Trout, Neto Power Angels Past Twins in Exciting Showdown
LOS ANGELES — Mike Trout and Zach Neto played starring roles as the Los Angeles Angels snapped together another win, defeating the Minnesota Twins in a thrilling contest.
Trout delivered a key RBI to bring home Bryce Teodosio, who had ignited the inning with a leadoff triple off the wall in center field against Twins reliever Cole Sands (3-4). Meanwhile, Neto added a two-run homer to help the Angels secure their second straight victory, finishing 1-for-2 with a run scored for Los Angeles (69-77).
Reliever Robert Stephenson (2-0) earned the win, while Kenley Jansen closed out the game with a perfect ninth inning, recording two strikeouts for his 27th save of the season and 474th of his career. Stephenson had entered in the eighth with two outs after starter Reid Detmers exited due to an undisclosed injury, striking out Austin Martin with a runner in scoring position.
James Outman, Byron Buxton, and Trevor Larnach provided Minnesota (64-82) with strong contributions. Outman homered and doubled, Buxton added a solo homer, and Larnach finished with two hits and a walk.
The Twins struck first in the third inning when Outman launched his fourth home run of the season, a 388-foot drive to right field, off Angels starter Jose Urena. Urena pitched four innings, allowing just that run on four hits with three strikeouts, though he walked four batters.
Los Angeles quickly responded in the bottom of the third, scoring three runs against Twins starter Taj Bradley. Sebastian Rivero reached on a ground-rule double after his hard-hit ball deflected off third baseman Royce Lewis and into the stands. Rivero advanced to third on Teodosio’s long flyout and scored on Trout’s single. Neto followed with his 26th home run of the season, a blast into the left-field bullpen, giving the Angels a 3-1 advantage.
Bradley struck out five over 6 1/3 innings while allowing three runs on four hits with two walks, still searching for his first win since July 18.
Minnesota evened the score at 3-3 in the sixth inning. Ryan Fitzgerald walked to start the frame and came around to score on Buxton’s towering 31st home run, a 396-foot shot into right-center.
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