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Matt Joyce admits he was scratched because he got game time wrong

MLB, Los Angeles Angels

An early game time led to a bad day for Los Angeles Angels outfielder Matt Joyce.

Joyce was scratched from the Angels' game Monday afternoon in Toronto after he arrived late to the park.

"I assumed we had a night game since it was a day game Sunday and assumed we had a night game Monday since we normally always do," Joyce said. "By the time I realized it was a day game it was a little late."

The Angels followed a standard Sunday afternoon game in Baltimore with a more unusual series-opening Monday matinee game in Toronto as the Blue Jays were celebrating the Canadian holiday Victoria Day.

"It was a mistake," Joyce said Tuesday. "It's definitely something that will never happen again. Obviously I felt terrible about it."

Joyce is hitting  .143 in his first season in Los Angeles, but he was slated to DH for the Angels in their 10-6 loss to the Blue Jays on Monday.

Stating the situation has "been handled," manager Mike Scioscia returned Joyce to the lineup, batting him sixth and playing him in left field for Tuesday's game, which takes place at the harder-to-sleep-through time of 7:07 p.m. ET.

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