Taylor Ward delivered a game-ending three-run home run in the bottom of the ninth inning as the Los Angeles Angels rallied to defeat the Chicago White Sox 8–5 on Sunday afternoon at Angel Stadium. Entering the contest as -130 betting favorites, the Angels overcame an early five-run deficit to avoid a sweep and snap a two-game losing streak.
Ward’s home run, his 26th of the season, came off left-hander Tyler Alexander, who was brought in specifically to face the left-handed hitters in the bottom of the ninth. Nolan Schanuel doubled to right field with one out, with the game tied at five. After Mike Trout was intentionally walked, Ward connected on the first pitch he saw from Alexander, sending it over the wall in left-center field to seal the comeback. The home run marked a new career high for Ward in a single season.
Kenley Jansen pitched a scoreless top of the ninth for Los Angeles and was credited with the win, improving his record to 4–2.
Chicago built an early lead against Angels rookie starter Jack Kochanowicz, scoring four runs in the first inning. Luis Robert Jr. got the White Sox on the board with an RBI single, and Colson Montgomery followed with a three-run homer to right-center field. Montgomery continued his impressive stretch at the plate with another RBI in the third inning, making it 5–0. The 22-year-old rookie has now hit seven home runs in his last 10 games and 24 total career appearances since debuting on July 4.
The Angels began to chip away at the deficit in the sixth inning. Zach Neto opened the frame with a solo home run to left, his ninth of the season. Ward added an RBI single later in the inning, and Trout came around to score on a wild pitch, narrowing the margin to 5–3.
In the seventh, Neto struck again with a two-run double that tied the game at five. The shortstop finished the day with three RBIs and two extra-base hits. Schanuel also contributed with two hits, including the ninth-inning double that set the stage for Ward’s walk-off.
Alexander was charged with the loss and fell to 4–10 on the season. The White Sox bullpen could not hold the lead after starter Erick Fedde was lifted in the sixth inning. Fedde allowed three runs over five innings, giving up six hits and striking out five.
The Angels improved to 53–60 with the win, while the White Sox dropped to 40–72. Despite the loss, Chicago has won nine of its last 12 road games and continues to see strong production from its young core.
The White Sox head to Seattle next, where right-hander Davis Martin (3–8, 3.83 ERA) is scheduled to start Monday night against the Mariners. The Angels remain home and will open a new series against the Tampa Bay Rays, sending left-hander Yusei Kikuchi (4–7, 3.30 ERA) to the mound.
