Hector Santiago nibbled around the edges of home plate Thursday afternoon, as he is wont to do. In a getaway matinee at Tropicana Field, home-plate umpire Mike Estabrook helped by expanding zone a little, and Santiago took advantage to fire seven scoreless innings in the Angels’ 5-1 victory over Tampa Bay.
He yielded only three hits, all singles, and four walks while striking out nine.
The 28-year-old left-hander has issued nine walks over his last 15 innings yet has not allowed an earned run. He is not pitching perfectly, but he is pitching effectively, and the Angels could capitalize by trading him before the Aug.