A historic power surge propelled the Los Angeles Angels to an impressive road win over the Tampa Bay Rays on Thursday and continued a surprisingly hot start to this season.
The Angels clubbed six home runs in an 11-1 victory that secured the rubber match of their three-game series with the Rays. The Angels also claimed their fourth consecutive series victory to start the season, a streak they will look to continue when they open a three-game road set against the Houston Astros on Friday.
“I hope we can continue to stack up series wins because that’s what gets you to the playoffs,” Angels manager Ron Washington said. “And our goal is to hopefully continue to play good baseball, and when that time comes, hopefully we’re there. And you have to do it by winning series.”
Jo Adell, Taylor Ward and Mike Trout all socked two homers, marking the third time in franchise history that three Angels posted multi-homer games in the same contest. Troy Glaus, Tim Salmon and Mo Vaughn all homered multiple times for the Angels — also against Tampa Bay — on April 21, 2000, and Dante Bichette, Brian Downing and Dave Winfield did it against Toronto on July 14, 1990.
The Angels have clubbed 18 homers over the past five games, a club record.
Adell homered twice in the Angels’ eight-run fifth inning, becoming the third player to homer twice in an inning and the first to do so since Kendrys Morales in 2012. Adell homered for the first and second times this season, while Ward hit his second and third homers after recording his first dinger on Wednesday.
“I’m so happy for Jo,” Washington said. “Because as hard as he works and how much he cares and the great teammate he is, it’s nice for him to get something going so he can start feeling good about himself.
“And T-Ward, we expect that out of him.”
Right-hander Jack Kochanowicz (1-0, 3.27 ERA) has the starting assignment for the Angels in the series opener. He notched the win against the Cleveland Guardians on Saturday after allowing three runs (two earned) on four hits and three walks with four strikeouts over five innings. Kochanowicz went 2-6 with a 3.99 ERA across 11 starts after making his debut last season.
Kochanowicz will make his first career start against the Astros. He is 2-3 with a 3.91 ERA in eight road starts.
Right-hander Ronel Blanco (0-1, 9.45 ERA) is the scheduled starter for the Astros on Friday. He did not factor into the decision of a 9-7 win over the Minnesota Twins on Sunday after allowing four runs on five hits and three walks with three strikeouts over 1 2/3 innings. Blanco has issued six walks across 6 2/3 innings this season, which has resulted in a 2.10 WHIP.
Blanco is 3-0 with a 2.33 ERA in five career appearances (three starts) against the Angels. He faced the Angels in back-to-back starts last September, allowing two runs on 11 hits and four walks with 14 strikeouts over 12 innings while earning a pair of victories.
The Astros had been buoyed by a resilient bullpen until their series finale against the Seattle Mariners on Wednesday. The Astros coughed up a five-run lead by surrendering seven runs in the eighth and ninth innings, squandering another strong start from right-hander Hunter Brown.
“Our bullpen has been really, really good for the first 10 games of the season,” Astros manager Joe Espada said. “It was one of those games. Stuff happens.”
–Field Level Media
