Angels’ Trevor Bell gets thrown into the fire
Reporting from Arlington, Texas — Trevor Bell has pitched in 106-degree weather this month.
That might have felt downright wintry compared to the heat of the pennant race the Angels right-hander will experience Sunday in what he said will be “probably the most important start of my career.”
Filling in for injured Scott Kazmir, Bell will try to help the Angels narrow their deficit in the American League West against division-leading Texas. The Rangers have pelted Bell for seven runs — four earned — in 3 2/3 innings over two career appearances, hitting .450 against him.
“I’m definitely not going to underestimate that team,” Bell said. “They’re an awesome team, they’re on a roll. My job at this point is to try to go out there and stop them, and that’s what I’m going to try and do.”
The Angels could count on Bell to shut down several teams in the next few weeks. Kazmir is scheduled to start playing catch Sunday, beginning a process that pitching coach Mike Butcher said would also include long-toss and bullpen sessions and possibly a minor league rehabilitation start.
“He’s done this before,” General Manager Tony Reagins said of Bell, “so we’re confident he’ll go out and give us a good outing and if he needs to go into the fifth spot [in the rotation] for the time being, we think he can handle it.”
Bell, 23, made four starts with the Angels in 2009 but has been used exclusively as a reliever this season, going 1-1 with a 6.05 earned-run average in 15 appearances. He said working as a reliever has helped his effectiveness in tight situations because he is more comfortable pitching from the stretch.
Bell made three starts with triple-A Salt Lake this month to build stamina, including one in Las Vegas when the temperature reached 106.
“It was hotter than this,” Bell said of the weather in Texas. “No humidity, but 106 is 106.”
Stick ‘em up
Mike Napoli attributed a recent power surge in part to raising his hands in his hitting stance, an adjustment he made in batting practice after the All-Star break.
“I felt freer being able to hit the inside pitch and hit the ball the other way,” said Napoli, who had homered in four of his last six games before Saturday.
Napoli is on pace for a career-high 30 homers but said that achievement wouldn’t mean much unless it helped the Angels win.
“I feel like if I get a lot of [at-bats], I’ll be able to hit homers,” he said. “It’s not a real big thing for me.”
Short hops
More infielders won’t necessarily mean less playing time for Maicer Izturis now that Alberto Callaspo is an Angel, Manager Mike Scioscia said. “He’s going to be in there as much as he can, and we have enough versatility to give him enough looks,” Scioscia said of Izturis, who can play every infield position except first base. Izturis started at second base Saturday so that Howie Kendrick could take the day off. … Scioscia said Reggie Willits started in left field in place of hot-hitting Juan Rivera because Willits was a speedier option both at the plate and in the field. Rivera was hitting .410 in his last 39 at-bats before Saturday.
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