Rookie Greene Promoted; Hancock Sent to Vancouver

As it turned out, the Angels’ two-catcher plan lasted one day. Deciding they needed extra insurance against Don Slaught’s balky back, they promoted rookie Todd Greene from triple-A Vancouver.

They also sent rookie right-hander Ryan Hancock, who hadn’t pitched since July 18, to Vancouver to make room for Greene.

All of which makes Saturday’s trade that sent catcher Pat Borders to the Chicago White Sox for a minor league pitcher a little more clear.

Greene batted .305 with five home runs and 33 runs batted in for Vancouver, and he is perhaps the organization’s top prospect.

“He’ll catch some and we needed another bat on the bench,” Manager Marcel Lachemann said. “We just needed a hitter more than a pitcher. He’ll be here to play. If not, he can always go back.”

The Angels had been carrying 12 pitchers on their 25-man roster since sending infielder Damion Easley to Vancouver July 20. Lachemann said the Angels needed more pitchers than hitters when Easley went down.

Hancock showed promise by winning his first two major league starts, but struggled and was moved to the bullpen after lasting one inning July 15 against Texas.

He was 4-1 with a 7.48 earned-run average in 11 games, including four starts, since being recalled June 7 from Vancouver to replace injured Mark Eichhorn.

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Because switch-hitting first baseman J.T. Snow is batting .180 right-handed, Lachemann started Rex Hudler against Milwaukee left-hander Scott Karl. Snow entered the game as a defensive replacement in the 10th inning.

Actually, it hardly mattered who batted in the No. 5 spot Sunday.

Hudler struck out four times and Snow twice.

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Milwaukee first baseman Kevin Seitzer gave the Brewers a 3-2 lead with a sixth-inning home run, but he also provided the game’s lightest moment.

Running to first base after Angel catcher Slaught dropped strike three in the fourth inning, Seitzer refused to drop his bat.

Instead, Seitzer, cagey veteran that he is, waved the bat overhead in a futile attempt to knock down Slaught’s throw to first.

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The Angels are off today, then begin a six-game trip to Detroit and Toronto. They also play Montreal in the Hall of Fame game Aug. 5 in Cooperstown, N.Y. . . . The Angels don’t play a club with a .500 record until hosting Cleveland for three games starting Aug. 12. They are 6-3 against Detroit, 6-3 against Toronto, 3-3 against Minnesota and 3-4 against Kansas City. . . . The Angels were 64-41 after 105 games last year, ahead by 9 1/2 games in the American League West. They are 51-54 after 105 games this year.