Mike Trout hit a milestone home run in the fifth inning Sunday afternoon, driving in his 1,000th career run as the Los Angeles Angels defeated the Seattle Mariners 4-1 at Angel Stadium. The result gave the Angels a split of their four-game series with their division rivals and marked a positive conclusion to their homestand.
The Angels were listed as slight underdogs entering the game, with moneyline odds around +110, while the Mariners were favored at approximately -130. The total runs over/under was set at 8.5, which remained under as both teams combined for just five runs.
After four scoreless innings, the Angels took control of the game in the fifth. Kevin Newman grounded out to score Travis d’Arnaud from third, putting Los Angeles ahead 1-0. Luis Rengifo came home shortly afterward on a wild pitch by Seattle starter Logan Gilbert. Moments later, Trout connected for a two-run homer to center field, a 443-foot shot that pushed the Angels’ lead to 4-0 and gave Trout 1,001 RBIs for his career. It was his 397th career home run and his 19th of the season.
With the blast, Trout became the third player in franchise history to record his first 1,000 RBIs exclusively with the Angels, joining Garret Anderson and Tim Salmon.
Seattle’s only run came in the seventh inning when Cal Raleigh hit a solo home run off Angels starter Kyle Hendricks. The home run was Raleigh’s 41st of the season, the most in Major League Baseball then, and his second in as many games. He has now hit four home runs against the Angels this season.
Hendricks earned the win for Los Angeles, improving to 6-7 after delivering one of his strongest outings of the year. The right-hander allowed one run on two hits over six-plus innings, walking one and striking out three. It was his first victory since June 17. Kenley Jansen closed the game with a scoreless ninth inning to earn his 18th save of the season.
Gilbert took the loss for Seattle, falling to 3-4. The right-hander pitched five innings and gave up four runs on three hits. He struck out seven and walked one, but the fifth inning proved costly as the Angels capitalized on a combination of small-ball execution and Trout’s milestone homer.
The game also featured a highlight-reel defensive play from Angels center fielder Jo Adell, who robbed J.P. Crawford of a potential home run in the sixth inning by leaping above the wall to make the catch, preserving a four-run lead at the time.
The Mariners, now preparing for a road trip, will open a three-game series against the Oakland Athletics on Monday, with right-hander Luis Castillo (7-6, 3.30 ERA) set to start. The Angels will face the Texas Rangers at home, with right-hander Jack Kochanowicz (3-9, 6.03 ERA) expected to take the mound.
