OC Register: Tyler Skaggs shakes off rough first inning in Angels’ loss to Indians

[AngelsWin.com]

THE GAME: The Angels lost 4-2 to the Cleveland Indians on Wednesday night in Goodyear, Ariz.

PITCHING REPORT: Left-hander Tyler Skaggs returned to a Cactus League game for the first time since he was scratched from a start because of forearm fatigue from working on a new pitch. Skaggs gave up three runs in a 19-pitch first, but then he retired 12 of 13 batters in the next four innings on 41 pitches. “The first inning was a little shaky, kind of knocking the cobwebs off. I hung a few pitches, but other than that, I thought I shut it down after that.” Skaggs will have one more start before the regular season, most likely against the Dodgers in the Freeway Series, and he’s expecting to get up to about 80 pitches. … Right-hander Hansel Robles gave up a run on two hits while recording just two outs. Robles has allowed five earned runs in 6-1/3 innings this spring. … Right-hander Ty Buttrey worked around a double in a scoreless inning. … Right-hander Justin Anderson pitched a perfect inning.

HITTING REPORT: Justin Upton was hit by a pitch and he struck out three times, starting at DH in his second Cactus League game of the spring. Upton, who had missed most of the spring because of knee tendinitis, had homered and walked in his spring debut a night earlier. … Brennan Lund drove in two runs with a triple.

DEFENSE REPORT: Third baseman Taylor Ward, who has made six errors already this spring, was saved another one when a ball deflected off his glove and to shortstop Wilfredo Tovar. Tovar got rid of the ball quickly enough to get an out at first. … First baseman Justin Bour came too far off the bag when Skaggs threw a pickoff and Trayce Thompson, who would have been out to end the inning, was able to get back safely. Thompson then scored on a double. Skaggs said Bour had not played first yet with him on the mound, so he wasn’t prepared for his move. Bour later made a nice pick of a throw in the dirt, completing a double play.

UP NEXT: Angels (RHP Ty Buttrey) vs. Diamondbacks (RHP Merrill Kelly), Thursday, 1 p.m. PT, Salt River Fields, Scottsdale, Ariz.

Skaggs doin Skaggs things @Angels | #LAASpring pic.twitter.com/1yI4SmEwj3

— FOX Sports West (@FoxSportsWest) March 21, 2019

Related Articles

• Angels make Mike Trout’s 12-year, $426.5-million deal official
• Mike Trout stays mum the day after record-breaking deal with Angels
• Five spring training trends you might have missed
• Why most pro athletes — including Mike Trout — are worth every penny of their big money salaries
• Angels rally for victory as Justin Upton, Zack Cozart return to action

View the full article