Taylor Ward (3) of the Angels hits a home run as Oakland Athletics catcher Shea Langeliers looks on during the first inning of a baseball game in Anaheim, Calif., Monday, June 24, 2024. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer)
Oakland A’s starting pitcher Luis Medina throws at home plate during the first inning of their game against the Angels Monday night at Angel Stadium. (Photo by John McCoy/Getty Images)
Luis Rengifo of the Angels is hit by a pitch during the first inning of a baseball game against the Oakland Athletics in Anaheim, Calif., Monday, June 24, 2024. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer)
The Angels’ Luis Rengifo, left, congratulates Taylor Ward after his home run as Oakland A’s catcher Shea Langeliers looks on during the first inning Monday night at Angel Stadium. (Photo by John McCoy/Getty Images)
The Angels’ Taylor Ward, right, has a halo placed on his helmet as he returns to the dugout after hitting a home run in the first inning of their game against the Oakland A’s Monday night at Angel Stadium. (Photo by John McCoy/Getty Images)
Taylor Ward of the Angels is congratulated by his teammates in the dugout after his home run in the first inning of their game against the Oakland A’s Monday night at Angel Stadium. (Photo by John McCoy/Getty Images)
Angels starting pitcher Griffin Canning throws at home plate during the first inning of their game against the Oakland A’s Monday night at Angel Stadium. Canning pitched a season-high seven innings in the Angels’ 5-1 victory. (Photo by John McCoy/Getty Images)
Oakland A’s Zack Gelof, left, congratulates Tyler Nevin after hitting a home run in the second inning of their game against the Angels Monday night at Angel Stadium. (Photo by John McCoy/Getty Images)
Oakland A’s Tyler Nevin is congratulated in the dugout after hitting a home run in the second inning of their game against the Angels Monday night at Angel Stadium. (Photo by John McCoy/Getty Images)
Angels starting pitcher Griffin Canning (47) takes the mound during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Oakland Athletics in Anaheim, Calif., Monday, June 24, 2024. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer)
Angels shortstop Zach Neto throws to first base during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Oakland Athletics in Anaheim, Calif., Monday, June 24, 2024. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer)
Angels starting pitcher Griffin Canning throws at home plate during the first inning of their game against the Oakland A’s Monday night at Angel Stadium. Canning pitched a season-high seven innings in the Angels’ 5-1 victory. (Photo by John McCoy/Getty Images)
Angels first base coach Bo Porter (88) stands at first base during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Oakland Athletics in Anaheim, Calif., Monday, June 24, 2024. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer)
Angels second baseman Michael Stefanic, right, scores the Oakland Athletics’ Miguel Andujar at second base during the sixth inning of a baseball game in Anaheim, Calif., Monday, June 24, 2024. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer)
Oakland Athletics second baseman Zack Gelof throws to first base during the sixth inning of a game against the Angels in Anaheim, Calif., Monday, June 24, 2024. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer)
The Angels’ Zach Neto, right, scores during the sixth inning of a game against the Oakland Athletics in Anaheim, Calif., Monday, June 24, 2024. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer)
Oakland A’s relief pitcher Aaron Brooks throws to the plate during their game against the Angels Monday night at Angel Stadium. (Photo by John McCoy/Getty Images)
The Angels’ Mickey Moniak, left, is thrown out by Oakland A’s catcher Shea Langeliers during the sixth inning Monday night at Angel Stadium. (Photo by John McCoy/Getty Images)
Oakland Athletics relief pitcher Aaron Brooks throws during the seventh inning of a game against the Angels in Anaheim, Calif., Monday, June 24, 2024. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer)
Oakland A’s second baseman Zack Gelof throws to first base after forcing the Angels’ Luis Rengifo, left, into a double play during the seventh inning Monday night at Angel Stadium. (Photo by John McCoy/Getty Images)
Angels relief pitcher Hans Crouse throws to the plate during the eighth inning of their game against the Oakland A’s Monday night at Angel Stadium. (Photo by John McCoy/Getty Images)
Angels outfielder Taylor Ward jumps to catch a ball hit by Oakland’s Tyler Soderstrom in front of the fence during the eighth inning Monday night at Angel Stadium. (Photo by John McCoy/Getty Images)
Angels relief pitcher Hans Crouse throws to the plate during the ninth inning of their game against the Oakland A’s Monday night at Angel Stadium. (Photo by John McCoy/Getty Images)
Angels relief pitcher Hans Crouse, right, and outfielder Taylor Ward celebrate after their 5-1 victory over the Oakland A’s Monday night at Angel Stadium. (Photo by John McCoy/Getty Images)
Angels relief pitcher Hans Crouse, left, and outfielder Mickey Moniak celebrate after their 5-1 victory over the Oakland A’s Monday night at Angel Stadium. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer)
Angels relief pitcher Hans Crouse (52) celebrates with his teammates after their 5-1 victory over the Oakland A’s Monday night at Angel Stadium. (Photo by John McCoy/Getty Images)
ANAHEIM — With the Angels short on starting pitchers, they’ll need every inning they can get from those who remain.
Griffin Canning – one of two pitchers in the rotation this season – threw a season-high seven innings in the Angels’ 5-1 win over the Oakland A’s on Monday evening.
Tyler Anderson, who starts Tuesday, is the other pitcher who has remained in the rotation all season. Patrick Sandoval, who announced Monday that he will undergo season-ending elbow surgery, joined Chase Silseth and José Soriano on the injured list, while Reid Detmers went to Triple-A due to ineffectiveness .
Zach Plesac came over from the minors to fill one of the holes, but there are two more, including one coming Wednesday.
The Angels haven’t yet said who will start on Wednesday, but whatever they do, the bullpen will be fresher thanks to the innings Canning provided on Monday.
“It was awesome,” manager Ron Washington said. “He commanded all night.”
Canning gave up a second-inning home run to Tyler Nevin, the son of former Angels manager Phil Nevin.
Otherwise, he didn’t allow the A’s to put a runner in scoring position until the sixth. Miguel Andujar doubled to start this inning, but Canning quickly struck him out.
Canning needed just 97 pitches to finish seven innings, striking out five and walking one.
Canning said he was particularly pleased with throwing a first-pitch strike to 19 of the 25 batters he faced.
“I’m just proud of that,” Canning said. “That’s what we preach and I haven’t necessarily done it very well. I’m super happy with it.
Canning said it was because he had a better approach.
“I just trust my fastball a little bit more, just knowing the guys that I can kind of jump ahead with fastballs and go from there,” Canning said.
This performance helped him end a four-game losing streak, although he had pitched well enough to win at least two of the games.
Right-hander Ben Joyce followed Canning to the mound and pitched a scoreless inning.
Joyce has now worked 6⅔ scoreless innings in four games since adding a sinker to his repertoire, to go along with his fastball and 102 mph slider.
The Angels pitchers got all the offensive support they needed on a single hit from Taylor Ward in the first inning.
Ward’s two-run homer, his 13th of the season, was notable because just two pitches earlier he had moved away from a 97 mph fastball that was near his head. Ward, of course, missed the final two months of the season last year after suffering multiple fractures when he was hit in the face by a pitch.
If there was any fear that the close call would impact the rest of Ward’s bat, he put that aside when he lined a shot over the fence in right center.
Ward is 5-for-13 since going 0-for-20 last week.
Luis Rengifo, Willie Calhoun and Zach Neto all contributed two hits each to the Angels’ eight-hit attack.
