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Storm could affect series

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Times Staff Writer

CLEVELAND -- Tropical Storm Fay, which forecasters predict could make landfall on the west coast of Florida as a hurricane on Tuesday, could wreak havoc on the Angels’ three-game series at Tampa Bay, which is scheduled to begin Monday night.

As of Saturday evening, the teams were not forming contingency plans to move the series to a neutral site such as Houston’s Minute Maid Park, which would be a logical fit. The Astros will be in Milwaukee, and the Rays finish a series at Texas today.

But if the Angels and Rays get Monday night’s game in, the final two games of the series could be postponed, forcing the teams to play a makeup doubleheader Sept. 1, the only common off day on both schedules.

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“We’re monitoring the storm, the airline is aware of the situation, and, worst-case scenario, we’ll evacuate,” said Tom Taylor, Angels traveling secretary. “We’ll wait for word from Major League Baseball and the local authorities. We can get a plane in an hour’s notice.”

In April of 2007, the Angels, on very short notice, had a series against the Indians moved from Cleveland to Milwaukee because of heavy snow.

Manager Mike Scioscia did not know of such a plan after Saturday’s game, but he was sure of one thing if the Angels do make it to Tampa Bay tonight: “It sounds like we’re not going to be working on our suntans down there,” he said.

Two that got away

The Angels were unable to sign two of their top five selections from the June draft before Friday night’s deadline, losing high school outfielders Zach Cone, from Stone Mountain, Ga., and Khiry Cooper, from Bossier City, La.

But they were able to sign a Florida high school shortstop they thought for sure was heading to the University of Miami, 11th-round pick Orlando Gomez, who agreed to a $50,000 bonus.

Scouting director Eddie Bane said both Cone, a third-round sandwich pick who will play baseball at Georgia, and Cooper, a fifth-round pick who will play football and baseball at Nebraska, agreed to figures the Angels offered before the draft.

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“But both changed their minds,” Bane said. “We came up on Cone and met his second asking price, and he still turned us down. When you’re dealing with 18-year-old kids, sometimes that happens.”

Short hops

Garret Anderson had two singles Saturday to extend his hitting streak to 20 games. . . . Vladimir Guerrero grounded into his American League-leading 24th double play in the fifth inning Saturday, moving him to within two of Lyman Bostock’s franchise record of 26 in 1978. . . . The Angels, who have won six of eight games, are now 24-14 in one-run games. . . . Scioscia said outfielder Reggie Willits, on the disabled list because of a pair of mild concussions, has “responded well” to workouts and will begin taking batting practice today. He should be ready to play by the end of this week.

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mike.digiovanna@latimes.com

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