With Phase 2 of All-Star Game voting ending Thursday, the Los Angeles Angels are making a late push for Mike Trout.
The outfielder grew up in Millville, N.J., about 45 miles from Philadelphia, which hosts the midsummer classic July 14 at Citizens Bank Park.
While Trout remains on the 10-day injured list with a right hamstring strain, he traveled with the Angels for their trip to Seattle this week. The three-game series wraps up Thursday at T-Mobile Park after taking Wednesday off for a FIFA World Cup match at Lumen Field across the street.
Nearly the entire Angels roster, along with the coaching staff, wore “Vote Trout” T-shirts during batting practice Monday before a 6-2 loss. The Angels’ social media team also visited nearby Pike Place Market and got fishmongers to toss around a few trout while wearing fish-shaped red foam Trout hats that featured his signature and number on the side.
“It’s pretty cool,” said Trout, an 11-time All-Star. “One of my things when I was coming into spring training, I knew the game was going to be in Philly, so it would be cool to go back. I love my teammates and I take care of them and they take care of me. We have a tight group, and it’s pretty cool to see that.”
In results announced Wednesday on MLB.com, Trout leads all American League outfielders with 23% of the vote, followed by Minnesota’s Byron Buxton (20%) and the New York Yankees’ Aaron Judge (19%) and Cody Bellinger (16%).
Trout has been on the IL since June 18. Before the injury, he missed only one of the Angels’ first 75 games and produced a .234/.394/.472 slash line along with 17 home runs and 36 RBIs.
Angels manager Kurt Suzuki said Tuesday that Trout has been increasing his baseball activities each day and feels good.
“Obviously, Mike doesn’t need the extra notoriety and support. … He’s Mike Trout,” Suzuki said. “Just having the organization behind you and helping to promote like Mike to get to the All-Star Game is definitely a great thing.”
The Angels lost the first two games of the series after winning six of their previous eight. They dropped an 8-3 decision Tuesday.
The Mariners, who entered the week with a franchise record-tying streak of 13 consecutive games scoring three runs or fewer, have scored 19 over their past three. That includes a 6-5 loss Sunday in Cleveland in which they blew a three-run lead in the eighth inning.
Julio Rodriguez and rookie Colt Emerson each had three hits Tuesday, part of a 13-hit attack.
“We’re starting to see the results come through,” Emerson said. “We know our process. We know everything we’re doing is going to lead to wins, so I think you’re just now seeing the results. A lot of guys are working super hard behind the scenes, a lot of guys are staying committed to their plans, and it’s cool to see a lot of great at-bats (Tuesday) in such a good game.”
Thursday’s series finale will feature a pair of right-handers in the Angels’ Walbert Urena (5-6, 3.14 ERA) and the Mariners’ Bryce Miller (3-2, 1.97).
Urena suffered a 9-3 loss to the visiting Athletics last Friday, allowing seven runs over 4 1/3 innings. The 22-year-old rookie had won four of his previous five decisions, including when he pitched five scoreless innings against the A’s in a 7-0 victory on June 20. This will be Urena’s first appearance against Seattle.
Miller lost his past two starts, though he gave up just four earned runs over 10 2/3 innings in that span. He allowed three runs in 5 2/ 3 innings Thursday in a 5-1 defeat in Pittsburgh.
Miller, who has issued just four unintentional walks versus 54 strikeouts in 45 2/3 innings this season, is 2-2 with a 3.05 ERA in seven career starts against the Angels.
–Field Level Media
