ARLINGTON, Texas — Samy Natera Jr. followed up the worst game of his young career with the best.
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The Angels’ left-handed relief pitcher said there were no critical adjustments that he made.
“Just talking with pitching coaches and my teammates in the bullpen, they always preach how fast you can turn the page and focus on the next one,” Natera said. “Thankfully, it was a good one. Just bounce back from that.”
Natera gave up four runs while recording only two outs on Saturday night against the Boston Red Sox, the first truly rough game in the month he’s been in the majors.
He got his next chance on Wednesday night against the Texas Rangers. He retired all six hitters he faced, striking out five of them. Because starter Walbert Ureña didn’t last the five innings required for a starter to get a victory, Natera was credited with his first major league victory. On June 28, he recorded his first save.
Natera, 26, has a 3.38 ERA through his first 11 big league games, with 20 strikeouts in 13⅓ innings.
“I feel great,” Natera said. “I’m just grateful for every opportunity I’ve had. My goal is to help the team win in any way I can, and thankfully I’ve been able to do so.”
Manager Kurt Suzuki said he’s been impressed with Natera so far.
“I thought Samy’s been good,” Suzuki said. “Obviously, the one little hiccup, but the thing with him is he’s learning every day. He’s definitely looking for ways to improve every single time he gets out there.”
RODRIGUEZ READY TO GO
Right-hander Grayson Rodriguez left Texas early to get to Minnesota in preparation for his return to the rotation, on Friday against the Twins.
Although the Angels still aren’t officially listing Rodriguez as the starter because they have to make a roster move to activate him from the injured list, it’s clear that Rodriguez will be pitching.
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“Just go out there and attack the zone, just let it go and be efficient, all the things that we preach with all our pitchers,” Suzuki said. “Especially with Grayson, with the stuff he has, he’s a game-changer. Having him go out there and do what he an do and pitch how he can pitch is definitely going to help us.”
Rodriguez, 26, spent the past three weeks on the IL because of back inflammation. It was obviously not a serious injury, because he barely took any time off from throwing.
Before he was on the IL, Rodriguez had an 8.06 ERA in six starts. He allowed seven earned runs in two starts. The others were better. He came out of his June 14 outing in the third inning with the back issue.
Rodriguez pitched twice in the minors, including an encouraging outing on July 4 at Triple-A. He gave up one run in 5⅓ innings, with no walks. His fastball hit 98 mph.
NOTES
Outfielder Jo Adell was out of the Angels’ lineup a day after hitting two home runs. Suzuki said it was a predetermined off day to make sure he didn’t spend all three days playing on the artificial turf in Texas. “Talked to him, and obviously being on the turf, and he was kind of mentioning stuff,” Suzuki said. “Just trying to take care of him a little bit. He’ll get all three (in Minnesota).” …
Third baseman Denzer Guzman was moved down in the lineup to the No. 7 spot. Guzman had been hitting second or third during the last week when Mike Trout was still injured. On Thursday, with Trout, Jorge Soler and Nolan Schanuel all back in the lineup, Guzman was moved down. “Lower in the lineup, keeping the pressure off him, definitely wouldn’t be bad,” Suzuki said of the 22-year-old Guzman. …
The Angels signed Pablo Reyes to a minor league deal. Reyes, 32, can play all the infield positions and the corner outfield spots. He has a career .648 OPS in the majors. He had an .899 OPS in Triple-A with the San Diego Padres, who released him.
UP NEXT
Angels (RHP Grayson Rodriguez, 2-2, 8.06 ERA) at Twins (RHP Zebby Matthews, 4-5, 4.43 ERA), Friday, 5:10 p.m., ABTV, 830 AM
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