OC Register: Angels’ Noah Syndergaard sharp in first Cactus League start

[AngelsWin.com]

THE GAME: The Angels beat the Oakland A’s, 7-2, on Monday at Tempe Diablo Stadium.

PITCHING REPORT: Right-hander Noah Syndergaard gave up one unearned run in 3-2/3 innings in his first appearance for the Angels in a big-league spring training game. He had previously pitched in a minor-league game. “I was pretty juiced to walk into the dugout see all the fans,” Syndergaard said. “It’s a great feeling.” Syndergaard threw 60 pitches, striking out four and walking one. “It was a good one to build off of,” he said. “I felt like my delivery was really sound and fluid.” His fastball was 92-95 mph. “He’s going to get faster as we go along,” Manager Joe Maddon said. “His delivery was really clean.” … Right-hander Ryan Tepera pitched a perfect inning in his first Cactus League game of the spring. He had pitched in a “B” game. … Right-hander Mike Mayers worked 1-1/3 scoreless innings. … Closer Raisel Iglesias worked a scoreless inning, striking out two. Iglesias has not allowed a run in three innings this spring. … Left-hander Aaron Loup gave up a wind-blown homer in his inning. … Left-hander José Quijada pitched a scoreless ninth, striking out two.

HITTING REPORT: Justin Upton drove in two runs with a bloop single. … Matt Duffy had three singles. Duffy was playing just his third game of the spring. He’s 4 for 7 with a home run and a walk. … David Fletcher hit a double off the wall in left-center. He also dropped a bloop single into right. … Brandon Marsh yanked an RBI double down the right field line. … Andrew Velazquez hit an opposite-field two-run homer down the left field line. … Jose Rojas singled in his only trip to the plate. Rojas is hitting .538 this spring.

DEFENSE REPORT: Third baseman Anthony Rendon made an errant throw on a routine play in the first inning. Upton, who was playing his first major-league exhibition game at first base, could not bring down the high throw. Later in the inning, catcher Max Stassi also made a high throw to first on a pickoff. Upton jumped but the ball sailed over his head into right field. … In the second inning, Upton pulled his foot off the bag after taking a throw from Rendon. The throw seemed to be accurate and on time, but Rendon was charged with a throwing error. “It’s not going to be perfect from the beginning, but I thought he moved around well,” Maddon said of Upton. … Stassi threw out a runner trying to steal second.

UP NEXT: Angels at Rockies, Tuesday, 1 p.m. PT, Salt River Fields, Bally Sports West, 830 AM

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[SlappyUtilityMIF]

 

[DMVol]

Upton just has no instincts for defense….not sure playing him at 1b will change that….

[jsnpritchett]

18 minutes ago, DMVol said:

Upton just has no instincts for defense….not sure playing him at 1b will change that….

Actual footage of Upton trying to track down a flyball:

Ok, now TRUE, actual footage of him:

https://twitter.com/BenDuBose/status/1151677293615562755?ref_src=twsrc^tfw|twcamp^tweetembed|twterm^1151677293615562755|twgr^|twcon^s1_c10&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cbssports.com%2Fmlb%2Fnews%2Flook-angels-justin-upton-badly-misjudges-fly-ball-ends-up-against-the-outfield-wall%2F

[Angels 1961]

He looked OK today for first game. His bat against lefties will help. Other options could be Ward or Duffy.

[T.G.]

5 hours ago, AngelsWin.com said:

“It’s not going to be perfect from the beginning, but I thought he moved around well,” Maddon said of Upton.

The equivalent of “the ball is coming out of his hand really well…”

[ScottT]

He looked good. 

Syndergaard.

Carry on, though.