Los Angeles optioned him to Double-A Arkansas.
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Two months later, two separate stories began to take fold.
In this Associated Press photo, Choi Ji-man of the Los Angeles Angels (C) celebrates with teammate Gregorio Petit (R) after hitting his first major league home run against the Texas Rangers at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on July 18, 2016.
The Angels were 13-21, and in route to Seattle for a three-game series.
Starting pitcher Tropeano only pitched 2 innings, Chacin pitched 4 innings which was the most out of all four pitchers who participated in the game.
What’s happening for Los Angeles is greater offensive production than the team has seen all season.
The Angels were 191/2 games behind Texas in the American League West at the beginning of July, but the deficit is down to 121/2.
Albert Pujols had two hits and scored twice to spur the offense on Wednesday, while Yunel Escobar had two RBIs and Marte hit his sixth home run.
The Angels’ switch-hitting first baseman clubbed a solo shot off A.J. Griffin over the right-center-field fence to cut the Rangers’ lead to one in the fifth inning.
The Rangers’ Adrian Beltre hit his 426th career home run, tying him with Miguel Cabrera and Hall of Famer Billy Williams for 48th place all time. “We were one more hit away, one more baserunner away from putting a little bit of pressure on their closer”. “I just told him, ‘It happens”. By the time the second homer came around, the Angels were down yet again, this time 5-4, thanks to some hits from Nomar Mazara and Elvis Andrus.
Pujols’ heroics preserved a positive result for Tim Lincecum (2-3), who had seven strikeouts while winning for the second time in his six starts for the Angels.
Nick Tropeano, activated from the disabled list July 4, was removed after two innings with right elbow soreness and will undergo an MRI on Tuesday.
There was a scary moment in the bottom of the 7th as Rangers reliever Tony Barnette threw an a fastball high and inside hitting Pujols in the helmet and then the face and shoulder. Texas has lost 13 of its last 17 and has given up eight or more runs on nine occasions during the dismal stretch. The Rangers are also just 2-5 in their last seven games in Los Angeles and 0-6 in their last six games when their opponent scores five runs or more in their previous game.
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The Rangers have gone 4-14 since June 28. Fielder was diagnosed with a herniated disk in his neck and Choo has been dealing with inflammation in his lower back. Infielder Hanser Alberto and outfielder Delino Shields were called up from Triple-A Round Rock to fill their roster spots. Heaney has already had Tommy John Surgery.
