Mike Trout is enjoying a memorable power display at Yankee Stadium for the Los Angeles Angels.
Jose Caballero is enjoying a memorable series in the late innings for the New York Yankees.
Both players are making their managers appreciative as the teams head into the finale of a four-game series on Thursday afternoon. The Yankees have won two of three thus far.
Trout has four homers in the series and is 8-for-21 in his past six games to hike his batting average from .174 to .239. Trout’s power display gave the Angels chances to win the first three games, but their only victory was a 7-1 rout on Tuesday when the three-time MVP hit one of their five homers.
“He’s tremendous,” Los Angeles manager Kurt Suzuki said about Trout. “It’s been fun to watch. He’s been having great at-bats. Even his outs are good at bats. Just got to keep it going but his outs are fun to watch.”
Trout has hit at least four homers in the same series for the fourth time in his career.
Trout’s power display is coinciding with Aaron Judge hitting three homers in the series. Judge homered twice Monday and the Yankees earned an 11-10 win when Caballero scored on a wild pitch.
“Watching two first-ballot Hall of Famers put on a show this week has been impressive. I’m hoping we can slow the other show a little bit,” New York manager Aaron Boone said.
Caballero factoring into the Yankees’ past two wins coincides with shortstop Anthony Volpe starting a rehab assignment in his recovery from a shoulder injury.
Over his past five games, Caballero has five of his 11 hits this season and seven of his eight RBIs. He helped overcome Trout’s power by hitting Jordan Romano’s slider in the ninth inning for a game-ending two-run double to give the Yankees a 5-4 victory on Wednesday.
Caballero was in position for the game-winning hit after Jazz Chisholm Jr. reached on an infield single after a pop-up fell between shortstop Zach Neto and third baseman Oswald Peraza.
Trout homered off relievers Jake Bird and Camilo Doval in the series opener and Ryan Weathers on Tuesday before connecting against Luis Gil on Wednesday. Trout will attempt to go deep in a fifth straight game at Yankee Stadium when he faces left-hander Max Fried (2-0, 1.93 ERA) for the first time.
Fried is facing the Angels for the first time in his career after allowing three runs apiece in a pair of no-decisions following scoreless outings at San Francisco and Seattle. On Saturday, he allowed three runs on six hits in eight innings when the Yankees took a 5-4, 10-inning loss at Tampa Bay. Fried did not figure in the decision.
The Angels had not announced their starting pitcher for the series finale by Thursday morning and might use a bullpen game.
Los Angeles used four relievers on Monday but saw deep outings from starters Reid Detmers and Jack Kochanowicz in the past two games. Detmers pitched seven-plus innings Tuesday and Kochanowicz lasted 6 2/3 innings Wednesday.
–Field Level Media
