Zach Neto homered on the game’s first pitch, José Soriano delivered a sharp outing in his return from the paternity list, and the Los Angeles Angels blanked the Texas Rangers 4-0 on Monday night at Globe Life Field. The victory came with manager Ron Washington in attendance for the first time in more than two months following heart surgery.
Neto, who has emerged as one of Los Angeles’ most consistent power threats, extended his single-season franchise record with his ninth leadoff home run. The blast also marked his 22nd homer of the season and immediately quieted the crowd after Texas had entered the game riding momentum from a three-game sweep of Cleveland.
Washington, who last managed on June 19, revealed before the game that he is recovering from quadruple bypass surgery. While he won’t return to the dugout this year, he rejoined the club pregame and watched the win from an upstairs booth. His presence was an emotional boost for an Angels team that has endured an uneven season.
Soriano (9-9) showed little rust in his first start back, striking out six and allowing four hits across 5 1/3 innings. He faced the minimum through four frames thanks to a pair of double plays and avoided any serious threats before handing the ball to the bullpen. Four relievers combined to finish off Los Angeles’ sixth shutout of the season, keeping the Rangers off the scoreboard despite their recent offensive surge.
The Angels added to their lead in the fourth inning when Travis d’Arnaud delivered an RBI single. Luis Rengifo then doubled home a run in the sixth, providing Soriano and the bullpen with additional cushion. Logan O’Hoppe put the finishing touch on the night with his 19th home run, a solo shot leading off the ninth.
For Texas, the loss underscored ongoing concerns about Jacob deGrom (10-6), who has not recorded a win since July 22. The All-Star right-hander, returning from a 10-day layoff caused by shoulder fatigue, struck out seven but allowed two runs on three hits and issued two walks over five innings. Despite flashes of his usual dominance, deGrom fell to 0-4 in his last five starts.
The Rangers’ offense, which had scored 19 runs in their previous three games, managed just four hits against Angels pitching. Soriano’s efficiency and the bullpen’s ability to shut down rallies proved decisive in Los Angeles’ 61st win of the season.
Oddsmakers had listed Texas as a -140 favorite entering the contest, while Los Angeles was a +120 underdog. The over/under was set at 8.5 runs, a line the teams combined to fall well short of as the Angels’ pitching staff controlled the night.
The series continues Tuesday with a battle of left-handers. Yusei Kikuchi (6-8, 3.42 ERA) will take the mound for the Angels, while Patrick Corbin (6-9, 4.61 ERA) is scheduled to start for Texas. Both teams enter looking for momentum as the postseason race begins to tighten in the American League.
