Angels’ offense getting in gear
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Two days ago, the Angels’ team batting average for the spring was just .215. Tuesday afternoon when they take the field for a Cactus League exhibition with the Texas Rangers, they’ll do so hitting .253. That’s what 29 hits and 20 runs in two days can do for an offense.
How hot have the Angels been? The eight runs they scored in the third inning against the Cubs on Monday matched their best output in a game this spring.
Rookie Mark Trumbo has been leading the surge. He went 4 for 4 with a home run and a massive double at windy HoHoKam Park in Mesa, Ariz., in Monday’s wild ninth-inning to the Cubs. He’s back in the lineup Tuesday and, at 7:30 a.m., the wind at Tempe Diablo Stadium was already blowing out, so Trumbo may be in for another big day.
Trumbo is tied with the Rangers’ Ian Kinsler for the spring lead in total bases (21). He’s also tied for second in home runs (3) and is third in runs scored (6) and runs batted in (6)
Regulars Torii Hunter and Vernon Wells are back in the lineup Tuesday but the Angels are resting Alberto Callaspo, who is still dealing with some shoulder soreness and has yet to play in the field this spring. As the designated hitter, Callaspo was 3 for 4 on Monday.
Ervin Santana will be making his second spring start on the mound. He’ll be followed by left-handers Scott Downs and Hisanori Takahaski, two winter free-agent signings who loom large in the Angels’ bullpen plans this summer.
Tuesday’s lineup:
SS -- Maicer Izturis
LF -- Bobby Abreu
RF -- Torii Hunter
DH -- Vernon Wells
2B -- Howie Kendrick
1B -- Mark Trumbo
3B -- Brandon Wood
C -- Jeff Mathis
CF -- Peter Bourjos
P -- Ervin Santana
-- Kevin Baxter in Tempe, Ariz.