Travis d’Arnaud hit a three-run home run, and Walbert Ureña delivered six strong innings as the Los Angeles Angels defeated the Chicago White Sox 8-2 on Wednesday afternoon at Angel Stadium.
The Angels used an explosive second inning to take control and never allowed Chicago to recover. Los Angeles earned its first series victory in nearly a month and showed signs of stability after several inconsistent weeks.
Strong pitching, timely hitting, and aggressive offense helped the Angels pull away early. Chicago struggled to recover after starter Noah Schultz ran into trouble during the middle innings.
D’Arnaud Sparks Early Offensive Surge
The Angels built the foundation for the win during a five-run second inning that overwhelmed the White Sox pitching staff.
Travis d’Arnaud delivered the biggest hit of the inning when he launched a three-run homer off Noah Schultz. The backup catcher drove the ball deep into left-center field for his first home run of the season and immediately gave Los Angeles momentum.
The inning continued after Bryce Teodosio doubled on a ball that skipped past right fielder Jarred Kelenic. Zach Neto followed with a run-scoring triple, adding more pressure on Chicago’s defense.
Mike Trout later added another run when his infield popup dropped safely after second baseman Chase Meidroth lost the ball in the afternoon sun.
The Angels combined aggressive baserunning with timely contact throughout the inning. Chicago’s defensive miscues and command issues helped extend the rally.
Ureña Delivers One Of His Best Starts
Walbert Ureña turned in one of his strongest performances of the season. The right-hander allowed only one run and two hits over six innings while striking out five batters.
Ureña worked carefully through the White Sox lineup and consistently forced weak contact. Although he issued three walks, he avoided major trouble and kept Chicago from building momentum offensively.
The outing marked his second quality start of the year and provided a needed boost for an Angels rotation searching for consistency.
Los Angeles also received strong work from the bullpen. Brent Suter, Drew Pomeranz, and Chase Silseth combined to finish the game while limiting Chicago to only four total hits.
The pitching staff controlled the game from start to finish and prevented the White Sox from mounting any meaningful comeback.
White Sox Rookie Schultz Struggles
Noah Schultz entered the game after a strong opening stretch to the season, but could not contain the Angels’ offense.
The rookie left-hander allowed seven runs over 3 2/3 innings and gave up seven hits. Prior to Wednesday, Schultz had surrendered only six earned runs across his previous four starts combined.
The Angels attacked early in counts and forced Schultz into difficult situations during the second inning. Los Angeles hitters consistently applied pressure once runners reached base.
Chicago’s bullpen also struggled with control later in the game. Reliever Osvaldo Bido hit back-to-back batters with the bases loaded in the fourth inning, forcing home two additional runs.
The White Sox pitching staff battled command problems throughout the afternoon and gave the Angels repeated opportunities to extend the lead.
Unusual Hit-By-Pitch Sequence Adds To Wild Afternoon
The game featured an unusual statistical moment involving hit batters with the bases loaded.
In the fourth inning, Osvaldo Bido hit Jorge Soler and Jo Adell on consecutive pitches, forcing in two runs for the Angels.
Later in the seventh inning, Angels reliever Drew Pomeranz hit Sam Antonacci with the bases loaded, forcing home Chicago’s second run.
According to historical records, it marked the first major league game in at least 70 seasons where three batters were hit by pitches with the bases loaded.
The unusual sequence reflected the control problems both bullpens experienced during portions of the game.
Murakami Held Quiet By Angels Pitching
Chicago rookie slugger Munetaka Murakami entered the game tied for the major league lead in home runs, but the Angels’ pitching staff neutralized him completely.
Murakami struck out four times, matching the second four-strikeout game of his rookie season. Ureña and the Angels bullpen attacked him aggressively with breaking pitches and elevated fastballs.
The White Sox struggled overall to generate offense, aside from a few isolated opportunities. Chase Meidroth collected two hits, but Chicago rarely threatened consistently against Los Angeles pitching.
The loss continued an uneven stretch for the White Sox, who failed to recover after the early deficit.
Angels Gain Needed Momentum
The series win offered an important step forward for Los Angeles. The Angels had not won a series since mid-April and entered the matchup searching for signs of consistency.
The offense showed improved balance on Wednesday, receiving contributions throughout the lineup. D’Arnaud, Neto, Trout, and Teodosio all played key roles in building the early lead.
The Angels also executed more cleanly defensively and limited mistakes that had hurt them during previous losses.
While the season remains uneven, Wednesday’s performance gave Los Angeles one of its more complete wins in recent weeks.
Up Next
The White Sox return home Friday to open a series against Seattle. Chicago is expected to start right-hander Sean Burke against Mariners right-hander Emerson Hancock.
The Angels travel to Toronto for a weekend series against the Blue Jays. Left-hander Reid Detmers is scheduled to start Friday’s opener against Toronto right-hander Dylan Cease.
Los Angeles heads into the road trip with renewed confidence after finally securing another series win.
