Mike Scioscia had seen Jaime Barria pitch only once in the major leagues before Sunday, a five-inning, one-run, one-hit effort in an April 11 win over Texas, but the Angels manager was struck by the 21-year-old right-hander's mental toughness.
"He's not the finished product, but you have to love his poise, you have to love his moxie on the mound," Scioscia said before Sunday's game against the San Francisco Giants in Angel Stadium. "He's not intimidated by any situation. He's gonna make his pitches."
Barria and Belt battled it out for a 21-pitch at-bat in which Belt fouled off 16 two-strike pitches.