ANAHEIM -- Nick Tropeano's first chance with the Angels was a lot more happenstance than foresight. With Matt Shoemaker headed for the bereavement list and C.J. Wilson nursing soreness in his left elbow, the Angels suddenly needed someone to start Thursday's series finale against the A's. Andrew Heaney had pitched for Triple-A Salt Lake on Monday, but Tropeano's most recent start came three days earlier.
So Tropeano was basically just lucky -- and, as it turns out, so were the Angels.
Thanks to the 24-year-old Tropeano, the Angels split their four-game series with the A's with a 2-0 victory and notched just their second win at home in seven tries.