ANAHEIM, Calif. — The Angels scored a pair of runs on a wild pitch to beat the Phillies Monday 6-5 and end the team’s four-game losing streak.
Ehire Adrianza and Mike Trout scored on a wild pitch from Seranthony Dominguez in the seventh inning to give the Angels a 6-4 lead.
The seventh inning was the first time the Angels had led in a game since last Tuesday when they beat the Orioles 7-4. The team never had a lead during its four-game losing streak.
“We came out there tonight and actually showed what we can do,” Angels manager Ron Washington said. “Now we just have to find the consistency in what we do.”
“Tonight the baseball gods blessed us, because we got two runs in a situation that usually has been happening to us.”
Angels starting pitcher Griffin Canning had a disastrous start to the game but recovered to keep the team in the game. He allowed three runs in the frame, two before getting his first out.
Canning allowed a leadoff single to Kyle Schwarber and subsequently hit Trea Turner with a pitch and walked Bryce Harper to load the bases.
Fresh off being awarded National League Player of the Week honors, Alec Bohm hit a two-run single to give the Phillies a 2-0 lead.
Former Angel Brandon Marsh, who was making his first appearance at Angels Stadium since being traded in 2022, drove in Harper with a sacrifice fly to give the Phillies a 3-0 lead.
Canning didn’t have his best stuff Monday but was able to battle from behind in the count and keep the game from getting out of hand.
“The thing that impressed me the most was Canning. He didn’t have it, but he hung out there and kept us in the ball game,” Washington said. “That was quite important for him and for us. More than anything it was a gutsy performance.”
“It still sucks, I don’t want to put the team in a 3-0 hole like I have a lot of the year right off the bat,” Canning said. “But there’s positives to take. I got through five, kept the team in the game and they picked me up.”
In his first game batting second in the order, Jo Adell hit a 373-foot home run over the left field fence in the first inning to cut the lead to 3-1.
“I’m glad I got a pitch to handle and I worked the at bat kind of like we had planned on and I was able to do some damage,” Adell said. “I was glad to be able to start it off.”
The Angels cut into the lead again in the third inning when Ehire Adrianza drove in a run with a single but was tagged out at first base after being caught in a run down.
Canning had a mental error in the fifth inning that was his only blemish after the first. With runners on the corners, Canning threw over to first to attempt to pick off Turner, but it was his third disengagement of the at bat.
Because he did not successfully pick off Turner, both runners were allowed to advance which scored a run.
“It was embarrassing, really embarrassing,” Canning said. “I just blanked out that if I didn’t get him, the runner on third would score. In my head it would just be Turner going to second if I didn’t get him.”
Canning pitched five innings, allowed four runs on three hits with five walks and one strikeout. He threw 86 pitches Monday, 44 strikes and 42 balls.
The Angels tied the game in the sixth. Logan O’Hoppe drove in a run on a groundout and newest Angel Cole Tucker made quite the impression with a RBI single in his team debut.
“It was cool to put us back in the ballgame there,” Tucker said. “I had a good at-bat and move the line to the next guy, that’s what it’s all about. It felt really good, I feel welcomed and I’m happy to be here.”
Adam Cimber faced some trouble in the seventh inning and had the bases loaded. He intentionally walked Harper and traditionally walked Bohm to load the bases with two outs.
Marsh grounded out to first baseman Brandon Drury to end the inning with the game tied.
“That was the hugest part of the game,” Washington said. “We certainly needed it, that saved the game as a matter of fact.”
“I’ve been a little off my last few outings and I just got to keep attacking, let mindset take over and I’m thankful to get the job done,” Cimber said. “Wash is old school, I love it and having his trust there, there’s nothing better.”
Angels closer Carlos Estevez ran into some trouble against the top of the Phillies order in the ninth inning. He allowed a single to Turner and a ground rule double from Harper to put runners on second and third with one out.
After a sacrifice fly by Bohm, Estevez struck out Marsh to earn his fifth save of the season.
“Sometimes the baseball Gods work in your favor,” Washington said. “We had our best against their best to end the ninth and we won.”
The Angels celebrated the win and Washington’s 72 birthday with a birthday cake that had an old picture of Washington from his playing days on it.
“That dude needs to write a book or do public speaking in the offseason,” Tucker said. “He’s amazing to hear talk and the cake was hilarious. He’s a hoot and it was cool to get the win for him tonight.”
“We had a throwback picture of him from one of his baseball cards on the cake, he got a kick out of that,” Adell said. “He’s such a motivator and such a great guy. I’m honored to go and play for him everyday.”
