WRITER
ANAHEIM – Matt Shoemaker was back on the mound at Angel Stadium after a week-long stint
at Triple-A.
The Angels sent the right-hander to the minors to work on a few things after he allowed 22 runs
in his first 20-2/3 innings of 2016.
Things were not markedly better in his return Wednesday night, as the Angels fell to the St.
Louis Cardinals, 5-2, their fifth loss in a row. Their latest defeat dropped them to 13-20 overall
and into a three-way tie for last place in the American League West with the Houston Astros and
Oakland Athletics.
Shoemaker, who surrendered four runs and seven hits in four innings, ran into most of his trouble
in the top of the second.
May 12, 2016 Page 10 of 37
After a 1-2-3 first inning when his fastball touched 95 mph and he made it through on 15 pitches,
the first five batters Shoemaker faced in the second reached base. He walked Brandon Moss,
then gave up four consecutive ground-ball singles.
“If one of those is a double-play ball, you’re out of the inning,” Shoemaker said. “They just
happened to find holes.”
The Cardinals jumped ahead, 3-0, then Matt Carpenter’s sacrifice fly brought in another run.
A four-run deficit was too much for an offense that has not scored more than two runs in a game
in a week.
Manager Mike Scioscia pulled Shoemaker after he gave up a single to Stephen Piscotty to start
the fifth inning.
Only one Angels starter has pitched at least six innings since April 26, a span of 12 games.
“I think that defines a lot of what we’re going through right now,” Scioscia said.
Shoemaker made only one start at Triple-A, allowing one run in six innings Saturday, since the
Angels rotation lost Garrett Richards, likely for the season, because of a torn ulnar collateral
ligament that looks to need Tommy John surgery.
Scioscia hoped to see better command from the 29-year-old Shoemaker. He struck out 16 batters
and walked 10 in his first five starts. He had one strikeout and one walk against St. Louis.
May 12, 2016 Page 11 of 37
After his start in Salt Lake, Shoemaker said he felt sharper with his delivery, “driving out of the
slope and getting the ball down more consistently.”
“I felt better,” he said. “And I really believe I took that into this game. It was kind of a messed up
game. It happens sometimes.”
Cardinals left-hander Jaime Garcia took a no-hitter into the fourth inning. It looked to be over
when Mike Trout appeared to reach first base on an infield single, but it was overturned after a
replay review. Trout was out.
C.J. Cron ended Garcia’s no-hit bid two batters later when he hit a two-run home run to left-
center for his second homer of the season. Cron is 11 for 26 this month.
The Angels had another extra-base hit in the bottom of the seventh inning when catcher Geovany
Soto doubled to left-center, putting runners at second and third with one out.
But they did not score after Johnny Giavotella and Shane Robinson struck out swinging.
They were 0 for 3 with runners in scoring position, Giavotella flying out in the bottom of the
ninth with Cron on second and Soto at first.
“We have more offense in this team,” Scioscia said. “We know it, but it hasn’t come to the
surface.”
May 12, 2016 Page 12 of 37
“We just need to keep fighting and sooner or later it will click,” added Albert Pujols, who is 2 for
his last 21. “You can’t get frustrated. We have a lot of talent on this team and sooner or later,
hopefully, it comes out. We have a lot of at-bats left.”
Their bullpen kept them at least within striking distance, giving up just one run – a two-out, RBI
single by Piscotty in the seventh.
Since April 20, the Angels’ relief pitchers have a 2.00 ERA.
Angels manager Mike Scioscia says Albert Pujols will remain in cleanup spot
JOEY KAUFMAN/ STAFF WRITER
ANAHEIM — Angels manager Mike Scioscia insisted he is not worried about Albert Pujols’ slow
start to the season. And he has no plans to move him out of the cleanup spot, either.
Asked after the Angels’ 5-2 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals on Wednesday night if he would
consider dropping Pujols in the lineup, Scioscia offered a one-word answer, “no.”
Through the first 33 games, Pujols is hitting .185/.261/.347 with six home runs and 18 RBI.
Meanwhile, C.J. Cron, the Angels’ No. 5 hitter who also splits time with Pujols at first base, has
seen 13 hits in his last 30 at-bats, including a two-run home run Wednesday.
“You guys are misreading this if you don’t think he’s hitting the ball much better than his
numbers show,” Scioscia said of Pujols.
May 12, 2016 Page 13 of 37
Earlier, Scioscia pointed to Pujols’ exit velocity as testament to the fact that the 36-year-old is
hitting the ball harder in recent weeks and might see improvement soon.
According to Baseball Savant, the average exit velocity of Pujols’ batted balls in play during the
first week of May was 99.5 mph. After the first week of the season, that stood at 89 mph.
“You look a little deeper,” Scioscia said, “and he’s hitting the ball hard.”
He is. His hard-hit contact rate of 36.8 percent, according to FanGraphs, is also on par with his
career average. But his soft-contact rate is at 26.4 percent, up from his career average of 14.1
percent
Scioscia, speaking before the game, was upbeat.
“If you look at the cyclical nature of some things that go on with players, barring anything
unforeseen, he’s going to be as productive as he’s ever been for us,” he said.
Miller: Angels confident in Albert Pujols, regardless of the numbers
JEFF MILLER/STAFF COLUMNIST
ANAHEIM – It was always easy to find the value with Albert Pujols, as easy as clicking on his
name and marveling at the Hall of Fame production plainly evident in the ridiculous numbers
that popped up.
May 12, 2016 Page 14 of 37
Now, however, finding the value – not to mention the hope – requires looking deeper into the
numbers.
And that’s exactly what the Angels are doing. Not that they have any other choice at this point,
justifying Arte Moreno’s well intended but horribly flawed 10-year, $240 million decision calling
for desperate steps.
On a team with too many concerns already – injuries, finding pitchers to start, an offense that
can’t score – Pujols to date is just another one.
“He’s hitting the ball very hard with not a lot of luck to show for it,” Manager Mike Scioscia said.
“But everything you would look at, from exit velocity to where balls have gone, he’s hitting the
ball well.”
Still, less than two weeks after ending a stretch in which he went a career-worst 0 for 26, Pujols
entered the Angels’ game Wednesday against St. Louis with one hit – a single – in his previous
17 at-bats.
His average was at .183 overall for a struggling bunch that had been outscored by all but three
teams, one of which was Atlanta, the 8-24 Braves having given up on this season before it even
started.
The steady fade from the player Pujols used to be has been on display for a while now, though
the presence of his former team at Angel Stadium this week only reinforces how much his
signing hasn’t worked out.
May 12, 2016 Page 15 of 37
It isn’t Pujols’ fault that Moreno gave him all that time and money. It was simply the
overzealous action of an owner who understandably fell in love with a player’s past while
inexplicably miscalculating that player’s future and doing so wildly.
By now, the Angels were supposed to have won something – probably something big – with
Pujols, who joined the team in December 2011.
Instead, they haven’t even won a playoff game, Moreno’s plan failing so spectacularly that his
commitments to Pujols and Josh Hamilton – along with a few other front-office decisions – have
helped leave in doubt the future of a team that employs Mike Trout.
Consider that prospect for a second: Trout is only 24, has been first or second in league MVP
voting four consecutive seasons and the Angels still are facing a series of tomorrows that look
strangely discouraging.
Of course, if their pitching eventually gets healthy and approaches potential and a few other
offensive options emerge and with a break or two, well, fortunes can turn quickly, even in a
sport that tends to move slowly.
But when a team appears to be overmatched, that team also can look impossibly helpless. And,
on another night with a lot of empty seats in their home ballpark, the Angels entered
Wednesday looking very much like the decided underdog – one missing most of its teeth.
The Braves were the only team with fewer home runs and extra-base hits and a poorer slugging
percentage than the Angels, who were tied with the Dodgers for 28th in homers with 25.
May 12, 2016 Page 16 of 37
Their lineup continually has been exposed as too thin, Scioscia recently forced to move Kole
Calhoun from fifth back to second just to try to give Trout someone else to possibly drive in.
“If you look at the top four, the rest of the guys have to come into the fold to make sure that
Albert is getting his opportunities if they do pitch around Mike,” Scioscia said. “If they see
another hole, they can pitch around Albert.”
None of the bottom five hitters in the Angels’ order began Wednesday with as many as nine RBI
and – 32 games into the season – only three Angels (Trout, Pujols and Calhoun) had reached
double figures in RBI.
Just for the sake of comparison, the Cardinals before this game had eight such hitters.
“When you’re not picking up these RBI with guys past Albert ... that’s some of the struggles we
saw last year,” Scioscia said. “The back end behind Albert, these guys have to come around or
it’s going to be tough.”
Specifically on Pujols, Scioscia is correct. The basic analytics aren’t as shocking as that .183
average.
In terms of exit velocity, he’s just behind Bryce Harper, equal to Yasiel Puig and just ahead of
Paul Goldschmidt. On Tuesday, Pujols hit a 108.5-mph line drive out off St. Louis starter Mike
Leake.
May 12, 2016 Page 17 of 37
Yet, no matter how deeply inside the numbers anyone digs, the Angels and Pujols will still find
themselves in an early-season hole.
“Barring anything unforeseen, he’s going to be as productive as he’s ever been for us,” Scioscia
said. “We’re very confident with that.”
The Angels have to be confident because, once again, they don’t have any other choice at this
point.
This team is running painfully low on options, and the only numbers that ultimately matter are
hurting, too.
Angels aim to bring back Ji-Man Choi after designating him for assignment
JOEY KAUFMAN/STAFF WRITER
ANAHEIM — Ji-Man Choi, who the Angels selected in the Rule 5 draft over the winter, cracked
their opening day roster thanks to some versatility.
Choi could fill in at first base or in left field.
But he struggled at the plate. The rookie from South Korea saw one hit in 18 at-bats this season.
He did walk six times.
May 12, 2016 Page 18 of 37
When the club acquired right-handed pitcher Jhoulys Chacin on Wednesday in a trade with
Atlanta, they needed to clear room to place him to the 40-man roster. That left Choi designated
for assignment.
“Ji-Man really didn't have the opportunity to play as much as we would want a young guy to
play,” Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. “Where our roster is right now, we just couldn't keep
that.”
Scioscia said they hoped Choi might still remain in the organization. It is possible so long as he
goes unclaimed on waivers and signs a minor-league contract with the team.
Choi, 24, would then see more at-bats at Triple-A Salt Lake.
Scioscia said he wanted him to improve his plate discipline after he struck out six times in his 18
at-bats in the majors.
“A lot of what he needs to improve on is going to come with experience,” Scioscia said. “It’s not
going to come with any drill or any workout. It’s going to come with playing time. He needs to
get his timing and keep it. He needs to understand Triple-A pitching before major-league
pitching and see where his career goes from there.”
Previously in the Seattle Mariners’ organization, Choi saw 339 at-bats in 101 games at Triple-A.
His strikeout rate there was 16 percent.
ALSO
May 12, 2016 Page 19 of 37
Left fielder Craig Gentry, who was placed on the disabled list earlier this month with a right
lumbar spine strain, began baseball activities Wednesday. He could swing and play catch. No
rehab assignment has been scheduled yet. He was eligible to return from the disabled list, but
Scioscia said he still had “a ways to go.”
FROM ANGELS.COM
Pujols frustrated with hits hard to find
Advanced stats suggest Angels slugger has been unlucky
By Alden Gonzalez / MLB.com
ANAHEIM -- Albert Pujols' batting average has never been this low, this late.
After his current team dropped its second consecutive game to his former team on Wednesday,
Pujols was batting .185, a product of 23 hits in 124 at-bats through 33 games.
"What can I do?" Pujols said, moments after the Angels' 5-2 loss to the Cardinals dropped them
seven games below .500 for the first time in 20 months. "I wish I could place it, like this …"
Pujols cupped his right hand and acted as if he were sprinkling baseballs all over a field,
symbolizing his frustration that the hits are not falling.
"That's the way it goes," Pujols said. "I'm better than that. I've been in this game for 17 years,
so I know. You have a lot of at-bats left."
May 12, 2016 Page 20 of 37
Pujols went 1-for-4 on Wednesday in the Angels' fifth consecutive defeat. He swung through a
Jaime Garcia fastball in the second, reached on an error in the fourth, lined a single to left in the
seventh and grounded out in the ninth.
Angels manager Mike Scioscia was asked if he would consider batting C.J. Cron behind Mike
Trout instead of Pujols, considering Cron has 16 hits in his last 36 at-bats.
"No," Scioscia said, then added about Pujols: "You guys are misreading this if you don't think
he's hitting the ball much better than his numbers show."
Pujols' batting average on balls in play is an unfathomably low .165, the worst in the Major
Leagues and well below even the .217 mark he finished with last year, which was also the
lowest among qualified hitters.
His average batted-ball velocity is 91.5 mph, tied for 74th with the likes of Jose Bautista, Yasiel
Puig and Mitch Moreland. But it jumped to 99.5 mph last week, 10 ticks above the league
average. Entering Wednesday, Pujols had hit the ball hard 36.8 percent of the time, on pace for
his best rate since 2010, according to Baseball Info Solutions.
But the results aren't there.
Pujols' batting average is tied for fifth-lowest among qualified hitters. His on-base percentage,
.261, is higher than only 16 players. And his slugging percentage, .347, sits 60 points below the
Major League average.
Cardinals manager Mike Matheny, a former teammate, said Pujols "looks healthy and strong.
He's taking good swings."
May 12, 2016 Page 21 of 37
Maybe it's bad luck, as the peripherals might suggest. Maybe he'll get really hot really soon, like
he did after struggling through the first six weeks of 2012 and the first four weeks of 2015.
But he's still waiting.
"I feel good," Pujols said. "I feel good with where I am. Last night, I hit the ball hard three times.
Today, I squeezed a base hit in the hole. But besides that, I feel like I'm swinging the bat well.
It's just one of those things, dude. When the team and everybody gets in a funk, you can't put
things together. It's just crazy."
Angels can't contain Cards in 4th straight loss
By Fabian Ardaya and Jenifer Langosch / MLB.com
ANAHEIM -- Jaime Garcia's stellar performance and a four-run second inning was all the
Cardinals would need Wednesday night, as they cruised to a 5-2 win and a series victory over
the Angels in Southern California.
Garcia (3-2, 2.58 ERA) continued his hot streak, holding the Angels to two unearned runs and
scattering four hits while striking out eight in seven innings.
"When he's healthy, it looks like what we just saw," Cardinals manager Mike Matheny said of
Garcia, who was making his first career start against the Angels. "He's been pretty impressive all
year. We talk about the starter giving us a chance, and that's certainly something that he's
doing."
Angels right-hander Matt Shoemaker, who was recalled from Triple-A earlier Wednesday,
allowed the first five batters to reach in the second inning, allowing runs to score on two RBI
singles and two sacrifice flies. St. Louis added an insurance run in the seventh inning on Stephen
Piscotty's RBI single to right field. The Cardinals didn't hit Shoemaker particularly hard but
managed to find holes and get on base to make him pay.
May 12, 2016 Page 22 of 37
Matt Carpenter lofts a fly ball to center field deep enough to drive home Randal Grichuk with a
sac fly, increasing the lead to 4-0
"It's frustrating after that second, third run score, especially after some ground-ball hits,"
Shoemaker said. "That's going to happen in this game, but it's just even more frustrating in that
situation. Two feet, three feet, four feet and that's a double-play ball.
The Cardinals sit at 18-16 and remain a half-game behind the Pirates for second place in the
National League Central. The Angels have lost five in a row on this six-game homestand,
dropping their record to 13-20 and falling seven games below .500 for the first time since Sept.
13, 2013.
Trevor Rosenthal gets Johnny Giavotella to line out to left field for the final out, earning the
save in the Cardinals' 5-2 victory
MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
Streak snapped: The Angels were held hitless by Garcia for 3 2/3 innings, and might have been
for quite a while longer had Matt Carpenter cleanly picked an Albert Pujols chopper in the
fourth. Instead, Pujols reached on an error, and C.J. Cron, on Garcia's next pitch, snapped the
left-hander's scoreless streak at 16 innings with his second home run of the season.
"That was a mistake," Garcia said of the four-seam fastball to Cron. "He's a good hitter. It was
over the middle of the plate, and he put a good swing on it. It was one of those where you
second-guess yourself. You learn from it."
C.J. Cron gets the Angels on the board with a line-drive two-run shot, closing the gap to 4-2 in
the bottom of the 4th inning
Short-lived return: Shoemaker struggled in his return, lasting just four-plus innings and giving
up four earned runs to put his season ERA at 9.12. The second inning set the tone, and the
Angels have had just one starting pitcher log six innings or more in a start since April 26. Angels
May 12, 2016 Page 23 of 37
manager Mike Scioscia said much of his team's issues can be linked to the starters' inability to
work deep in games.
"The thing for the last couple weeks has really been trying to get our rotation in order," he said.
"That has to happen."
Kolten Wong extends the lead to 2-0 in the top of the 2nd inning with an RBI single that scores
Yadier Molina
Striking late: The Cardinals continue to boast the Majors' best late-game offense, having scored
75 runs in the seventh inning or later this season. The latest was driven by Piscotty, whose two-
out single in the seventh padded the lead. Piscotty's 17 hits with runners in scoring position are
a Major League high, as are the Cardinals' 70 RBIs in two-out situations.
"With the base open, I figured he might try to nibble a little bit," Piscotty said of his approach
after falling behind in the count, 1-2. "At the same time, it's [Matt Holliday] up behind me, so I
know they probably don't want to walk me."
Stephen Piscotty hits an opposite-field RBI single to right field, scoring Kolten Wong and
increasing the Cardinals' lead to 5-2
Struggles continue: The Angels' offense continued to sputter. Cron's two-run shot to the rock
formation in center field was the team's first hit of the game and its second extra-base hit since
May 6. The Angels had a pair of runners in scoring position and the potential tying run at the
plate with one out in the seventh, but were held scoreless after a pair of strikeouts from Johnny
Giavotella and Shane Robinson. Scioscia said Giavotella and Robinson "expanded" too much
while representing the tying run, allowing Garcia to take advantage.
"We're not bunching hits together, and we're not getting guys on base early in innings," Scioscia
said. "All that is stuff that we need to get going, and we haven't had it when we need to."
May 12, 2016 Page 24 of 37
Angels manager Mike Scioscia on struggling offense and starting pitching after 5-2 loss to the
Cardinals
QUOTABLE
"I feel good with where I am. Last night, I hit the ball hard three times. Today, I squeezed a base
hit in the hole. But besides that, I feel like I'm swinging the bat well. It's just one of those things,
dude. When the team and everybody gets in a funk, you can't put things together. It's just
crazy." -- Pujols, whose batting average is down to .185
"Shane Robinson was one of my best friends. He's like my brother. And then, obviously, Albert,
he's one of the best players of all time. He was a great inspiration to me, and I learned a lot
from him coming up. Brendan Ryan was my shortstop for a while and is a good friend of mine.
It's different, but when it's time to execute that pitch, it doesn't matter who you're facing." --
Garcia, of facing a lineup that included three former teammates
SOUND SMART WITH YOUR FRIENDS
Angels reliever Mike Morin continued his hot streak with two perfect innings. He has thrown 10
1/3 consecutive scoreless innings, retiring 31 of 35 batters faced during that stretch to lower his
season ERA to 1.84. The Angels bullpen gave up just one run in five innings and improved on its
recent strong stretch, entering Wednesday with a 2.01 ERA since April 20.
UPON FURTHER REVIEW
The Cardinals used their challenge in the fourth inning and were successful in having Mike
Trout's infield single overturned for the second out of the inning. A 54-second review showed
that Kolten Wong's throw to first baseman Matt Adams just beat Trout to the bag. The call
proved crucial, too, as Cron's home run came two batters later.
The Cardinals challenge the call that Mike Trout is safe on an infield hit in the 4th, and after
review, the call is overturned
WHAT'S NEXT
Cardinals: The series against the Angels wraps up Thursday, as Adam Wainwright takes the
May 12, 2016 Page 25 of 37
mound a day earlier than initially scheduled. Wainwright, who has won his last two decisions,
was bumped up in the rotation to allow Carlos Martinez additional recovery time. First pitch is
scheduled for 9:05 p.m. CT.
Angels: Right-hander Jered Weaver heads to the bump looking to help the Angels avoid a
second consecutive sweep at home. Weaver, who is 3-1 with a 4.72 ERA this season, has given
up two runs or fewer in three of his six starts. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. PT.
Angels acquire righty Chacin from Braves
Shoemaker recalled for rotation, Choi squeezed off roster
By Alden Gonzalez / MLB.com
ANAHEIM -- Angels closer Huston Street played with Jhoulys Chacin in Colorado, when Chacin
was one of the Rockies' most trusted starting pitchers and appeared to be in the early stages of
a promising career.
"I remember vividly thinking this guy is going to be really, really good," Street said. "And he still
has that chance. I'm glad he's here."
The Angels, decimated by injuries throughout their rotation, acquired Chacin from the Braves
on Wednesday, in exchange for low-level Minor League reliever Adam McCreery.
Chacin will be added to the active roster on Thursday and will debut in Seattle on Saturday, the
next time the Angels require a starting pitcher. Matt Shoemaker was called up to start
Wednesday night against the Cardinals, and first baseman Ji-Man Choi, a Rule 5 Draft pick, was
designated for assignment, clearing a spot on the 25-man roster for Shoemaker and a spot on
the 40-man roster for Chacin.
Chacin, signed out of Venezuela, was a fixture for the Rockies from 2010-13, posting a 3.58 ERA
and averaging 149 innings. But shoulder injuries hindered him in 2012 and most of 2014. The
May 12, 2016 Page 26 of 37
Rockies released him late in Spring Training in 2015, forcing Chacin to bounce around with the
Indians and D-backs, spending most of his time in the Minor Leagues.
He signed a Minor League deal with the Braves in December, one that reportedly paid him $1.1
million in the Majors. He posted a 5.40 ERA in five starts, but with 27 strikeouts, eight walks and
an impressive 48-percent ground-ball rate in 26 2/3 innings.
Chacin's ERA was 3.27 before he gave up eight runs in 4 2/3 innings to the Mets last
Wednesday. His adjusted Fielding Independent Pitching score is 3.32, which would be the
second-best among healthy Angels pitchers. His career adjusted ERA, which neutralizes the
hitter-friendly parks Chacin has often pitched in, is 118, which essentially means the 28-year-old
right-hander has been 18 percent better than the league average.
"He's got good stuff," Street said. "I remember him having really good stuff."
Choi, a 24-year-old out of South Korea, cracked the Opening Day roster as a left-handed bat off
the bench. But the Angels were never able to carve out a role for him. Choi was mainly used as
a pinch-hitter and went 1-for-18 with six walks. He will now be placed on waivers. If every team
-- including his previous club, the Orioles -- declines to put him on their 25-man roster, he can
elect free agency.
Choi does not have to be offered back to the Orioles for $25,000, because he has already been
outrighted to the Minor Leagues. Players who have already been outrighted once can elect free
agency in lieu of being outrighted a second time.
The Angels hope he chooses to re-sign with them on a Minor League deal so he can get some
at-bats in Triple-A.
May 12, 2016 Page 27 of 37
"Ji-Man really didn't have the opportunity to play as much as you would want a young guy to
play," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. "Where our roster is right now, we just couldn't keep
him."
McCreery, a 23-year-old left-hander, was selected in the 22nd round of the 2014 Draft out of
Azusa Pacific University in California and hadn't advanced past Rookie ball. He had a 3.55 ERA in
31 appearances with exaggerated strikeout and walk rates, issuing 7.8 walks and 11.6 strikeouts
per nine innings.
Starting pitchers Garrett Richards (likely undergoing Tommy John surgery), Andrew Heaney
(hoping to avoid the same procedure), C.J. Wilson (out until at least mid-June with shoulder
woes) and Tyler Skaggs (shut down from throwing) are all out for the Angels, who have also
looked into signing Tim Lincecum and Kyle Lohse.
Prior to Wednesday, the Angels' rotation consisted of only Jered Weaver, Hector Santiago and
Nick Tropeano.
Scioscia considers Chacin "an experienced guy that has, I think, gotten his stuff back to where
he can definitely pitch and pitch well in the big leagues. We're going to give him his chance."
Trout, Angels laugh off talk of trade
Superstar dismisses media speculation; 'I love where I'm at'
By Alden Gonzalez / MLB.com
ANAHEIM -- As the losses have piled up and the injuries have mounted, the radical idea of
trading Mike Trout has quickly gained momentum outside of Angel Stadium.
ESPN and FanGraphs floated the idea recently, shortly after it was revealed that the Angels'
best starting pitcher, Garrett Richards, may be lost for the next 12 to 18 months with a torn
May 12, 2016 Page 28 of 37
ulnar collateral ligament. And in the days that followed, the thought of trading Trout has
become a major talking point throughout the country, on television, in print and through social
media.
"I've seen it," Trout said on Wednesday. "I just laugh about it. I love where I'm at. I love
Anaheim, the stadium, the organization, and obviously the teammates. Teams go through
injuries. That's the way it is."
Trout, 24, is signed through 2020, his age-28 season, and holds a full no-trade clause on a
contract extension that pays him $15.25 million this year, $19.25 million next year, and $33.25
million each of the following three years.
The Angels have the consensus weakest farm system in the game and a top-heavy payroll that
is close to maxing out. They also have to be cautious with three crucial young pitchers in
Richards (set to undergo Tommy John surgery), Andrew Heaney (hoping to avoid Tommy John
surgery) and Tyler Skaggs (coming off Tommy John surgery).
Some believe trading Trout, and receiving a historically lucrative package of up-and-coming
prospects and controllable Major Leaguers, would be the best and quickest way for the Angels
to steer themselves in the right direction. Others consider it blasphemous to even consider the
idea of trading a once-in-a-generation player that young and locked up for that long.
Asked about it in Spring Training, Angels owner Arte Moreno said: "100 percent we are not
trading Mike Trout. We're not trading Mike Trout. It's not even in the thought process."
Asked about it on Friday, Angels general manager Billy Eppler said: "No chance. … You do not
move superstar players."
May 12, 2016 Page 29 of 37
The Angels currently have seven players out of action because of injury, including four starting
pitchers, a shortstop in Andrelton Simmons, a closer in Huston Street and a part-time left
fielder in Craig Gentry. They don't have the farm system to pull off a major trade, their budget
is too close to the luxury-tax threshold to take on much salary, and the upcoming free-agent
class seems uninspiring.
But Trout expressed confidence that the Angels would remain competitive over the life of his
contract.
"We're going to keep playing to try to win," he said. "It doesn't matter what other people say.
Our mentality in this clubhouse is to win ballgames with the group of guys that we have.
Obviously we don't have the full team that we wanted down in spring, but that's the way it
goes."
Weaver matches up with Wainwright in finale By Fabian Ardaya / MLB.com
Cardinals right-hander Adam Wainwright has yet to hold an opponent to fewer than three runs
in a start this season, but signs indicate that the three-time National League All-Star is starting
to round into form. He'll get his latest chance Thursday night when the Cardinals look to
complete a three-game sweep of the Angels at Angel Stadium.
Up against Wainwright will be Angels right-hander Jered Weaver (3-1, 4.72 ERA), who is coming
off of one of his best outings of the season. He gave up just two runs (one earned) in six innings
against the Rays on Saturday. That start marked the third time this season Weaver has held his
opponent to two runs or fewer. In each of his other three starts, he's given up four or more
runs.
Wainwright has only truly struggled in one outing this season -- he gave up seven earned runs in
5 1/3 innings of a loss against Cincinnati on April 16. His last two outings might be his most
encouraging, going at least six innings with three runs allowed in each. In his last appearance,
he had a stretch of 14 batters retired in a row.
May 12, 2016 Page 30 of 37
The 34-year-old will have a prime opportunity to continue his progress against the Angels, who
have struggled offensively of late. They have scored just eight runs through five games of a six-
game homestand.
Things to know about this game
• With a home run in this series, Angels first baseman Albert Pujols will become one of nine
active players to hit one against all 30 Major League teams. Pujols logged just one hit in his first
14 at-bats of the homestand and has been among the Angels players scuffling at the plate.
"If you look at some internal stats and start to really dig deep into what Albert's doing, he's
hitting the ball very hard," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. "There's not a lot of luck to show
with it, but everything you would look at, from exit velocity to just where balls have gone, he's
hitting the ball well."
• Cardinals right-hander Carlos Martinez was originally in line to start Thursday. Martinez, who
is 4-2 with a 2.61 ERA this season, left his last outing early due to fatigue as he's been dealing
with an upper respiratory illness. Due to St. Louis' off-day on Monday, manager Mike Matheny
was able to move Wainwright up on normal rest.
• While Wainwright has had his struggles on the mound, he's been having success at the plate.
Though he won't be able to hit Thursday due to the designated hitter, Wainwright had an extra-
base hit in each of his previous three starts.
May 12, 2016 Page 31 of 37
Trout happy to see Grichuk shine in St. Louis
Center fielders were roommates in Angels' farm system
By Jenifer Langosch / MLB.com
ANAHEIM -- Randal Grichuk slowed to a trot, sure that as he neared second base after driving a
ball to deep center on Tuesday that Mike Trout had snared it from the shrubs beyond the
center-field wall. He knew better than to assume that anything could clear the Gold Glove
outfielder's reach.
This time, though, the player that Grichuk was once compared to and forever connected to
wasn't stealing the spotlight from him again. The home run, Grichuk's fifth of the season,
helped the Cardinals to an 8-1 rout over the Angels and gave the Anaheim crowd a glimpse of
what might have been had the Angels not agreed to add Grichuk in that November 2013 trade
that sent David Freese and Fernando Salas out of St. Louis.
Grichuk never made it to Angel Stadium as a member of the home team, as his climb in the
Angels' system was stalled by persistent injuries and overshadowed by Trout. The two center
fielders, born six days apart, were selected by the Angels with consecutive picks in the first
round of the 2009 Draft. Grichuk's name was called first. Trout became the star.
"Obviously, you want to go and do well and hopefully kind of show they made a mistake,"
Grichuk said of playing in Anaheim. "I feel like every player that gets traded wants to prove that
to his former team."
Wanting to show the Angels the talent they gave up on isn't so much out of spite, though, as
Grichuk acknowledges that being traded to the Cardinals was a needed career spark.
"I got injured so much in that organization, that I felt like I got put on the back burner," he said.
"They didn't really expect much out of me at that point. I definitely think that this trade helped
rejuvenate my career. I'm definitely thankful for it."
May 12, 2016 Page 32 of 37
Grichuk and Trout became fast friends in the Angels' system, rooming together in rookie ball
and instructional league. In 2010, they played together at Class A Cedar Rapids, which is where
Grichuk suffered a broken left wrist that limited him to 53 games that season. A broken
kneecap reduced his time on the field the next year, and by the time Grichuk finished his first
full season in 2011, Trout was in the Majors.
The two remained close, however, so much so that after Tuesday's game, Grichuk rushed out of
the clubhouse so that he could spend some time with Trout. And yes, the topic of his fifth-
inning home run most definitely came up.
"I'm happy for him," Trout said of Grichuk's success. "He's obviously gotten an opportunity over
there and he's taking advantage of it. He's come a long way. He obviously has the talent. It's
good to see him up here succeeding."
Halos stay positive as injuries, losses pile up
'These guys are fighting,' Scioscia says after 4th straight loss
By Alden Gonzalez / MLB.com
ANAHEIM -- Kole Calhoun glanced at the calendar that adorns an entire wall of Angel Stadium's
home clubhouse and managed to crack a half-smile on Tuesday night, moments after an 8-1
loss put his reeling Angels a season-worst six games below .500.
"We've got a lot of year left, man," Calhoun said. "We're in the second week of May, so, we
have a lot of 'ball left ahead of us."
That may be so, but the Angels -- with five critical pitchers nursing injuries and an offense that
can't seem to find its way -- appear to be nearing a breaking point.
May 12, 2016 Page 33 of 37
Their lopsided defeat to the Cardinals was their fourth in a row and their eighth in the last 10
games. They had their best healthy pitcher on the mound and faced a winless Cardinals' starter,
and they still managed to get beat handily.
Hector Santiago exited after only 13 outs and 83 pitches, throwing his fastball about four ticks
slower than he was earlier this season. And Mike Leake, who entered with a 6.03 ERA over six
starts, twirled eight innings of one-run ball against an Angels offense that has scored just six
times over its last four games.
The Angels' rotation is in shambles, with Garrett Richards likely to undergo season-ending
Tommy John surgery, Andrew Heaney trying to avoid the same procedure, Tyler Skaggs not
even playing catch and C.J. Wilson not back until the middle of June, at the earliest.
• Wilson feels good after return to throwing off mound
The bullpen has suffered a tough loss, with closer Huston Street out until at least late May
because of a strained oblique muscle. And the defense took a major hit on Monday, when it
was announced that shortstop Andrelton Simmons would undergo surgery on his left thumb
that would probably keep him out until at least the All-Star break.
But the offense is healthy, relatively speaking, and yet it continues to struggle.
Angels hitters entered Tuesday with the fifth-lowest OPS in the Major Leagues and managed
only one extra-base hit in the ensuing contest. They've batted .214 over the last four games,
with three extra-base hits in 36 innings. And their cleanup hitter, Albert Pujols, has one hit in his
last 17 at-bats, dropping his slash line to .183/.261/.350.
May 12, 2016 Page 34 of 37
Afterwards, Angels manager Mike Scioscia stressed the importance of "the process."
"There's not one magic pill you give everybody on the offensive side and all of a sudden they
wake up and start scoring runs," Scioscia said. "It's a grind, it's a process, and our guys are really
good with that. We're just having a little problem getting that motor started. We'll get back to
doing the things we need to do. Right now it's tough, and it's gone on longer than any of us are
comfortable with. Nobody's taking this lying down. These guys are fighting."
Santiago mixed in a lot more sinkers and threw them mostly 89-90 mph, topping out at 92. In
three prior starts, his four-seam fastball velocity has gone from 93.6 to 92.5 to 91.3. The 29-
year-old left-hander has noticed the decline, mainly because hitters are fouling off pitches they
were previously swinging through. And the Angels' staff has talked to him about it.
But Santiago stressed "there's nothing physically wrong" and didn't express much concern,
saying: "Last year I made the All-Star team with the same velocity I was pitching with tonight."
Santiago called the mentality of his team "amazing," regardless of everything that has gone
wrong lately.
"We're really positive," he said. "There's a lot of great, veteran guys, so we have a positive
mindset."
But the Angels carry a minus-24 run-differential, are less than $5 million below the luxury-tax
threshold, sport a thin farm system and don't have many places to turn for outside help.
May 12, 2016 Page 35 of 37
In two months it'll be July. And at that point, the front office will probably have to decide
whether it's time to build for the future or continue to try to win for the present. The Angels
can only avoid the former if they find a way to keep their heads above water until then.
It won't be easy.
"That's nothing for any guy in this clubhouse to think about, because that's completely out of
anybody's control," Calhoun said of front-office decisions. "But if we just go out and play
together, man, you never know what can happen."
FROM THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Garcia shines as Cardinals beat Angels, 5-2
ANAHEIM, Calif. -- Since the calendar turned to May, Jaime Garcia has been just about
untouchable.
Garcia allowed just four hits in seven innings to lead the St. Louis Cardinals past the Los Angeles
Angels 5-2 on Wednesday night.
The left-hander gave up two unearned runs and struck out eight to win his second straight
start. He has yet to allow an earned run in 14 innings this month.
"Everything feels good right now," Garcia said. "I've been able to make pitches and keep the
ball down and keep them off balance. Simple stuff for the most part."
Editor's Picks
Stephen Piscotty fits the Cardinals' prototype Showing the discipline and calm under pressure that have stoked the Cardinals' recent success,
Stephen Piscotty helped lock down a road win.
Kevin Siegrist pitched a perfect eighth and Trevor Rosenthal retired the side in the ninth to
complete the four-hitter.
May 12, 2016 Page 36 of 37
Garcia (3-2) was dominant from the outset. He retired 11 of the first 12 batters he faced, sat
down six of seven after C.J Cron's two-run home run in the fourth ended his no-bit bid, and
pitched out of his lone jam with a pair of clutch strikeouts in the seventh.
With runners on second and third and one out in the seventh, Garcia struck out Johnny
Giovatella and Shane Robinson swinging on offspeed pitches in the dirt to escape unscathed.
"In that situation right there I was trying to not to let any emotions get to me," Garcia said. "I've
had games in the past where I've tried to do too much, so I just tried to keep my emotions
down and just worried about making one pitch."
The Cardinals scored four times in the second inning against Matt Shoemaker (1-5) to jump out
to an early lead and never trailed. Stephen Piscotty, Yadier Molina and Randal Grichuk had two
hits apiece to lead the offense.
"Jaime is just a competitor and I really love playing behind him because he just attacks, attacks,
attacks," Piscotty said. "It kind of sets the tone for what we as entire team want to go out and
do, and we did that tonight."
Shoemaker, recalled from Triple-A earlier in the day, got tagged for seven hits and four runs in
four-plus innings, the second straight game an Angels starter failed to get out of the fifth inning.
The Angels have dropped five straight and nine of their last 11. The four hits were the fewest
they've managed during the skid.
"We just need to keep fighting and sooner or later it will click," said Albert Pujols, who is 2 for
his last 21 at the plate. "You can't get frustrated. We have a lot of at-bats left."
Rosenthal stifled an attempted Angels rally in the ninth to finish it. He walked Cron and
Geovany Soto with two outs in to bring the tying run to the plate, but Giovatella flied out to left
to end it.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Cardinals: OF Tommy Pham (left oblique strain) entered the second week of his rehab
assignment at Triple-A Memphis but does not have a timetable for a return to the majors.
Angels: LF Craig Gentry (back strain) resumed baseball activities but does not have a timetable
for his return.
ROSTER MOVES
May 12, 2016 Page 37 of 37
The Angels acquired RHP Jhoulys Chacin from the Atlanta Braves earlier in the day in exchange
for minor league LHP Adam McCreery.
Chacin, 28, was 1-2 with a 5.40 ERA in five starts for the Braves. He will start for the Angels on
Sunday.
The Angels also designated 1B Ji-Man Choi for assignment. Choi was 1 for 18 for the Angels
after they picked him up in the Rule 5 draft last offseason.
WINNING THE CHALLENGE
The Cardinals successfully got a call overturned on a challenge in the fourth inning.
Mike Trout was originally ruled safe on an infield single, but the Cardinals challenged and a
video review showed the shortstop Diaz's one-hopper to first beat Trout barely.
Trout was ruled out upon review, giving the Cardinals their sixth successful challenge in nine
attempts this season.
UP NEXT
Cardinals: RHP Adam Wainwright (2-3, 6.30) is unbeaten in his last three starts after dropping
his first three decisions of the season.
Angels: RHP Jered Weaver (3-1, 4.72) goes for his first win of the month after a no-decision in
his last start despite allowing only one earned run in six