ANAHEIM — There is perhaps no better sign of a hitter being locked in than when he hits a homer to the opposite field.
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That’s why Jo Adell’s homer to right field on Friday was a significant moment in a span of a few encouraging weeks.
Since June 7, the Angels outfielder has hit .316 with an .886 OPS. The issue for most of the season has been that he’s been getting hits, but not showing his customary power. Adell has seven doubles, a triple and two homers in the past 18 games.
“Just really just being able to stay on those pitches and stay on the breaking pitches and stuff, middle away,” Adell said on Sunday, referring to Friday’s homer to right field. “I think it just goes back to not trying to over over-cook it. I think a lot of when I try to take the big swing, I can pull off to the left side a little bit. Just trying to stay through the middle.”
Adell said he looked back at some video from when he was hitting well over the past couple of years.
“I have a little bit of that rhythm back and the flow back,” Adell said. “I just want to hold on to that. I think it’s just continuing to pick pitches when they show up and try not to miss them. In weeks prior I think I’ve missed more pitches in the strike zone than I’d want.”
YATES’ TURNAROUND
Right-hander Kirby Yates lost his closer job after a June 8 blown save, which followed losses in two of his previous three games.
Since then, he has allowed just one unearned run in 7⅓ innings, with 12 strikeouts and two walks. He’s gotten back into the high leverage mix, allowing him to pick up career save No. 100 on Saturday. Sam Bachman, who seems to be the preferred closer, worked the eighth against the heart of the order.
Yates said he and bullpen coach Dom Chiti have tweaked some mechanical things that have helped make him more effective. He said it starts with his legs being stronger. He started the season late because of a knee injury.
“Trying to get back into a lower half a little bit better,” Yates said. “Something clicked, I don’t know, two weeks ago and just it feels like the ball’s coming out better. It’s staying on plane a lot more. The split’s staying on plane a lot longer. I’ve been getting a lot more swing and misses, so I think, it’s finally where the results are kind of showing up in the way I’m throwing the ball.”
Yates had a 32% whiff rate on his splitter through June 8, and since then it’s been 42%.
NOTES
Mike Trout (hamstring) will travel with the Angels to Seattle for the three-game series, so the Angels can continue monitoring his progress. Trout swung the bat on Saturday and ran at about 50%. …
Catcher Travis d’Arnaud (plantar fasciitis) said he’s able to hit and he’s starting catching pitches thrown by a machine. The last hurdle for him will be running. So far he’s jogged. …
Right-hander Grayson Rodriguez (back inflammation) is scheduled for about 60 pitches in a rehab start on Sunday at Class-A Rancho Cucamonga.
UP NEXT
Angels (RHP Ryan Johnson, 1-2, 8.84) at Mariners (RHP George Kirby, 6-7, 3.94), Monday, 6:40 p.m., ABTV, 830 AM
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