Angels' Fernando Rodney loses closer job to Jordan Walden

After the Angels bullpen lost three games in Kansas City during the Royals' final at-bat, Manager Mike Scioscia promised to "sort some things out." Tuesday he announced the results of that sorting process,  taking the role of closer away from Fernando Rodney and giving it to Jordan Walden.

Rodney, who struggled when handed closer duties last August, has pitched twice this season, giving up two runs, two hits and four walks in 1 1/3 innings. Walden, meanwhile, has made three appearances and is the only Angel reliever who has yet to allow a run, striking out five of the seven batters he's retired.

Scioscia said Rodney would be used in nonpressure situations until he corrects some mechanical issues. Left-hander Scott Downs, on the disabled list with a broken toe, is expected to make a minor-league rehab assignment this week and would be another closer candidate when he is reactivated, perhaps as early as the weekend.

Cubs rally to wild, windy win over Angels

Bryan LaHair's single to right scored Fernando Perez from third base with two outs in the ninth inning, lifting the Chicago Cubs to a wild 14-13 Cactus League win over the Angels at windy HoHoKam Park on Monday.

The rally was the second in as many innings for the Cubs, wiping out what was once a 10-run Angels lead and negating splendid performances by pitcher Dan Haren and slugger Mark Trumbo.

Haren didn't allow a ball to be hit out of the infield in his three-inning stint and Trumbo nearly hit two balls out of the state to help the Angels build a 12-2 lead after 5 1/2 innings.

Fernando Rodney, who followed Haren to the mound, wasn't nearly as sharp. The right-hander, who may soon be fighting to hang on to his closer's job, gave up two runs on five hits while getting three outs. This spring Rodney has faced 17 batters and more than half of them have reached base, seven on hits and two on walks.

But there were no struggles for the Angels on offense, especially when Trumbo was at the plate. The first baseman, competing for the final spot on the opening day roster, went four for four with three runs scored and two driven in. One of his hits was a mammoth home run over a four-story-high scoreboard that sits behind a grass berm well beyond the left-field wall. It was his third home run of the spring.