Jo Adell delivered a dramatic bases-clearing double in the bottom of the ninth, capping a four-run comeback as the Los Angeles Angels stunned the San Francisco Giants 5-4 on Sunday, denying Justin Verlander his first win of the season.
Verlander had tossed six strong innings, allowing only two hits and one run while striking out six. The 41-year-old looked sharp, fanning Mike Trout on a 97.4 mph fastball in the sixth — his fastest strikeout pitch since 2023.
But San Francisco closer Ryan Walker (0-1) unraveled in the ninth. He walked Trout to start the inning and gave up a single to Jorge Soler. With the bases loaded and one out, Walker hit Zach Neto to force in a run. Adell then roped a 1-2 pitch down the left-field line, clearing the bases and flipping a 4-1 deficit into a 5-4 lead.
Yusei Kikuchi started for the Angels and allowed one unearned run across 5 1/3 innings. He struck out six and walked four. Kikuchi exited after issuing his 102nd pitch — a walk to Tyler Fitzgerald — and Brock Burke surrendered a two-run homer to Sam Huff, putting San Francisco up 3-1. Willy Adames added an RBI single in the eighth to stretch the lead to 4-1.
Neto briefly tied the game with a solo homer off Verlander in the fifth, his first-pitch blast the only blemish on the veteran’s line.
Michael Darrell-Hicks (1-0) earned his first career win for the Angels, who snapped a rough stretch by winning just their second game in their last seven outings.
Key Moment
With the bases full and two outs in the bottom of the ninth, Adell lined a two-strike pitch down the line in left, clearing the bases and giving the Angels a walk-off win.
Key Stat
Sam Huff’s two-run homer in the sixth was his 11th career blast and his first since 2023, when he played for the Rangers.
Up Next
On Monday, the Giants begin a four-game home series against the Brewers with LHP Robbie Ray (3-0, 4.19 ERA) facing Milwaukee’s RHP Quinn Priester (1-0, 0.90 ERA).
The Angels will welcome the Pirates for a three-game set starting Tuesday. RHP José Soriano (2-2, 3.16 ERA) is slated to start the opener against Pittsburgh LHP Bailey Falter (1-2, 4.91 ERA).
