Angels use helicopter to dry field before doubleheader with Red Sox

The Angel Stadium outfield appears to be in good shape for the first game of Monday’s doubleheader against the Boston Red Sox after the team brought in a helicopter to hover over the field and help dry out the turf Monday morning.

“Barney said the field is better than it was two nights ago when it rained during batting practice,” Manager Mike Scioscia said, referring to head groundskeeper Barney Lopas. “We anticipate the field to be fine.”

That wasn’t the case Sunday night, when heavy rains forced the first rainout in Angel Stadium since 1995. Bench coach Dino Ebel said the water was “ankle deep” when he walked through the outfield before the game was called.

Major League teams have occasionally brought in helicopters to help dry out fields, so Scioscia hardly considered it an extreme measure, at least, compared to some he has seen.

“We played a Babe Ruth state championship game in Pennsylvania, and when it stopped raining, all of a sudden some fire trucks came, guys came out and poured gasoline on the basepaths and lit them on fire, and we played about 40 minutes later,” Scioscia said. “So I’ve seen some stuff.”

Both teams will add a 26^th player to the roster for the second game, which starts at 7 p.m. The Angels will add reliever Cory Rasmus, who underwent abdominal surgery in spring training and has not pitched in the big leagues this season.

Twitter: @mikedigiovanna