Mike Trout sets franchise runs mark as Angels stop six-game skid by routing Blue Jays
Mike Trout hit a two-run home run to set the franchise mark for most career runs, Reid Detmers and four relievers combined on a six-hitter, and the Angels halted a six-game losing streak by routing the Toronto Blue Jays 12-0 on Friday night.
Jo Adell hit two home runs, Andrew Velazquez had a two-run blast and Shohei Ohtani hit a two-run triple for the Angels, who came in having lost nine of 10.
Trout scored his 1,025th run with the Angels with his 27th home run of the season off left-hander Yusei Kikuchi in the eighth. With the homer, Trout passed Garret Anderson to become the franchise leader in runs scored.
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“We’ve had a lot of great hitters in this franchise, and, obviously, Mike’s going to go down as one of the best,” interim manager Phil Nevin said. “Special player and pretty special to be able to manage him too.”
Adell hit a solo shot off left-hander Yusei Kikuchi in the seventh and added a two-run blast off position player Whit Merrifield in the ninth. The homers were his fifth and sixth of the season. It was Adell’s first multi-homer game this season and the third of his career.
“When he gets into one, you see what happens,” Nevin said.
The Angels scored as many runs in one game as they had scored in the first seven games of this road trip, winning 1-0 at Detroit on Aug. 19 before losing the next six.
“That’s good for us,” Adell said of the 13-hit attack. “It’s a tough road trip so far, as far as the wins go.”
Velasquez hit a two-run home run off right-hander Mitch White (1-4), an ex-Dodger, in the third, his seventh. White gave up seven runs and eight hits in five innings.
Adell went four for five and scored twice and David Fletcher reached base four times and drove in a pair as the Angels scored their most runs in a game since a 12-0 victory over Tampa Bay on May 10.
Toronto came home after winning six of seven against American League East rivals New York and Boston, including a three-game sweep of the Red Sox. The Blue Jays came up empty against the struggling Angels.
The Blue Jays had won all four previous meetings with the Angels this season but turned to Merrifield to pitch the ninth as they were blanked for the sixth time.
After the Angels left three aboard in the first, Fletcher opened the scoring with a bases-loaded double in the second. One out later, Ohtani tripled off the wall in right field and then scored on Luis Rengifo’s base hit.
Blue Jays outfielder Teoscar Hernandez, who went down in pain after fouling a ball off his foot in the first inning, made a poor read on Ohtani’s drive in the second. Raimel Tapia replaced Hernandez defensively in the third. The Blue Jays said Hernandez left the game because of a bruised left foot.
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“I think it was a misread by him,” Toronto interim manager John Schneider said of Hernandez’s play on Ohtani’s triple. “If he were really, really hurt, he would have come out.”
Detmers gave up four hits, walked three and struck out five to win for the third time in his last four decisions.
“We came out swinging the bats,” Detmers said. “Our offense was good all night. Pitching with a lead is nice.”
Swingin’ Springer
Blue Jays designated hitter George Springer went one for four, extending his hitting streak to 10 games.
Schoolmates
Ohtani and Kikuchi attended the same high school in Iwate Prefecture, Japan. They faced off in the sixth inning, with Kikuchi getting Ohtani to ground out to first base.
Walk this way
Making his big league debut after 567 minor league games, Angels outfielder Ryan Aguilar walked in his first two plate appearances and came around to score each time. Aguilar is the first Angels player since Jack Howell in May 1985 to record multiple walks and runs scored in his major league debut.
Trainer’s room
Blue Jays: Springer tested his sore right elbow by throwing to the bases, Schneider said. Springer has not played the outfield since returning from the injured list Aug. 15.
Angels players Aaron Loup, Ryan Tepera and Taylor Ward are placed on the restricted list ahead of the team’s series against the Toronto Blue Jays.
Roster moves
The Angels put outfielder Taylor Ward, left-hander Aaron Loup and right-hander Ryan Tepera on the restricted list. The team recalled right-hander Jose Marte and selected outfielder Aguilar and right-hander Gerardo Reyes.
Up next
Ohtani (10-8, 2.83) is set to start on the mound for the Angels on Saturday against Blue Jays right-hander Alek Manoah (12-6, 2.66). Ohtani is 7-4 with a 2.08 ERA in his last 12 pitching appearances.
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