The Los Angeles Angels ended a five-game losing streak with a 4-1 win over the Cleveland Guardians on Friday night at Progressive Field. José Soriano delivered a dominant six-inning performance and was supported by timely hitting from Jo Adell and Jorge Soler. At the same time, Mike Trout returned to the lineup after nearly a month on the injured list.
Pitching Performance and Defensive Control
José Soriano, who improved to 4-5 on the season, threw six scoreless innings, marking the third time this year he has gone at least six innings without allowing a run. He limited the Guardians to four hits, issued four walks, and struck out two batters. Soriano successfully navigated a high-pressure situation in the fourth inning when Cleveland loaded the bases with two outs. He escaped by striking out Gabriel Arias on a 98 mph sinker.
Luis Ortiz (2-6) took the loss for Cleveland, surrendering one run on three hits across five innings. His outing began to unravel in the second inning after walking Jorge Soler, who later scored on Jo Adell’s single to right.
Offensive Highlights and Trout’s Return
Adell led the Angels’ offense with three hits and an RBI, including the key second-inning single that put Los Angeles on the board. Jorge Soler contributed with a solo home run in the ninth inning, his 15th of the season, pushing the lead to 4-0 before Cleveland answered back in the bottom half of the frame.
Mike Trout, activated from the injured list following a 26-game absence due to a bone bruise on his left knee, batted fifth as the designated hitter. It was the first time since September 26, 2011, that Trout started a game hitting lower than third. He went 1-for-5, recording a single in the fourth inning.
The Angels added insurance runs in the seventh inning. Scott Kingery scored on a passed ball, and Soler followed with an RBI single to center field.
Guardians Struggle at the Plate
Cleveland avoided being shut out when Nolan Jones hit an RBI single with two outs in the ninth. José Ramírez, whose 21-game hitting streak ended with an 0-for-3 night, extended his on-base streak to 26 games by drawing a walk in the eighth. The Guardians, who had dropped four of their last five games, could not mount any sustained offensive threat, going 1-for-7 with runners in scoring position.
Upcoming Matchup and Game Odds
The Guardians and Angels are set to continue their series on Saturday. Right-hander Kyle Hendricks (2-6, 5.23 ERA) is scheduled to start for Los Angeles, while Slade Cecconi (1-1, 3.27 ERA) will take the mound for Cleveland.
According to oddsmakers, the Angels opened as slight underdogs at +105, with the Guardians favored at -125. The over/under for total runs was set at 8.5, reflecting expectations for a competitive pitching matchup in the second game of the series.
