Zach Neto smashed a go-ahead home run in the eighth inning to propel the Los Angeles Angels to a 4-3 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Thursday night, salvaging the final game of a three-game set.
Neto, who missed the season’s first few weeks due to right shoulder surgery, drilled an 81-mph sweeper from Pirates reliever Chase Shugart (1-1) into the left-field seats to break a 3-3 tie. He went 3-for-4 on the night.
Angels closer Kenley Jansen sealed the win with a dramatic final out, snaring a 119.6-mph line drive off the bat of Oneil Cruz with a runner in motion. Jansen earned his sixth save of the season and the 453rd of his career.
Cruz got the Pirates going with a leadoff home run — his second in as many games — and later helped build a 3-0 lead when Andrew McCutchen doubled, moved to third on Joey Bart’s single, and scored on Ke’Bryan Hayes’ groundout.
Making his MLB debut, first baseman Matt Gorski extended the Pirates’ lead with a 434-foot solo homer in the second inning, becoming the first Pittsburgh player to homer in his first at-bat since Starling Marte in 2012.
The Angels answered in the fourth. Mike Trout led off with a triple, Taylor Ward followed with an RBI single, and Logan O’Hoppe tied the game with a two-run homer to right — all within five pitches.
Ryan Zeferjahn (2-0) earned the win in relief for Los Angeles.
Key Moment
With the Pirates threatening to extend their 3-0 lead in the third inning, Angels starter Tyler Anderson escaped a jam by inducing a shallow flyout from Hayes and striking out Alexander Canario, beginning a streak of 11 consecutive batters retired.
Key Stat
Ward’s RBI single in the fourth snapped a 17-inning scoreless drought for the Angels that had stretched back to Tuesday.
Up Next
The Pirates head to Los Angeles to face the Dodgers on Friday, sending Paul Skenes (2-2, 2.87 ERA) to the mound. The Angels will open a road series against the Twins with Kyle Hendricks (0-2, 4.50 ERA) getting the start.
