Power trio Trout, Walsh, Rendon rock Seattle
The stars were out for the Angels on Saturday night, as Mike Trout and Anthony Rendon both homered, but it was budding star Jared Walsh who topped them by going 4-for-4 and turning in his second multihomer game of the season.
The trio, which combined to go 9-for-13 with four homers, nine RBIs and six runs scored, helped the Angels score 10 runs through the first four innings in an eventual 10-5 win over the Mariners at T-Mobile Park. It was an example of what this Angels offense can do when everybody is healthy and clicking.
"There was a lot of damage at the top," Angels manager Joe Maddon said. "Trouty, Rendon and Walshy individually all had wonderful nights. Up and down the lineup we had good at-bats. We got out strong, scored first and kept the pressure on them."
Trout started it off with a two-run homer in the first on a 2-2 fastball right down the middle from right-hander Ljay Newsome. It was the seventh homer of the season for the three-time AL MVP, who is off to the best start of his career. He went 2-for-4, including a single in the sixth with an exit velocity of 111.6 mph, and is hitting .429/.527/.805 in 22 games.
Two batters later, Walsh connected on a 1-0 changeup for a solo homer to left-center field to give the Angels an early 3-0 lead. It was the first of a four-hit performance from Walsh.
"Felt pretty good," Walsh said. "It's always good to get a hit in your first at-bat, let alone a home run. But I felt like everybody on the team really swung the bat well tonight. It seemed like everybody was having good at-bats 1-through-9. I think we're about as tough as it gets. I'm a little bit biased but there's a ton of good energy."
Rendon helped spark a five-run rally in the second with a two-run double with two outs after Trout was intentionally walked. It came after Shohei Ohtani brought home a run with an RBI groundout set up by a sacrifice bunt from David Fletcher.
Walsh followed with a solo homer to right on a first-pitch fastball from Newsome and made some history in the process. He became just the fourth Angels player with at least two homers through the first two innings of a game, joining Albert Pujols (Sept. 3, 2016), Leon Wagner (May 1, 1962) and Ted Kluszewski (April 11, 1961). And it also helped reaffirm that his breakout rookie season last year was no fluke, as he’s picked up right where he left off, batting .360/.429/.640 with six homers and a team-leading 21 RBIs in 24 games.
"I've always thought he had exceptional hands but the difference right now is his work ethic," Maddon said of Walsh. "It's among the best. And I love the fact he hates striking out and that's why you're seeing the ball shoot all over the field. He's making adjustments during the at-bats. He's really motivated and is not a flash in the pan. He's that good."
Rendon capped it with a two-run homer on a 1-1 curveball from reliever Robert Duggar in the fourth. It was his second homer of the year and gave him four RBIs on the night, another sign that he’s heating up after a slow start to the season by his lofty standards.
"He just needed at-bats," Maddon said. "We saw it last year in the abbreviated season. He started slowly and then he caught fire. And when he catches fire, he really catches fire. And that's what it looks like right now. And he's got Walshy behind him, which should present better pitches for him. That's the version of Anthony I know and because of that, they're not going to be able to walk Michael again."