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Angels' outfield continues flare for robbing homers

BOSTON -- The Angels don't necessarily practice robbing home runs -- it just seems that way.

Kole Calhoun's improbable catch on Brock Holt's potential three-run homer on Tuesday night was the 12th robbed homer by the Angels since the start of the 2012 season, according to ESPN Stats and Info. No other team has more.

For fear of injury, the Angels don't practice robbing home runs. But on the final days of Spring Training, they'll go over the proper technique in a meeting -- one that used to be led by notorious home-run robber Torii Hunter -- and do a walk-through near the fence.

"We don't set the defense up to rob home runs," said Angels bench coach Dino Ebel, who works with the outfielders. "We just have good athletes that have good instincts, get good jumps on the ball. Kole last night, [Mike] Trout, [Peter] Bourjos [now with the Cardinals]. To me, they're good-enough athletes to make the play over the wall. The key is to get a good jump off the bat. That's the key. Those guys, they're so gifted and talented, they can make those plays."

Alden Gonzalez is a reporter for MLB.com. Read his blog, Gonzo and "The Show", and follow him on Twitter @Alden_Gonzalez.
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