MIAMI — A game that started horribly for the Angels ended with a victory and an addition to Mike Trout’s career highlight.
The Angels overcame a four-run first-inning deficit to beat the Miami Marlins, 7-4, Monday night, including a 473-foot homer by Trout that tied the score in the sixth inning.
It was Trout’s second homer of the night and third in four games this season.
“It’s probably one of the best balls I’ve hit,” Trout said. “Just throwing it and seeing it go out was pretty good.” I’ve been telling you this for a few weeks, I’m just trying to get back to myself. Today I came back to it.
Trout also drew a walk to load the bases in the eighth, setting up the go-ahead run to score on Taylor Ward’s subsequent groundout.
“What a night,” manager Ron Washington said of Trout’s performance. “It was very impressive. I don’t know where he lost anything. He is healthy. Those two balls he hit, he loaded them. And the stick he ended up walking with was great too. He had a wonderful evening and we definitely needed it.
Trout’s two home runs — plus one from South Florida native Nolan Schanuel — helped the Angels overcome a first inning in which Chase Silseth allowed four runs.
After that, however, Silseth and a series of Angels relievers held off the Marlins while the batters walked away.
Ward led off the second with a double and he scored on a groundout. Trout hit a 412-foot home run to left in the fourth inning to cut the lead to 4-2. In the sixth, Schanuel hit a home run over the right-field fence, his first of the season. Moments later, Trout blasted a home run to center, the ball landing on a platform above a catwalk.
It was Trout’s fifth-longest home run since 2015, when Statcast began.
The score was still tied in the eighth when Anthony Rendon led off with an 11-pitch walk. It was the first time Rendon reached base after an 0-for-14 start. Schanuel then stood facing the bunt, but he walked. Trout then walked to load the bases.
The Marlins infield was playing when Ward hit a grounder to second baseman Luis Arraez, but he tripped and was unable to collect himself in time to return home.
The Angels added two insurance runs in the ninth, on a triple by Logan O’Hoppe, a single by Jo Adell then a failure by Burch Smith. Adell was able to score on the run because he briskly stole third when the Marlins ignored him at second.
Closer Carlos Estévez then converted his second save in as many days, completing an impressive performance for the Angels bullpen.
José Cisnero, José Suarez, Adam Cimber and Matt Moore filled the five rounds between Silseth and Estévez. Cimber was particularly impressive, getting a late-inning double play on the first pitch he threw after entering the sixth.
“That’s what Wash told me to do when I got there,” Cimber joked. “It was a cool situation. Great play behind me by (Brandon) Drury and (Zach) Neto.”
The bullpen and offense helped bail out Silseth, who allowed four runs in a first inning when a little bit of everything went wrong.
He stepped on the leader, Arraez. He was ahead of Josh Bell, 1-and-2, when Matt Thaiss was called for receiver interference.
Silseth then gave up back-to-back singles, scoring two runs. One out later, he had a chance to get out of the inning with a ground ball. Neto fielded the grounder and tried to get out to second himself, but by the time he got to the bag it was too late to get the speedy Jazz Chisholm Jr., then his throw to first was too late.
The inability to get at least one was costly, as Silseth gave up a two-run double with two outs.
“I just didn’t throw strikes,” Silseth said. “I stayed behind, forcing you to make pitches you didn’t want to make.”
Silseth managed two more innings. He left after the third, which included a discussion with head athletic trainer Mike Frostad about a blister and a cracked nail. Silseth said nothing caused any pain or worry for future departures.
He said he expects to return to work to have a better outing next time, so he doesn’t need as much help from his teammates.
“They did their job tonight,” Silseth said. “I wish I could have done mine a little better. All credit goes to these guys. These guys support me. It’s great to see that.
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