Angels call up catcher Hank Conger, send Tyler Chatwood to triple-A

The Angels made a move to bolster their sagging offense Thursday night, recalling catcher Hank Conger from triple-A Salt Lake and optioning struggling pitcher Tyler Chatwood to triple-A.

Journeyman right-hander Jerome Williams is expected to replace Chatwood in the rotation and start Sunday against the Baltimore Orioles in Angel Stadium. Williams, 29, was called up from Salt Lake Wednesday and threw two-thirds of an inning of relief Wednesday night, his first big league appearance since 2007.

Conger was hitting .214 with five home runs and 16 runs batted in and struggling defensively when he was demoted to Salt Lake on July 19. In 27 games at Salt Lake, Conger hit .300 with five homers and 26 RBIs.

Angels catcher Jeff Mathis is solid defensively, but with a .177 average, two homers and 17 RBIs, he is one of the worst hitters in the major leagues.

Chatwood, a 21-year-old right-hander, has been brilliant at times this season, with a 6-9 record and 4.35 earned-run average, but he is 0-3 with an 8.53 ERA in his last four starts.

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--Mike DiGiovanna

Photo: Hank Conger. Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea / US Presswire