Jered Weaver’s velocity takes a dip in Angels’ 6-5 loss to Arizona

AT THE PLATE: Matt Joyce had two singles in three at-bats, his first off Arizona left-hander Robbie Ray, which can only help Joyce’s bid to become more of a full-time player. The left-handed-hitting Joyce was a platoon player in Tampa Bay, hitting .261 against right-handers but only .189 against left-handers. Joyce also singled and scored on Marc Krauss’ single in the seventh inning.

ON THE MOUND: Jered Weaver’s fastball averaged 86.8 mph last season, when he went 18-9 with a 3.28 earned-run average, but even by his standards, his velocity is down this spring. The right-hander ranged from 82-84 mph and hit 85 mph twice in a three-inning, two-run, five-hit effort. “How many velocity questions are we going to have?” Weaver said in response to his first velocity question of the spring. “I don’t pay attention to velocity. It’s more about getting location down and being able to get on pitches when you need to.” Manager Mike Scioscia said he thinks Weaver’s velocity will increase when he irons out his mechanics. “He has a lot of moving parts and was a little out of sync, really fighting himself,” Scioscia said. “We know Weav is gonna be there.”

EXTRA BASES: Grant Green’s bid to win the second-base job took a little ding when he bobbled A.J. Pollock’s routine fourth-inning grounder for an error. . . . Left fielder Collin Cowgill made a nice diving catch of a Tuffy Gosewisch liner in the second. . . . Closer Huston Street stayed home sick Wednesday. . . . Setup man Joe Smith has been slowed by leg stiffness but is expected to pitch in a game this weekend. . . . Garrett Richards, recovering from left-knee surgery, will need to throw one more simulated game before pitching in a Cactus League game. Richards threw a two-inning, 41-pitch simulated game Tuesday and participated in fielding drills Wednesday.

UP NEXT: Chicago Cubs, 1 p.m. at Tempe Diablo Stadium. On the air: TV: Fox Sports West; Radio: 830.