Alvarez Is Still Shutting Them Down

Relief pitcher Juan Alvarez, who has steadily progressed through the Angel system, was the only Edmonton Trapper selected to the Pacific Coast League team for the triple-A all-star game.

It was hardly a bolt from the blue.

Alvarez, a 26-year-old left-hander, did not give up a run in his first 8 2/3 innings this season. For the season, Alvarez is 3-0 with a 1.59 earned-run average in 28 games through Friday.

Alvarez went from double-A Erie to Edmonton to the Angels last season. He was 0-1 with a 3.00 ERA in eight games after his Sept. 1 call-up.

The triple-A all-star game will be July 12 in Rochester, N.Y.

Right-handed pitcher Mario Mendoza Jr. was promoted from Class-A Cedar Rapids to Class-A Lake Elsinore, managed by his father, Mario Mendoza Sr.

Mendoza, a 46th-round pick in the 1999 draft, was 6-6 with a 4.30 ERA in 14 starts with Cedar Rapids. He had 67 strikeouts and 19 walks in 98 1/3 innings.

Mendoza went 6 1/3 innings, giving up three earned runs, in his first start Thursday, but didn’t get a decision. Lake Elsinore scored two runs to defeat San Jose, 7-5, in the 11th.

Lake Elsinore outfielder Elpidio Guzman has 10 triples to lead the California League.