MIAMI — Mike Trout hit two solo home runs and the Angels came back from a 4-0 deficit to grab a 7-4 victory over the Miami Marlins in their series opener on Monday night.
The win marked the first time the Angels (2-2) had overcome at least a four-run first inning hole since June 30, 2021, when they scored seven runs in the ninth inning against the New York Yankees.
Chase Silseth struggled mightily in his season debut after an excellent final outing of spring training last week. Silseth allowed four runs (three earned) on five hits with five strikeouts in five innings.
Marlins batters Jake Burger and Jazz Chisholm Jr. hit run-scoring singles before Silseth recorded an out. Nick Gordon hit a two-run double that extended the lead to 4-0, but would be the last run for Miami (0-5).
Aaron Hicks got his first RBI of the season in the second inning on a groundout, scoring Taylor Ward.
Trout hit his first home run to left field in the fourth against Max Meyer, cutting the Marlins lead to 4-2. Meyer went five innings and allowed two runs on two hits in his season debut for the Marlins.
The Angels tied the game in the sixth inning with back-to-back home runs from Nolan Schanuel and Trout. Schanuel, a Boca Raton, Florida, native, was playing in front of family and friends and went 1-3 with two walks.
Trout’s second home run, his third of the season, was a 473-foot mammoth shot to left field which was the furthest homer hit by the Angels this year. It was tied for the fourth longest home run in Trout’s career.
The Angels bullpen shined in giving the Angels the chance to comeback. Jose Cisnero, Jose Suarez and Adam Cimber combined for four shutout innings and Cimber earned the win with 1 2/3 perfect innings.
Marlins pitcher Tanner Scott walked the bases loaded with no outs in the seventh inning. Ward grounded out to score the go-ahead run. The Angels added a pair of insurance runs in the ninth inning on a single from Jo Adell and a balk.
Carlos Estevez earned his second save of the year and his second in two days. The Angels’ bullpen has thrown 10 consecutive shutout innings.
Left-hander Tyler Anderson will take the mound for the Angels on Tuesday against Marlins ace left-hander Jesus Luzardo, who will be in search of the Marlins’ first win of the season.
