Simmons more than sharp in rehab start

Rehabbing isn't always about numbers, but Andrelton Simmons produced some impressive ones Thursday.

The Angels shortstop went 3-for-5 with a double and five RBIs as Triple-A Salt Lake beat Fresno, 12-10, at Chukchansi Park.

Simmons underwent surgery in May to repair a tear of the ulnar collateral ligament in his left thumb. The 26-year-old infielder went 2-for-6 in a pair of rehab outings with Class A Advanced Inland Empire coming into his Pacific Coast League start.

"Right now, we're just trying to get a comfort level with that hand," Bees manager Keith Johnson said. "Just to see him get out there and get five at-bats in a game was a plus. He just did a good job of putting the ball in play and he found some holes for us tonight in some big situations and was able to drive in nearly half of our runs."

Simmons, who served as Salt Lake's designated hitter, plated Ryan Jackson with an infield single to third base in the second inning. One frame later, he ripped a ground ball down the left-field line with the bases loaded to drive in three more runs.

"He knew what he was trying to do," Johnson said of the bases-clearing double. "He didn't quite get to the ball as cleanly as he wanted to, but he was able to get enough of it and hit it firmly enough to get it down the line where the third baseman [Colin Moran] couldn't get to it."

The native of Curacao added an RBI single to left in fifth for his final hit before Austin Cousino pinch-hit for him in the top of the 10th.

Simmons was hitting .219/.246/.281 in 31 games in the big leagues before heading to the disabled list. The 2015 MLB Defensive Player of the Year looked more like his old self Thursday, both on and off the field.

"He looks fine. He mixed in with the guys good, sitting out there during batting practice talking to a lot of our infielders and just getting back out there," Johnson said. "Sitting and waiting for everything to heal was the most frustrating thing. Now this is the fun part."

Los Angeles acquired Simmons from Atlanta in November for left-hander Sean Newcomb and right-hander Chris Ellis, at the time the organization's top two prospects. The two-time Gold Glover has provided a strong role model for the Bees, though he hasn't managed to rub off in all areas.

"We're talking about a Gold Glove shortstop. I wish that would have rubbed off a little bit more on us tonight when we made four errors," Johnson said with a laugh. "But he's a guy who's very humble, very approachable. I can see why he's done the things that he's done."

No. 7 Angels prospect Kyle Kubitza lofted a two-run homer, while Ji-Man Choi finished 4-for-6, including a go-ahead two-run single in the top of the 10th off Grizzlies reliever James Hoyt (3-3).

Third-ranked Los Angeles prospect Nate Smith allowed six runs on 12 hits and struck out four over 5 1/3 frames. Geoff Broussard (1-0) notched the win after walking one and fanning one in a scoreless ninth. Al Alburquerque struck out the side in the 10th for his seventh save.

No. 2 Astros prospect A.J. Reed doubled, singled and drove in two for Fresno. No. 28 Andrew Aplin added three hits, threee runs and a pair of RBIs.