Pinch-hitter Yoán Moncada keyed a four-run sixth inning with a two-run single, Gustavo Campero also drove in two runs and the Los Angeles Angels beat the Texas Rangers, 8-5, on Tuesday night.
But in a game full of high and lowlights, the game took an extra turn in the bottom of the eighth inning when both benches and bullpens emptied after Rangers reliever Shawn Armstrong hit Zach Neto and Mike Trout with pitches, prompting an angry exchange between Angels interim manager Ray Montgomery and Texas manager Bruce Bochy.
No punches were thrown.
And somehow the weirdest game of the year gets even weirder
The Rangers and Angels benches clear after Mike Trout was hit by this pitch pic.twitter.com/WGZ5g1wKWg
— Rangers Nation ⚾️ (@rangers__nation) July 30, 2025
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“I just heard the yelling, and that was enough,” Bochy said. “(Hitting guys intentionally) was the last thing (we were trying to do). I brought Armstrong in to keep them from scoring a run. But I guess we hit somebody, and it’s intentional, but when they hit (Rangers shortstop Corey) Seager, it’s not. I just thought that was enough.”
Montgomery said his outburst was fueled in part by Neto being hit by Patrick Corbin in the first inning and Luis Rengifo being hit by Caleb Boushley in the seventh, but he did not accuse the Rangers of purposely throwing at the Angels.
“You hit our second baseman, our shortstop (twice) and then Mike (Trout) — the only thing I said was, ‘How many times are you going to hit a guy?’ ” Montgomery said. “I wasn’t insinuating that they were intentionally doing it, by any means.
“When that happens, everybody’s angry in the moment. I was just frustrated that our guys were getting hit, and I wanted him to command the ball a little bit better.”
The Angels appreciated the fight their manager showed.
“I think the boys loved it — he’s sticking up for his guys,” Trout said. “I’ve been saying it since day one. We have a tight group here, we play for each other.”
In the loss, the Rangers were sloppy in the field, sloppy on the bases and charitable on the mound with it all contributing to runs for Los Angeles. It all added up to the most predictable of outcomes for the Rangers: A road loss when the opponent started a lefty. They couldn’t chase Yusei Kikuchi early enough and are now 2-11 against lefties on the road.
Angels left-hander Reid Detmers (4-2) struck out two in a scoreless seventh, and Kenley Jansen worked a scoreless ninth for his 20th save.
The Associated Press contributed to this post.
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