KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Matt Shoemaker went from a franchise-record 16 victories as a rookie last season to being optioned Sunday to Triple-A Salt Lake by the Los Angeles Angels.
Shoemaker failed to finish the second inning Saturday at Kansas City, allowing six runs on seven hits and three walks in a 9-4 loss to the Royals. He has yielded 13 runs on 16 hits, including four homers, in 7 1/3 innings in losing his past two starts.
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“I kind of put myself in this position,” Shoemaker said. “If I pitched better, it’s not an issue. That’s the way I look at it. I’ll go down and fix some things and get back here as quick as I can.”
The 28-year-old Shoemaker went 16-4 with a 3.04 ERA last season but is 5-9 with a 4.76 ERA in 22 games (21 starts) in 2015.
Shoemaker preceded the two awful outings with 19 scoreless innings over three starts.
“It’s very frustrating, these two starts, especially after that long stretch of really good ones,” Shoemaker said. “A long stretch and then three really good ones and then two of my worst ones probably ever. It’s definitely frustrating. It’s part of this game sometimes. You have to find a way to get out of it and get better.”
Shoemaker was the American League pitcher of the month in August 2014, going 6-1 with a 1.31 ERA.
“He’s very motivated to get back to where he needs to go,” Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. “I think he sees the opportunity to work on some stuff and get back closer to where he needs to be.
“It’s never an easy decision or conversation, but we all very strongly think it’s the right move to make right now for Matt and for us, and hopefully he’ll emerge on the other side of this as a pitcher closer to what we need.”
The Angels also placed infielder Taylor Featherston (upper back strain) and pitcher Cory Rasmus (forearm strain) on the 15-day disabled list. Featherston said he hurt a rib last weekend and received an injection when the Angels were in Chicago.
The team recalled right-handers Cam Bedrosian and Mike Morin and purchased shortstop Ryan Jackson’s contract from Salt Lake. C.J. Wilson was transferred to the 60-day DL to make space for Jackson. Wilson is scheduled for season-ending elbow surgery to remove bone spurs.
Shortstop Erick Aybar (back strain) is in the starting lineup Sunday after missing the three previous games.
