Valbuena shines in Nolasco's solid debut

March 2nd, 2017

TEMPE, Ariz. -- The Angels scored three runs in the seventh inning to fuel a 5-4 comeback win over the split-squad Giants on Thursday at Tempe Diablo Stadium.
After the Giants scored twice in the top of the seventh to seize a 4-2 lead, the Halos quickly rallied to erase the deficit in the bottom half of the inning. ignited the comeback with a leadoff single and then scored on a throwing error by to bring the Angels within one. tied it with an RBI single, and Matt Williams followed with a sacrifice fly to bring in the game-winning run.
The Angels, who improved to 6-0 in Cactus League play, are the only undefeated team in the Majors this spring and are unbeaten in their last 17 spring games, dating back to last season. The Giants are now 3-4.
Giants second baseman Joe Panik went 1-for-2 with a walk and a run scored, while finished 2-for-3. Chris Marrero also drilled a solo home run that briefly tied the game at 2 in the sixth.

The Angels were led by third baseman , who went 2-for-3 with two doubles and two RBIs, and first baseman C.J. Cron, who added a pair of singles.
Right-hander Ricky Nolasco, the first of the Angels' top starters to make his spring debut, allowed one run on two hits while striking out three over two innings.
"It was good," Nolasco said. "A little extra adrenaline than all the bullpens and the Spring Training work. It was good to get it out of the way. [I was] trying to get the timing going. I thought I was rushing a little bit and was struggling to get down the glove a couple of times, but [I] felt good. Got through it. On to the next."

Angels right-hander , a candidate for a rotation or bullpen job who is gearing up to pitch for Venezuela in the World Baseball Classic, piggybacked off Nolasco and pitched three scoreless innings, allowing four hits with one walk and one strikeout.
Right-handed prospect gave up two hits while walking one and striking out one over two scoreless innings in his second Cactus League appearance for the Giants.
Giants Up Next: On Friday at 12:05 p.m. PT, Jeff Samardzija is scheduled to make his second appearance against Oakland in as many Cactus League starts. In one inning Monday, Samardzija surrendered two runs and three hits, including Matt Joyce's home run. Chris Stratton, a contender for the fifth starter's vacancy, also is expected to pitch.
Angels Up Next: Right-hander will make his first Cactus League start of the year Friday when the Angels host the Brewers at Tempe Diablo Stadium. It will be Shoemaker's first game action since being hit on the head by a line drive in September. First pitch is scheduled for 12:10 p.m. PT, and it can be viewed on MLB.TV.
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