Goodwin makes like Trout, snatches possible HR

ANAHEIM -- Angels center fielder Brian Goodwin, filling in for Mike Trout on Wednesday, made a leaping catch up against the wall to rob Brewers catcher Yasmani Grandal of a potential home run in the second inning of a 4-2 win at Angel Stadium.

Goodwin, making his first start of the season in center with Trout out with a strained right groin, helped right-hander Felix Pena with his catch to take away at least an extra-base hit from Grandal, who homered twice on Tuesday.

"He definitely saved me in that situation," Pena said through a translator. "I was very happy. Everyone is playing as one."

Grandal jumped all over a 3-2 curveball from Pena, as it had an exit velocity of 103.2 mph at a launch angle of 36 degrees and went a projected 384 feet, per Statcast. Balls hit at a similar exit velocity and launch angle have an expected batting average of .510.

"I made pretty good contact with it," Grandal said. "But as I'm running and trying to find it, I saw that the trajectory of the ball was way too high. I was surprised the ball made it that far. I watched the replay, and I guess he robbed a homer. I asked him, I said, 'Hey, did you need to jump for that?' He said, 'Yeah, if I didn't jump, it was a homer.'"

Goodwin, claimed on waivers from the Royals before the start of the season with Justin Upton on the injured list with left turf toe, has been a pleasant surprise for the Angels, providing both power and speed early in the season. He is hitting .333/.394/.533 in 11 games.