WASHINGTON — It’s been a miserable season for Brandon Drury, so he and the Angels will take even the slightest glimmer of hope.
After Drury drove in two runs on Saturday – – and , Manager Ron Washington said he’s been encouraged.
“He really swung the bat well last night, and he really played some good defense and he really looked like he was into it,” Washington said on Sunday morning. “So I hope he can maintain that. And if he can maintain that down the stretch, I think he can deliver something for us, because our veteran presence has just been non-existent. And a lot of it has to do with injury.”
The Angels have gotten very little from Mike Trout and Anthony Rendon this season because they have been hurt. Drury was also on the injured list for just over a month, but he’s also hitting .157 with a .436 OPS. He went 106 plate appearances between extra-base hits.
Luis Rengifo’s season-ending injury opened the door for Drury to get some more opportunity. Currently, the Angels’ second base depth chart is just Michael Stefanic, Luis Guillorme and Drury.
Christian Moore, the Angels’ first-round pick in last month’s draft, could be up soon, though. Moore was 19 for 35 (.543) with six homers in his first eight pro games.
Drury, 31, is set to be a free agent at the end of the season, so a strong finish would give him a chance to find a job next season.
His three walks on Sunday were another good sign.
“Early in the season, you were swinging at all that stuff,” Washington said he told Drury. “Now you’re seeing pitches, and because you’re seeing so many pitches, now all of a sudden, you’re going to be able to pick the ones out that you want to hit. So you’re trending in the right direction. You can’t be getting upset because you’re getting walks. That’s good. When you’ve been struggling like he’s been struggling, that means he’s seeing the ball, not chasing.”
Drury acknowledged that he’s feeling better, but said there’s more progress to make.
“I’ve had some really bad seasons in the past and I found ways to make adjustments and be a good player again,” Drury said after Sunday’s game. “For now I’m just looking for that little adjustment to click. Hopefully the last few games is the start to that. I’m waiting to start driving some balls in the gap and over the fence.”
WHICH ONE?
Right-hander Davis Daniel is set for his sixth big league start on Monday against the Toronto Blue Jays at Angel Stadium.
He’s allowed one earned run in 13 innings in his two good starts, and 16 earned runs in 12⅓ innings in the other three games.
“I just think he has to be able to hit his spots with his pitches,” Washington said. “When he leaves pitches over the middle of the plate and they’re up, he doesn’t have the velocity to get away with it. But when he’s been where he can flip his breaking ball in and put it in the spot and move his fastball around and his changeup, that’s the times he’s been good. But he’s just been inconsistent.”
NOTES
The Angels’ 13 walks on Sunday were one shy of the franchise record, set in 1976 and matched in 2000. The last time they walked 13 times was Sept. 12, 2007. …
Catcher Logan O’Hoppe and third baseman Anthony Rendon both had scheduled days off on Sunday. O’Hoppe is stuck in an 0-for-22 slump, without a hit in any of the first five games of this trip.
UP NEXT
Blue Jays (RHP Bowden Francis, 4-3, 5.44 ERA) at Angels (RHP Davis Daniel, 1-3, 6.04 ERA), Monday, 6:38 p.m., Bally Sports West, 830 AM
