Angels’ Luis Rengifo injured in on-deck circle vs. Guardians

On a night that started with more injury-related news, the Angels were at least able to end it on a positive note, with a 3-2 walk-off win Thursday over the Cleveland Guardians.

A ninth-inning rally, sparked by Chad Wallach’s double, Kyren Paris’ tying RBI, then Randal Grichuk’s RBI single driving in the winning run, broke the Angels’ six-game losing streak. Grichuk was initially scheduled to have the day off Thursday, but was substituted into the game after an injury to Luis Rengifo.

“I kind of checked out and said I’m gonna hit [in the batting cages] during the game,” Grichuk said. “Work on a few things mechanically. I was down in the dugout and they just kind of looked at me and said ‘Hey, you might be in there.’

“I had no idea what was going on,” Grichuk continued. “I was on the rail down the line, couldn’t even see our on-deck circle and then I found out.”

Angels

Luis Rengifo extends hit steak to 14 games as Angels fall to Orioles

Luis Rengifo extended his hit streak to 14 games, including a two-run homer, but the Angels fell to the Baltimore Orioles 10-3 on Wednesday.

Sept. 6, 2023

Earlier in the evening, Rengifo, who started the evening in right field, was removed after sustaining what the team described as a left biceps strain before his first at-bat. There was no update on Rengifo after the game as the team would not know more until Friday after they finished conducting some more tests, though manager Phil Nevin did add that his injury did not look good.

“[I’m] sick for him,” Nevin said.

Rengifo, who entered Thursday on a 14-game hitting streak, had been warming up in the on-deck circle when he sustained the injury.

“It was normal routine, warming up,” Nevin explained. “With the heavy bat. As he went to drop it, he felt something in his [biceps].”

After one of his swings, Rengifo took a few steps forward and then hunched over. He walked toward the dugout steps as Mike Moustakas, who was preparing to hit after Rengifo, waved for help. Rengifo hunched over again as trainer Mike Frostad and Nevin rushed to him. Eduardo Escobar, who had also been near the steps anticipating his own at-bat, also walked over to Rengifo.

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Rengifo then walked back down the steps to the dugout. Grichuk took over his spot in the lineup.

Rengifo was not the only ailing Angels player. Aside from Shohei Ohtani (right oblique inflammation) missing a fourth consecutive game, Mickey Moniak, who was in the starting lineup, was scratched three minutes before the first pitch because of back tightness. Brett Phillips replaced him in center field.

During the Angels’ game against the Phillies in Philadelphia on Aug. 29, Moniak was pulled from the middle of the eighth inning with what the Angels called back soreness. He missed the final game of that series, but was back in the lineup for the start of their next series. Moniak also did not play Wednesday against the Baltimore Orioles.

Nevin explained that Moniak’s back tightened up on him as he was warming up for the game, though was not sure whether it was related to what he experienced in Philadelphia. The Angels will see how Moniak feels on Friday when he comes in.