Yoan Moncada’s three-run home run highlighted a six-run eighth inning to lift the Los Angeles Angels to an 8-3 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays on Tuesday night in Anaheim, Calif.
Moncada signed a one-year, $5 million contract to replace the injured Anthony Rendon at third base, but he had played in only eight games this season before a bruised right thumb sent him to the injured list on April 10.
Moncada was hitting .190 with no homers when he returned to the lineup Tuesday and made an immediate difference.
The Angels entered the eighth inning trailing 3-2. Zach Neto walked and stole second. He scored and tied the game on an error by third baseman Ernie Clement, who couldn’t handle a throw from catcher Alejandro Kirk after fielding Nolan Schanuel’s bunt.
Two batters later, Blue Jays reliever Yimi Garcia was replaced by Jeff Hoffman, who yielded an RBI single by Logan O’Hoppe – the catcher’s third hit of the game — to put the Angels up 4-3. Moncada followed and hit the first pitch he saw from Hoffman into the right field seats for a 7-3 lead.
Jo Adell added a solo homer later in the inning to cap the scoring. Hector Neris (1-1), making his Angels debut, was one of three Los Angeles relievers and earned the win over Garcia (0-2).
George Springer and Anthony Santander homered for Toronto.
The Blue Jays got on the scoreboard in the first inning when Vladimir Guerrero Jr. singled off Angels starter Tyler Anderson with one out and scored on Springer’s two-out, two-run home run.
The Angels answered in the bottom of the first inning against Blue Jays starter Jose Urena, whom the Blue Jays signed Monday after he was released by the Chicago Cubs.
Neto led off the inning with a single and, one out later, stole second. Neto then scored on Taylor Ward’s two-run homer, tying the game 2-2.
Anderson settled in and retired the Blue Jays in order in the third, fourth and sixth innings.
Anderson got a no-decision after throwing 6 2/3 innings and allowing two runs on six hits and one walk, striking out seven and making 93 pitches.
–Field Level Media
