Moniak shows off tools with RBI triple, home run robbery

ANAHEIM -- When the Angels called up outfielder Mickey Moniak on May 12, they were hoping he could provide a spark after a strong showing at Triple-A Salt Lake that followed an encouraging Spring Training.

Moniak has done exactly that and came through yet again, falling just a homer short of the cycle and robbing a home run in center field to help carry the Angels to a 5-4 win over the Twins in the series opener on Friday at Angel Stadium. Moniak smacked a game-tying triple in the eighth and has been on fire at the plate since getting called up, hitting .474 (9-for-19) with two homers, three RBIs and two stolen bases in six games.

“It feels incredible,” Moniak said. “I think that the ultimate goal is just to be here and help the team win. And I feel like I’ve been able to do that the last week being up here. And just kind of focusing on one step at a time, one day at a time.”

Moniak, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2016 Draft, was brought up to give regular outfielders Mike Trout, Hunter Renfroe and Taylor Ward some rest with the Angels facing a long stretch of right-handed starting pitchers. Trout was held out of the lineup on Friday, giving Moniak the start in center field and as the club’s leadoff hitter.

Moniak again took advantage of the situation with his strong performance and has been impressing manager Phil Nevin, who had a similar trajectory as a player, as he was also the No. 1 overall pick in the Draft and it took him several years and three different organizations before finding his footing as a regular with the Padres. Moniak went through some struggles and injuries with the Phillies’ organization before being acquired by the Angels at last year’s Trade Deadline for Noah Syndergaard.

“He's done everything we've asked,” Nevin said. “He went down with a great attitude after Spring Training after having a great spring. I know he was disappointed, but kept his head up. Did a heck of a job for a month or so in Salt Lake and got an opportunity and he's got wrapping his hands around running with it.”

Moniak, who hit .308 with eight homers and 23 RBIs in 33 games with Triple-A Salt Lake, led off with a single in the first inning off right-hander Joe Ryan before doubling in the third to help set up a sacrifice fly from Ward that gave the Angels an early lead.

The Angels tacked on two more runs in the third but couldn’t hold the lead despite lefty Reid Detmers matching a career high with 12 strikeouts and taking a no-hitter into the sixth inning. The Twins rallied for three runs in the sixth and took the lead on a solo homer from Willi Castro off lefty Tucker Davidson in the seventh.

But Moniak prevented Minnesota from adding another run by robbing Michael A. Taylor of a homer in center field. It was the first home run robbery of Moniak’s career and he credited outfield coach Damon Mashore for helping him with his defensive work.

“I like to pride myself on both sides of the ball,” Moniak said. “Just that catch right there, a lot of work with Mash and a lot of refining stuff. I like to pride myself on being a good outfielder and just being able to see the fruits of my labor is fun.”

Moniak then helped the Angels make a comeback in the bottom half of the inning, as he tripled off reliever Griffin Jax to score Zach Neto, who led off the inning with a single. Moniak ended up getting thrown out at home on a grounder from Ward, but after Shohei Ohtani walked, Renfroe brought home the go-ahead run with his third hit of the night.

Moniak, who grew up just north of San Diego, said he was excited to play such a key role in the win and had roughly 15-20 family members and friends at the game, which was his first home game since getting called up this season.

“It's special,” Moniak said. “My career, if you look back on it, it's been a wave. There’s been lots of ups and downs. And so to be able to be healthy, to be able to contribute to this team and to be able to do it consistently since Spring Training, I think that's just a testament to a lot of hard work and a lot of time put into just trying to get better.”