ANAHEIM, Calif. — Sometimes, you just don’t have your best stuff, and you've got to work with what you've got.
This was the case for right-hander Jack Kochanowicz during Saturday night’s 5-2 win over the Baltimore Orioles.
Kochanowicz threw 95 pitches in his outing, but only 56 of them were strikes. The 39 balls mark a career high for the young starter.
"He was a little erratic at times with his command, but that was Jack (Kochanowicz)," manager Ron Washington said. "He got a lot of balls on the ground tonight."
Through the command issues, Kochanowicz was still able to put together 5.2 innings of one-run ball on four hits, four walks and he struck out four as well. The defense behind Kochanowicz helped out, too, as they turned a couple of double plays to prevent damage.
"Just not putting too much pressure on myself at times," Kochanowicz said. "You try to be perfect. You start thinking about the past outings and trying to get through this one, not being all perfect, but just got to calm down and trust myself."
The offense also did its part, putting up five runs on seven hits. The Angels’ bats wasted no time as shortstop Zach Neto, first baseman Nolan Schanuel and third baseman Yoán Moncada all singled to start the bottom of the first. After designated hitter Taylor Ward’s sacrifice fly to center field, the Angels had put up two runs in the opening frame.
The Angels tagged on another pair of runs in the fourth inning when right fielder Jo Adell hit a solo home run on the first pitch he saw to the rocks in dead center with two outs. Center fielder Kyren Paris followed the homer with an infield single, and then left fielder Matthew Lugo collected his first career hit on an RBI-triple off the top of the wall in center field.
"I was hoping that it was gone," Lugo said. "I didn't get it full on the barrel, but I had a good backspin on the ball. I stayed inside of it and I was hoping that it would get out, but I'll take the triple."
In the fifth inning, the Angels loaded the bases with no outs, but were only able to cash in one run from an RBI-ground out from second baseman Luis Rengifo.
The Angels improve to 16-22 and will have left-hander Tyler Anderson on the mound facing right-hander Zach Eflin for the Orioles.
Mike Trout Update
Star outfielder Mike Trout spoke to reporters before the game and provided updates on his recovery from the bone bruise in his left knee that put him on the 10-day injured list.
Trout said that he feels good and that the only pain he feels at this point is normal soreness.
“I was worried in the beginning, but the sharpness I was feeling after that day in Seattle is gone,” Trout said.
On top of his rehab exercises and riding a stationary bike, Trout began hitting in the cages a few days ago. Trout said he has been getting up to 40 swings in the cages and hasn’t felt any pain from swinging.
“The biggest thing is just running,” Trout said. “I knew swinging wouldn't bother me.”
Running will be the ultimate test for Trout, who said the plan is to start running sometime next week. Trout is going with the team on their trip to San Diego on Monday and said it’s a “good possibility” that he’ll start running there.
Trout is eligible to be activated from the injured list on Sunday, but obviously isn’t going to since he hasn’t started running yet. Trout said he doesn’t have a day that he’s targeting to be activated.