Angels get good reports on Matt Shoemaker’s work in minors

A year ago, Matt Shoemaker was making a push for American League rookie of the year, an award for which he was the runner-up.

Now, Shoemaker is marooned at triple-A Salt Lake, trying to fix a delivery that hadn’t felt right from the beginning of the season. In the last two starts before the demotion, Shoemaker gave up 13 runs over 7 1/3 innings.

On Saturday, Shoemaker pitched six innings for Salt Lake, giving up two hits and two walks, and striking out five batters. He gave up three unearned runs in the sixth inning.

“The reports on him were much better than anything we’ve seen this year from him up here,” Angels Manager Mike Scioscia said. “So hopefully he went down there and got a chance to work on some stuff, and he will definitely be back up here. We’ll see when that’s going to be.”

The Angels have an opening. Right-hander Nick Tropeano pitched in place of Shoemaker on Thursday and gave up six runs in an 8-2 loss to the Chicago White Sox.

When second baseman Johnny Giavotella sat out because of illness, Tropeano was sent to Salt Lake to make room on the roster for infielder Grant Green.

“We’re not making any announcement,” Scioscia said. “There’s still a couple things that we’re looking at.”

Giavotella returns

Giavotella was with the Angels on Sunday, but, after sitting out two games with what he described as flu-like symptoms, he remained too weakened to play.

“It’s going to take me a couple more days to get back to feeling good again,” Giavotella said. “I’m just trying to get my strength back up.”

Without Giavotella, typically the place setter at the top of the order, Scioscia stuck with the restructured lineup that had Kole Calhoun leading off, Mike Trout batting second and Albert Pujols batting third. They were a combined five for 11 on Sunday.

Short hops

Outfielder Collin Cowgill was hitless in three at-bats in a rehabilitation start in Salt Lake. ... Third baseman David Freese, making his first rehabilitation appearance, was the designated hitter and was one for two.