The Los Angeles Angels broke out offensively Wednesday night, collecting 16 hits in an 11-4 victory over the Colorado Rockies at Angel Stadium to avoid a three-game sweep.
Wade Meckler and Nick Madrigal each recorded four hits as the Angels matched their season high in hits and delivered one of their most complete offensive performances of the year. Vaughn Grissom added a home run and three RBIs, while Oswald Peraza contributed two hits and two RBIs in a balanced attack that kept pressure on Colorado throughout the game.
The victory snapped Colorado’s bid for a series sweep and provided a much-needed boost for an Angels team that has struggled to generate consistency during the first half of the season.
Los Angeles received contributions throughout the lineup and backed another strong outing from young right-hander Walbert Ureña, who continued his impressive run since joining the starting rotation earlier this year.
Angels Break Game Open Early
The Angels wasted little time establishing control.
After a quiet opening inning, Los Angeles erupted for six runs in the second. The inning featured six hits and exposed Colorado starter Michael Lorenzen from the start.
Jose Siri opened the scoring with an RBI double before Logan O’Hoppe, Vaughn Grissom and Oswald Peraza each added run-scoring singles. The Angels also benefited from two wild pitches by Lorenzen, allowing additional runs to score during the rally.
By the end of the inning, Los Angeles had built a commanding 6-0 advantage.
The offensive burst represented one of the club’s best innings of the season and immediately changed the tone of the game.
Colorado entered the contest with one of its most productive offensive stretches of the season after scoring 39 runs across its previous five games. Instead, the Rockies found themselves playing from behind almost immediately.
Ureña Continues Strong Rotation Run
While the Angels offense grabbed headlines, Ureña quietly delivered another effective start.
The 22-year-old right-hander worked six innings and allowed three runs on only three hits. He struck out seven batters and walked three while consistently keeping Colorado hitters off balance.
Since moving from the bullpen into the starting rotation in mid-April, Ureña has steadily developed into one of the Angels’ most reliable pitchers. His performance on Wednesday lowered his ERA to 2.08 across his last seven starts.
Colorado finally broke through in the fourth inning when Hunter Goodman doubled and later scored on another double by Troy Johnston.
The Rockies added two more runs in the fifth on Tyler Freeman’s two-run homer, trimming the deficit to 8-3 and briefly creating some pressure.
Ureña responded by limiting further damage and preserving a comfortable lead before turning the game over to the bullpen.
His continued growth has become one of the more encouraging developments for the Angels during an otherwise difficult season.
Meckler Keeps Producing
Meckler continued his impressive run since returning to the major league roster.
The outfielder collected four hits and scored multiple runs while consistently setting the table for the Angels offense. Since being recalled from Double-A on May 22, Meckler has emerged as one of the club’s hottest hitters.
He is now batting .389 since his promotion and has provided energy near the top of the lineup.
Meckler’s recent production has given the Angels another offensive option during a period when injuries and inconsistency have forced frequent lineup adjustments.
His performance on Wednesday highlighted the confidence he has shown at the plate since returning to the major leagues.
Grissom And Peraza Deliver Key Contributions
Grissom supplied one of the game’s biggest swings in the fourth inning.
After Colorado cut the deficit to 6-1, Grissom answered immediately with a two-run homer that restored a comfortable advantage and prevented the Rockies from building momentum.
The infielder finished with three RBIs and continued a productive stretch at the plate.
Peraza also played a significant role. He drove in two runs, collected two hits, and helped extend several rallies. His RBI single during the six-run second inning helped spark the offensive explosion, and his sixth-inning double contributed to another scoring opportunity.
Madrigal matched Meckler with four hits and added an RBI single during a two-run sixth inning that pushed the Angels lead to 11-3.
The balanced offensive effort demonstrated what the Angels lineup can accomplish when multiple hitters contribute throughout the order.
Rockies Unable To Recover
Colorado never fully recovered from the disastrous second inning.
Lorenzen allowed eight runs on 10 hits over 3 1/3 innings and fell to 2-8 on the season. The veteran struggled to contain the Angels lineup and frequently pitched from behind in counts.
The Rockies generated only sporadic offense after their brief push in the middle innings. Despite entering the game with recent offensive momentum, they managed only three hits against Ureña before facing the Angels bullpen.
Relievers Drew Pomeranz, Ryan Zeferjahn, and Kirby Yates combined to cover the final three innings and secured the victory without significant trouble.
The loss prevented Colorado from completing a sweep, but did little to overshadow a generally successful road series.
Up Next
The Angels now turn their attention to a difficult challenge against their cross-town rivals.
Los Angeles is scheduled to open a series against the Dodgers on Friday night, with left-hander Reid Detmers expected to face Dodgers right-hander Roki Sasaki.
The Rockies return home to begin a series against the Milwaukee Brewers, with Ryan Feltner scheduled to start against Brandon Sproat.
