Mike Trout made an immediate impact in his return from the injured list, while Jo Adell delivered the best offensive performance of his career as the Los Angeles Angels rolled to a 13-1 win over the Texas Rangers on Wednesday night.
Trout homered in his first game back after missing 17 contests with a strained right hamstring. Adell hit two home runs and drove in a career-high five runs, while Vaughn Grissom and Zach Neto fueled a relentless Angels offense that piled up 13 runs and overwhelmed the Rangers from the opening inning.
The victory featured contributions throughout the lineup as Los Angeles collected timely hits, extra-base power, and effective pitching to secure one of its most complete performances of the season.
Angels Strike Early
The Angels wasted little time taking control.
Zach Neto opened the game with a double and quickly came around to score when Grissom lined a single off Rangers starter MacKenzie Gore. The early run set the tone for an offense that consistently pressured Texas throughout the night.
Neto continued his productive evening by finishing 3-for-4 with two doubles and three runs scored. Grissom matched the strong performance, going 4-for-5 with a double and four RBIs.
Denzer Guzman and Jose Siri also collected two hits apiece as every part of the Angels lineup contributed.
Adell Powers The Offense
Adell supplied the biggest swings of the game.
His first home run came in the fourth inning, a two-run shot that extended the Angels’ lead and put additional pressure on Gore.
One inning later, Adell struck again.
With two runners aboard, he launched a three-run homer that stretched the advantage to 7-0 and effectively put the game out of reach. The two long balls gave Adell a career-best five RBIs and highlighted another encouraging performance from the young outfielder.
The Angels continued to add runs after Adell’s outburst, refusing to let up against the Rangers’ pitching staff.
Trout Makes Immediate Impact
Trout’s return added another highlight to the evening.
The veteran outfielder had been sidelined for 17 games with a strained right hamstring, but showed no signs of rust when he came to the plate in the eighth inning.
With one runner aboard, Trout drove a 438-foot home run that increased the Angels’ lead to 11-0.
The blast also added another milestone to his impressive career. It was Trout’s 48th career home run against the Rangers, the most by any player since the franchise relocated to Texas in 1972. Only Reggie Jackson, who hit 54 home runs against the Washington Senators and Rangers franchise, has more career homers against the organization.
His successful return gave the Angels another boost as they continue through the second half of the season.
Bullpen Takes Over
Angels starter Walbert Ureña kept Texas off the scoreboard despite battling inconsistent command.
The right-hander threw 90 pitches over four scoreless innings while allowing five walks. Although he frequently worked out of trouble, he prevented the Rangers from generating any offense before exiting the game.
Rookie left-hander Samy Natera Jr. followed with an outstanding relief appearance.
Entering to begin the fifth inning, Natera retired all six batters he faced and struck out five over two perfect innings. His dominant outing earned him the first victory of his major league career.
The Angels’ bullpen continued to protect the large lead for the remainder of the game, with the Rangers finally breaking through in the ninth.
Rangers Unable To Respond
Texas never recovered after falling behind early.
Gore allowed seven runs on nine hits over five innings despite recording seven strikeouts. The Angels consistently found hard contact against the left-hander and capitalized on scoring opportunities throughout his outing.
The Rangers’ lone run came in the ninth inning when pinch-hitter Kyle Higashioka led off with a solo home run.
Higashioka also pitched the ninth inning, marking the second mound appearance of his major league career. The veteran catcher surrendered two additional runs as the Angels added the final touches to their commanding win.
Balanced Attack Leads Blowout
Los Angeles combined power, timely hitting and strong pitching in one of its most productive games of the season.
Adell’s two home runs and five RBIs led the offense, while Trout celebrated his return with another memorable blast. Grissom, Neto, Guzman and Siri all turned in multi-hit performances as the Angels finished with contributions throughout the batting order.
On the mound, Ureña escaped several difficult situations before Natera’s flawless relief appearance secured the rookie’s first career win and helped complete a convincing victory over a division rival.
Up Next
The four-game series continues Thursday with the Angels scheduled to start left-hander Reid Detmers, who enters with a 3-6 record and a 4.13 ERA. The Rangers are expected to counter with right-hander Nathan Eovaldi, who is 9-7 with a 4.02 ERA.
