DETROIT -- Zach Neto realized the significance of his 20th homer of the season in Thursday afternoon’s 3-0 win over the Tigers at Comerica Park. It tied him for the Angels single-season record by a shortstop with Jim Fregosi, the original face of the new franchise in the 1960s.

Neto's home run also gave Angels rookie Jack Kochanowicz a three-run lead in the fifth inning, and Kochanowicz later became the team’s first pitcher with four consecutive quality starts since Reid Detmers in 2023. Kochanowicz used his sinker to dominate over six scoreless innings, allowing five hits and no walks while striking out four.

Los Angeles broke a season-high seven-game losing streak by ending Detroit’s six-game winning streak.

Neto’s connection with Fregosi made his homer special -- as the club’s first great player connected with its current rising star.

Neto did his homework on Fregosi after the Angels signed Neto, their 13th overall pick in the 2022 MLB Draft out of Campbell University in Buies Creek, N.C.

“At a mini camp, the day after I got drafted, we had a meeting with the whole Minor League camp,” Neto told MLB.com on Wednesday. “I actually got picked to speak on Jim Fregosi, his career and all of his accomplishments. So, I know him pretty well from the knowledge that I picked up. Yeah, I think it’s pretty cool.”

Neto is batting .254 and leading the Angels with 114 hits, 28 doubles, 64 RBIs, 23 steals and those 20 homers.

Fregosi, who played 18 seasons and was a six-time All-Star and an AL Gold Glove Award winner with the Halos in 1967, died in 2014 at age 71 in Miami -- the same city Neto was born in 23 years ago. Fregosi managed for 15 seasons and accumulated 1,028 wins for the Angels, White Sox, Phillies (who won the NL pennant in 1993) and Blue Jays.