ANAHEIM, CALIF – You have to walk before you can run. Or score runs.
That was the approach for the Los Angeles Angels in last night’s walk-off win against the Texas Rangers, when first baseman Nolan Schanuel drew a bases-loaded walk for the Angels in the ninth inning to win the game.
In Tuesday’s game, however, the Rangers seemed to be using the hair of the dog that bit them.
José Soriano was on the mound for the Angels and things started out well. He was sharp, striking out four in the first three innings while holding the Rangers hitless.
That dominance faded fast come the fourth. After striking out the side the previous inning, Soriano soon walked the bases loaded with just one out. Back-to-back doubles by Rangers Wyatt Langford and Evan Carter cleared those bases and put the Rangers up 4-1.
“I didn’t have the same command that I had the first three innings,” Soriano said through a translator.
That mark became 5-1 after a Jake Burger single scored Carter from second. The Rangers would surely have tacked on even more had it not been for Angels third baseman Yoán Moncada. Moncada, starting at third base in his first game back from the IL, dove through the air to rob Rangers third baseman Josh Smith of a line drive hit and RBI to end the inning.
Paige Creason – The Sporting Tribune
Los Angeles Angels infielder Yoán Moncada (5) walks into the dugout during the MLB game against the Texas Rangers Tuesday July 8th, 2025 at Angel’s Stadium in Anaheim, Calif.
“It was good to have him back,” Angels interim manager Ray Montgomery said. “Obviously, he has to work back up to full game speed but, he seemed like he didn’t miss a beat… I’m sure he’ll be tired tomorrow given the circumstances.”
That rocky fourth inning spelled the end of the night for Soriano after four strikeouts, five walks and five runs allowed. Angels reliever Sam Aldegheri, who was recalled from Double-A Rocket City earlier in the day, relieved Soriano in the top of the fifth.
Soriano’s performance in the game was representative of the season he has so far had. In 18 starts this season Soriano has had six starts of seven-or-more innings while allowing two runs or less. Sandwiched in between those starts, however, have been blowouts like Tuesday night’s game, bringing Soriano’s ERA to a middle of the line 4.00.
“I think the consistency piece is the biggest key, and he [Soriano] knows that,” Montgomery said. “He just has to continue to stay on the attack.”
Paige Creason – The Sporting Tribune
Los Angeles Angels right handed pitcher José Soriano (59) walks into the dugout after his third strikeout during the MLB game against the Texas Rangers Tuesday July 8th, 2025 at Angel’s Stadium in Anaheim, Calif.
Aldegheri didn’t fare much better. He found himself staring down his own bases loaded situation in the fifth and, in a reflection of the night before, walked Carter to allow a run, the first in what became a four-run-fifth inning that blew the game open for Texas on their way to a 13-1 win.
The nine walks allowed between Soriano and Aldegheri marked the beginning of the end for the Angels and put the score out of reach. The four subsequent runs the Rangers scored when position player Kevin Newman delivered three innings of bullpen-resting-relief were simply more sparks in the fire.
The Angels look ahead to the rubber-match against the Rangers tomorrow, July 9 at 6:38 pm PDT with Kyle Hendricks on the mound.