News

Rookie Thaiss’ 8th-inning HR sends Angels past Mariners

Photo: Associated Press


ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Rookie Matt Thaiss hit a tiebreaking three-run homer in the eighth inning, and the Los Angeles Angels completed a three-game sweep of the Seattle Mariners with a 6-3 victory on Sunday.

Mike Trout left the game before the third inning due to right calf tightness, but the Angels (48-46) kept rolling two days after their cathartic no-hit victory in their first home game since the death of pitcher Tyler Skaggs.

After Kole Calhoun walked and went to third on pinch-hitter Justin Bour’s two-out single off Anthony Bass (1-3), Thaiss connected off Seattle’s Roenis Elias for his first career homer.

The rookie’s blast barely cleared the fence in right, but it sent the Angels to their sixth win in nine games since Skaggs’ death.

Thaiss, the Angels’ first-round pick in 2016, was playing in just his fifth big-league game. He followed up his stellar defensive play at third base during the Angels’ no-hitter with the second and third hits of his big-league career Sunday.

Calhoun hit his 21st homer for the Angels and Shohei Ohtani got his 100th major league RBI with a game-tying sacrifice fly for the Angels, who also tagged out three Mariners at the plate.

Domingo Santana and Austin Nola hit early homers off Angels rookie José Suarez for the Mariners, who have lost seven of eight.

Ty Buttrey (5-4) pitched the eighth, and Hansel Robles finished for his 13th save.

Seattle starter Yusei Kikuchi yielded just two hits, but the Japanese left-hander also walked four and couldn’t get an out in the fifth inning. Ohtani walked and struck out in his latest meeting with his fellow product of Hanamaki Higashi High School in Japan.

Suarez pitched seven-hit ball through 4 1/3 innings in his seventh career start and left trailing 3-1.

Andrelton Simmons drew a bases-loaded walk in the fifth in his first plate appearance after replacing Trout in the lineup. Ohtani followed with a long fly that gave him 100 RBIs in 160 games with the Angels.

Trout’s incredible recent success at the plate was interrupted when he played just two innings in the series finale. The All-Star lined out to first in his only plate appearance, and he didn’t emerge from the dugout to start the third.

The two-time AL MVP had eight homers and 18 RBIs in his previous seven games, becoming just the sixth player in AL history to reach those totals in a seven-game span. He homered in each of this series’ first two games, including a first-pitch blast in the Angels’ no-hit victory Friday.

Recent Headlines

22 hours ago in Sports

Carlos Alcaraz beats rival Jannik Sinner at the U.S. Open for a 6th Slam title and the No. 1 ranking

With his US Open win, Carlos Alcaraz reasserted his superiority over defending champion Jannik Sinner, wrested away the top spot in the ATP rankings and left tennis fans eager for whenever their next clash will come.

22 hours ago in Sports, Trending

Ravens’ stunning collapse: Baltimore blows 15-point lead in final 4 minutes in 41-40 loss to Bills

With Matt Prater hitting a 32-yard field goal as time expired, Baltimore squandered a 15-point lead in the final four minutes in a stunning season-opening 41-40 loss to the Buffalo Bills on Sunday night.

22 hours ago in Sports

Jury selection begins in the trial of the man accused of attempting to assassinate Trump in Florida

Jury selection began Monday in the trial of a man charged with trying to assassinate Donald Trump while he played golf last year in South Florida.

4 days ago in Sports

MLB’s regular season enters its final 3 weeks. Here’s a look at the playoff picture and awards races

The 2025 season has produced a surprising show of parity through the first five months of the regular season. While most of the league's big spenders — teams like the Los Angeles Dodgers, New York Yankees and New York Mets — are in good position to make the playoffs and do damage in October, they haven't been as dominant as many expected.

4 days ago in Sports

Defending champion Eagles edge Cowboys 24-20 in wild, lightning-delayed NFL season opener

Through spit and rain, a ceremony and a setback, Jalen Hurts and the Super Bowl champion Eagles weathered the storm and showed why they're again a favorite to hoist a second straight Lombardi Trophy.