Tropeano shines in longest outing of career

ANAHEIM — Nick Tropeano pounded his right hand against the pocket of his glove and then spread his arms out wide, exhaling deeply as he retreated to the dugout. The Angels’ young starting pitcher had escaped a bases-loaded, none-out jam unscathed on Wednesday night, pitching deeper in a game than ever before.

It got Tropeano through seven innings, and culminated his best start of the year, one in which he worked around nine baserunners to allow only one run in an 8-1 victory over the Dodgers at Angel Stadium.

Tropeano completed seven innings for the first time in 19 career Major League starts, and completed at least six for the first time in eight tries this season.

“Nick, from the get-go, was trying to be more aggressive in the zone,” manager Mike Scioscia said, his team persevering through 11 injured players to win for the fifth time in six games. “I think in the back of his mind he does have that little cloud of, ‘When am I going to get into the sixth inning? When am I going to finish six?'”

Tropeano recorded no fewer than 15 outs and no more than 17 outs in his first seven starts. He needed 104 pitches to complete five innings of two-run ball in Seattle on Friday, a line that encapsulated his season — effective, but inefficient.

Then Wednesday came.

Tropeano retired the first 10 batters in order, requiring only 24 pitches to record the first out in the fourth. He finished scattering seven hits, issuing two walks and striking out four in a …

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