The past two months have been the hardest of OF Peter Bourjos' career, not because of the way he's playing -- but because he isn't playing.
Bourjos lost his job as the Angels' every-day centerfielder when OF Mike Trout was promoted from Triple-A. As Trout has emerged as one of the most dynamic rookies in recent history, Bourjos' playing time has all but dried up. Sunday against the Dodgers, he started for just the 17th time in 51 games since Trout's arrival.
"I've accepted the role I've been put in," Bourjos said. "The last couple weeks, I've kind of accepted it and settled into it. I've learned what I need to do in the cage and before the game to be ready."
It must be working. The Angels are unbeaten in the past 11 games Bourjos has started and he hit a two-run home run in Sunday's 5-3 win.
"He's handled it as well as you can," said Angels manager Mike Scioscia who uses Bourjos as a late-inning defensive replacement on a regular basis, replacing Mark Trumbo in the outfield. "It's obviously difficult for a player who has the ability to play every day who is not in there.
"This guy comes out on the practice field and applies himself, works on a lot of things. He's obviously waiting for an opportunity to contribute. It's certainly not an easy situation for Peter but he's going to stay ready. He knows he can do some things that are going to help us win."
NOTES, QUOTES
Aybar's hitting streak reaches 10 games
--SS Erick Aybar extended his hitting streak to 10 games with a bunt single Sunday. That is the longest hitting streak by an Angel this season. Aybar is batting .329 (26 for 79) in the month of June, raising his average from .223 to start the month to .255 now.
--RHP Jerome Williams has resumed his normal workouts and will throw three innings in a simulated-game situation (mimicking the down time between innings) during the Angels' two-game series in Baltimore this week. Williams is on the DL after having breathing difficulties and passing out from an apparent asthma attack on Monday.
--OF Mike Trout was 2 for 5 and reached base three times in Sunday's win. It was his 22nd multi-hit game this season. The Angels are 16-6 in those games. He has been on base 92 times since May 1, the most in the majors.
--OF Mark Trumbo drove in the go-ahead run with a two-out RBI single in the seventh inning Sunday. It was Trumbo's team-leading 49th RBI of the season. Thirty of those have come since May 27, the most RBI in the majors in that time.
--1B Albert Pujols was 1 for 4 with an RBI single and a walk in Sunday's win. The RBI single drove in Mike Trout, the 17th time since May 1 that Trout has scored the run on a Pujols RBI. The walk was the 1,000th of Pujols' career. He is one of 12 active players with at least 1,000 walks.
BY THE NUMBERS: 12-6 -- Angels' record in interleague play this year.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "Believe me, we're not going to lament the fact of having six starters in our rotation who are throwing the ball well when most teams are trying to put together two or three." -- Angels manager Mike Scioscia when asked how RHP Jerome Williams and Garrett Richards will fit in the rotation when Williams returns from the DL.
