Ohtani homers, Trout comes up large in Angels’ 7-4 win over Cubs

Mike Trout and Matt Thaiss delivered two-run singles in the course of the Angels’ five-run fifth inning, and Shohei Ohtani hit his sixteenth homer in Los Angeles‘ 7-4 victory over the Chicago Cubs on Tuesday evening.

Taylor Ward additionally homered for the Halos, who opened their six-game homestand by overcoming an early 4-0 deficit and matching their greatest comeback of the season to start the Cubs’ first go to to Angel Stadium since 2016.

“I thought our at-bats were a lot better tonight,” Angels supervisor Phil Nevin stated. “It’s a contagious thing. You keep passing the baton.”

Ohtani’s fourth-inning solo homer was the Angels’ first hit, however the umpires didn’t instantly understand his blast had cleared the yellow line on the right-field fence, forcing Ohtani to dash to 3rd.

Mike Tauchman had a two-run single and Matt Mervis adopted with a two-run double within the second inning for the Cubs, who’ve misplaced 4 of six. Chicago is 2-3 on its 10-game California street journey.

Tyler Anderson (3-1) overcame that tough second inning to pitch 5 innings of five-hit ball for the Angels, strolling three and hanging out 5.

PHOTOS: Ohtani homers, Trout comes up large in Angels’ 7-4 win over Cubs

“My thought process is still the same, (but) I just feel like I’ve kind of been pitching timid in general,” stated Anderson, who has a 5.88 ERA at house this season. “Probably because I’ve been struggling with my mechanics. I worry more about executing and less about attacking.”

Chris Devenski escaped a bases-loaded, one-out jam within the seventh earlier than hanging out the facet within the eighth. Carlos Estévez allowed two singles within the ninth, however struck out Seiya Suzuki to complete his fifteenth save.

Hayden Wesneski yielded two hits and two earned runs whereas pitching into the fifth inning of his first begin since May 13 for Chicago. The right-hander briefly went to the minors final month after struggling to a 5.03 ERA within the rotation, however he’ll seemingly get at the very least yet another begin for the Cubs whereas Justin Steele recovers from his left forearm pressure.

“He threw the ball really well,” Chicago supervisor David Ross stated of Wesneski. “We just didn’t play the best defense behind him, and some things went awry.”

Anthony Rendon went 0 for two with a stroll on his thirty third birthday whereas enjoying his first recreation since May 13, popping out within the sixth inning because the Angels ease him again into the lineup.

Five of the Cubs‘ first six batters within the second reached base, with Tauchman and Mervis offering the massive hits to place Chicago up 4-0.

The Angels loaded the bases within the fifth when Mervis botched a probable double-play grounder to first by Luis Rengifo, and Brandon Drury scored moments in a while a wild pitch. Brandon Hughes (0-3) walked Ohtani to load the bases once more earlier than Trout dumped his tying single into heart.

Thaiss then drove in Ohtani and Trout with a single off the glove of leaping shortstop Dansby Swanson.

Chicago loaded the bases within the seventh, however Yan Gomes lined right into a 6-4 double play on Devenski’s first pitch.

“Offensively, we just weren’t able to tack on,” Ross stated. “We had opportunities, (but) the fifth inning, for me, was kind of the game-changer.”

Ward hit his seventh homer within the seventh for Los Angeles.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Cubs: OF Cody Bellinger is taking batting apply and shagging balls within the outfield, and he’ll proceed to ramp up his baseball exercise earlier than a possible rehab stint within the minors. He hasn’t performed since May 15 attributable to a bruised left knee. … Steele is enjoying catch with no points, and he’ll have some bullpen work earlier than he seemingly comes off the injured checklist to begin June 17, Ross stated.

Angels: Rendon missed 21 video games with groin tightness. The Halos despatched infielder Livan Soto again to Double-A Rocket City to make room.

UP NEXT

Jaime Barria (2-2, 1.59 ERA) makes an attempt to proceed his sturdy stretch when he takes the mound for Los Angeles towards Chicago‘s Jameson Taillon (1-3, 7.05), who will attempt to construct on his first victory of the season final week in San Diego.