THE GAME: Jo Adell’s three-run homer in the second inning put the Angels on top in their 6-2 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers in a Cactus League game on Saturday in Phoenix.
PITCHING REPORT: Left-hander Tyler Anderson gave up a pair of solo homers in 3⅓ innings. Anderson also issued a walk. In three starts this spring, Anderson has allowed seven earned runs in 7⅔ innings. “I felt good,” Anderson said. “A couple pitches I probably wouldn’t have thrown in games, but just throwing them in the spring, with two strikes. My command was good. There’s some pitches that I was just trying stuff I’m working on, messing around to see how hitters react.” Anderson said he was specifically experimenting with dropping down his release point, which he’s done occasionally in the past. “During the season, you can do all that when you’re ahead in the count,” Anderson said. … Right-hander Ryan Johnson, who was just drafted in July, pitched two scoreless innings, including facing the Brewers’ top five big-league hitters. He retired them all. Johnson, who has not allowed a run in five innings this spring, is one of 18 healthy pitchers left in camp, with 13 spots on the Opening Day roster. Asked if Johnson should be considered a candidate to break camp, Manager Ron Washington laughed and said: “I’m not ready to say that yet, but I think he’ll get the ball a couple more times, and we’ll see where it goes. This is the first time he pitched professionally. And he did a tremendous job out there. He didn’t seem to be out of whack. He seemed to be composed, and he did pound the strike zone. And he has a very good arm.”
HITTING REPORT: Adell hit his second homer of the spring. Adell used his toe tap when he hit the homer. Adell has gone back and forth this spring between using his leg kick and his toe tap. Adell is 6 for 29 (.207) with a .614 OPS this spring. “He’s just gonna continue to get better, and it’s good that he can try to make adjustments, because that’s what the game of baseball is about, and he’s learning how to play the game of baseball,” Washington said. … Nolan Schanuel hit his first homer of the spring. The ball went out to left of straightaway center field. All of Schanuel’s regular-season homers have been between center field and the right-field line. He said he’s worked this winter to improve his power and exit velocity. … Tim Anderson led off the game with a single and was picked off first by the catcher. Anderson, who is fighting for a job on the Opening Day roster, is 6 for 26 (.231) with a .632 OPS this spring. … Jorge Soler walked and singled. Soler is 9 for 20 (.450) with a 1.360 OPS this spring. … J.D. Davis hit a two-run homer over the batters’ eye.
DEFENSE REPORT: Second baseman Christian Moore ranged to his right to field a chopper headed up the middle. … Catcher Logan O’Hoppe threw out Manuel Margot trying to steal third base. … Shortstop Kyren Paris made an over-the-shoulder catch of a pop-up as he ran toward the outfield in the ninth inning.
UP NEXT: Angels (RHP Jack Kochanowicz) vs. Cincinnati Reds (RHP Graham Ashcraft), Sunday, 1:10 p.m. PT, at Tempe Diablo Stadium, FanDuel Sports Network West, 830 AM