The Los Angeles Angels are starting to find a rhythm after picking up its fourth straight win, defeating the Detroit Tigers 10-6 in the series opener of their three-game set Tuesday night.
The Angels enjoyed a thrilling comeback victory that saw a former top 100 prospect, who had been struggling, break through in a huge way. Infielder Vaughn Grissom went 3-for-5 with a grand slam and six RBI to lead the Angels past the Tigers.
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It was easily the best game of Grissom’s Major League Baseball career, and he was the catalyst Los Angeles needed to take home the win. His two-run single in the third inning put the Angels on top 2-1 and his grand slam in the eighth put Los Angeles up 9-6.
It was a tough game for Angels right-hander Jack Kochanowicz, who pitched just four innings and allowed five runs on six hits and two walks while striking out four. The Tigers have Kochanowicz’s number dating back to last season.
Tigers right-hander Keider Montero tossed 5.2 innings of four-run ball on eight hits and one walk while fanning seven. Reliever Will Vest served up the late grand slam and allowed five runs to earn the loss.
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This Angels offense looks more like the one we saw in early April – hitting lots of home runs and putting up double-digit hit totals. Los Angeles will look to continue this with a chance to clinch a series victory Wednesday night when ace right-hander José Soriano takes on former No. 1 overall pick, Tigers righty Casey Mize.
Soriano was having a Cy Young caliber season until the Chicago White Sox roughed him up in back-to-back outings, but he’s still pitching well and having a great season. Soriano is 6-3 with a 2.44 ERA (11th), 1.07 WHIP and 74 strikeouts (eighth) through 11 starts (66.1 innings).
His last time out was against the Athletics, and though he didn’t record a decision, he completed 6.2 innings and allowed two runs on six hits and one walk while punching out seven.
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Mize is finally having the season the Tigers have been waiting for, and it comes when ace lefty and back-to-back American League Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal is on the shelf. Mize is 2-3 with a 2.47 ERA, 0.98 WHIP and 43 strikeouts through eight starts (43.2 innings).
The 29-year-old’s last start looks very similar to Soriano’s, as Mize threw 6.2 innings of two-run ball on four hits with four strikeouts against the Cleveland Guardians in a losing effort.
First pitch is at 3:40 p.m. PDT on MLB.TV and regional sports networks.
