The Los Angeles Angels earned a 6-5 walk-off victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks on Friday night at Angel Stadium, with Travis d’Arnaud delivering a pinch-hit RBI single in the bottom of the ninth inning. The win pushed the Angels’ record to 7-3 against National League West opponents this season and snapped a brief Arizona rally that had tied the game in the eighth inning.
Los Angeles entered the ninth tied at five runs apiece. Logan O’Hoppe was hit by a pitch from Diamondbacks left-hander Kyle Backhus with one out. Luis Rengifo followed with a single to put runners on first and second. D’Arnaud, pinch-hitting for Gustavo Campero, laced a line drive down the left-field line to bring O’Hoppe home and end the game. The Angels closed the contest as narrow pregame favorites, with sportsbooks listing them at -115 on the moneyline.
Zach Neto and Yoán Moncada homered in the opening frame, helping the Angels build an early four-run lead. Moncada’s shot was his fourth of the season, while Neto’s leadoff blast marked his seventh of the year, tying the franchise record for most leadoff home runs in a season, previously held by Brian Downing since 1987. The Angels had 13 hits overall, with Nolan Schanuel and Rengifo each collecting three.
The Diamondbacks countered swiftly with a four-run second inning. Randal Grichuk delivered the first of his two home runs, a solo shot, and Alek Thomas added a two-run double to erase the Angels’ early advantage. Grichuk tied the game at five with another home run in the eighth, his second night and 12th of the season.
Tyler Anderson started for the Angels, allowing four runs on eight hits over five innings while walking two. His counterpart, Arizona’s Ryne Nelson, also pitched four innings and was tagged for four runs on seven hits, with four walks and no strikeouts.
O’Hoppe, who was involved in a collision at the plate when Thomas scored in the third inning, remained in the game and later walked and stole second base before scoring on Rengifo’s RBI double in the fifth, giving the Angels a 5-4 lead at the time.
Kenley Jansen earned the win after pitching a clean ninth inning, improving to 3-2 on the year. The Angels’ bullpen held firm following Anderson’s departure, with José Fermin and Ryan Zeferjahn bridging the gap to Jansen. Backhus, who allowed the decisive run in the ninth, took the loss to fall to 0-1.
The Diamondbacks have now lost seven of their last ten games. They will turn to Zac Gallen, who has shown better form over his past two outings, for Saturday’s contest. The Angels will counter with left-hander Yusei Kikuchi, the club’s lone All-Star selection, who enters the matchup with a 3.02 ERA.
First pitch for Saturday’s game is scheduled for 6:38 p.m. Pacific Time. Betting lines currently favor the Angels slightly, with odds expected to tighten as lineups are confirmed.