The Los Angeles Angels trailed the Houston Astros 4-0 through five innings on Sunday afternoon. A loss would have resulted in a four-game sweep, the team’s first against the Astros since 2013. But Zach Neto had different plans for the series finale in Houston.
Neto stepped up to the plate in the sixth inning, worked an eight-pitch at-bat and ended it with a two-run home run to make it 4-2. In the eighth, Neto broke a tie with a go-ahead solo homer. Then in the ninth, with the game tied once again, Neto hit a bases-clearing double off of close Josh Hader to take a 9-6 lead and ultimately secure the victory for the Halos.
If the 2024 season has established anything for the Angels, it’s that Neto is the cornerstone of the future. Posting a 113 OPS+ with 23 home runs and 77 RBI in his first full-length season is a hugely impressive feat. And manager Ron Washington explained exactly what Neto means to the Angels after his incredible Sunday performance, via Jeremy Rakes of MLB.com:
“At the end of the game there, his last three at-bats, he took the game over,” Angels manager Ron Washington said. “He has that capability. When he learns how to just trust his work and trust what his abilities are, he can do that type of stuff. … He got us the win.”
Neto made some history with his six-RBI outing on Sunday. He posted the fourth six-RBI game by an Angels shortstop ever, joining himself (Aug. 7), Freddie Patek (June 20, 1980) and Jim Fregosi (June 10, 1964).
He became the fourth player in Angels franchise history to have multiple six-RBI games in a single season, joining Mo Vaughn (1999), Kendrys Morales (2009) and Mike Trout (2019). And he became just the second American League shortstop ever to have multiple six-RBI games in a single season, joining Alex Rodriguez in both 2000 and 2001.
“Just putting quality at-bats together and not trying to do too much,” Neto said. “I felt like I was pressing a little bit, but I was finally able to come through for the team.”
The Angels can go into the offseason knowing that their shortstop position is not only solidified, but it’s a cornerstone of what they want to do in 2025. Neto and Logan O’Hoppe are possible stars in the making, and Neto proves it with moments like these.
Ron Washington hoped Astros would provide Angels with playoff experience
Prior to the four-game set in Houston, Washington had hoped that the Astros would give the Angels a taste of what it’s like to play meaningful games late in the season. The Angels went 1-3 against the Astros, but rallied in the final game to avoid the sweep.
