Pitching shines behind Skaggs' strong start

TEMPE, Ariz. -- A replay challenge that was not overturned helped the Angels to a 3-1 victory Sunday over the Reds at Tempe Diablo Stadium.

With a runner at second and no outs in the fifth inning of a scoreless game, the Angels' Hank Conger singled to right and Roger Bernadina threw home to try to get Erick Aybar. Aybar scored easily but catcher Brayan Pena threw to second to try to get Conger advancing on the play. Shortstop Ramon Santiago tagged high on the sliding Conger, who was called safe by umpire Jim Reynolds.

Reds manager Bryan Price challenged, and after a review of 2 minutes, 15 seconds, the call was upheld by umpire Gerry Davis, viewing it on site in a truck. Under the new rule, Price lost his ability to challenge another play before the seventh inning, although the umpires can use their discretion to have any play reviewed.

Conger scored three batters later on a single from Kole Calhoun.

"It worked out really well, actually," Price said. "We didn't get the call overturned, but we got a chance to have more dialogue with the umpires. As far as the protocol goes, going out there and engaging and kind of understanding the dos and don'ts. One thing that was terrific was that they kind of conferred first so that we didn't have to unnecessarily use a challenge if maybe [another] umpire had a clearer vantage point and overturned that call before using a challenge. And that puts the onus on the other manager. Pretty interesting stuff."

During the regular season, all calls will be made by an umpiring crew stationed in a replay studio at Major League Baseball Advanced Media offices in New York.

"It's getting less confusing as we're absorbing it and trying it," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. "I think the whole logistics of seeing the replay and getting it to the umpire will be better during the season because of the ability to see the play from many angles, hopefully, in a timely fashion from New York."

Tyler Skaggs gave up just one hit and two walks in four innings to bolster his bid for the fifth spot in the Angels' rotation. 

The Reds managed just five hits against seven pitchers, scoring their run on back-to-back doubles from Kristopher Negron and Rey Navarro in the eighth.

Up next: Jered Weaver will make his third Cactus League start when the Angels travel to Goodyear, Ariz., to face the Indians on Monday at 1:05 p.m. PT. Weaver has a 1.29 ERA this spring in seven innings. Cleveland will counter with former UCLA star and Southern California native Trevor Bauer. Watch the action live on MLB.TV.