Taylor Ward crushed a grand slam to cap a stunning six-run ninth inning, lifting the Los Angeles Angels to a 9-5 comeback win over the San Diego Padres on Monday night.
The Angels staged their rally against Padres closer Robert Suarez, who had converted 18 straight save chances, 15 of them this season, before unraveling. Suarez (0-1) gave up a one-out single and then walked four consecutive batters, forcing in two runs before being pulled. Alek Jacob struck out Jorge Soler, but Ward followed with a towering shot to the left for his fifth career grand slam.
Zach Neto earlier gave Los Angeles a 3-0 lead in the third inning with a two-run homer. But the Padres responded quickly with a three-run bottom half, sparked by an RBI single from Jackson Merrill and a throwing error by Angels starter Yusei Kikuchi that allowed two more runs to score. Matthew Lugo helped limit the damage by throwing out Xander Bogaerts at home after a Gavin Sheets single.
Fernando Tatis Jr. led off the fifth with his 10th homer of the season, and Bogaerts added a sacrifice fly in the eighth to make it 5-3 Padres.
Kikuchi went six innings, allowing four runs (two earned) on seven hits. Brock Burke (4-0) pitched a clean eighth for the win, and Kenley Jansen closed it out with two strikeouts in the ninth.
San Diego’s Michael King fanned eight over 5 2/3 innings, giving up three runs (two earned) on four hits in his first home start of the month after the Padres returned from a 6-3 road trip.
Key Moment
Ward smashed a 2-2 pitch to deep left field for the game-winning grand slam, completing the Angels’ dramatic ninth-inning rally.
Key Stat
Suarez had walked only four batters in 17 2/3 innings this season before issuing four in a row during Monday’s collapse.
Up Next
The Angels send RHP José Soriano (2-4, 4.00 ERA) to the mound Tuesday night to face Padres RHP Dylan Cease (1-2, 4.91 ERA).
