Hancock Sent Down, Greene Brought Up

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

They 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 is perhaps the top prospect in the organization.

“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 on July 20.

*

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. . . . Since 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. Hudler struck out four times and Snow twice.