Trout's Torch & Siri's Spark: Angels Storm Back, Klassen Gets First 'W'

ANAHEIM — Forget the slow start. The Angels saved their fireworks for the late innings, and the Texas Rangers were left picking up the pieces in a 5-2 gut-punch at the Big A.

Klassen K's His Way to First Career W

Rookie right-hander George Klassen was dealing in his fourth big-league start. Six innings, five hits, two runs, five strikeouts, and just one free pass. Sure, he didn't get the cleanest line, but he kept the Angels within striking distance long enough for the offense to wake up.

The bullpen did its job too. Blake Weiman navigated a clean seventh before dancing through trouble in the eighth, and Ryan Watson slammed the door on a two-on, one-out jam. Then came Ben Joyce — finally healthy after shoulder nightmares — slamming the door with a 1-2-3 ninth for his first save since Sept. 1, 2024.

Trout Leads the Charge

Mike Trout, the three-time MVP who's been stuck in a brutal RBI drought — just seven in his last 47 games — looked like his old self. Three hits, two RBI, and a sixth-inning single that gave the Angels breathing room.

The Sixth-Inning Flip

But the real spark came in the sixth. Down 2-1, the Angels needed a hero. Enter Jose Siri. Pinch-hitting with a runner on, Siri ripped an RBI double to left-center, tied the game at 2, stole third uncontested, and then scored on Denzer Guzman's jaw-dropping safety squeeze. Guzman beat the flip home with a headfirst slide that would make any highlight reel. Trout capped the inning with a two-out RBI single to make it 4-2.

Adam Frazier added insurance in the seventh with an RBI single off the first-base bag — and just like that, the Angels snapped a bizarre 16-game streak of scoring four or fewer runs.

Rangers Strike First, but Not Last

Texas jumped out early. Joc Pederson drew a bases-loaded walk in the second, and Corey Seager unloaded a solo bomb in the third. But it wasn't enough.

Rangers starter Cal Quantrill grinded through five, allowing one run on four hits with six Ks. But the bullpen couldn't hold the line.

With the loss, Texas slips to 60-61, now 1.5 games behind Houston in the AL West.

What's Next?

These two wrap it up Thursday night with Jacob deGrom (8-7, 3.87) taking on Walbert Ureña. Buckle up.