From Neto's leadoff to d'Arnaud's walk-off, Angels topple D-backs

ANAHEIM -- Zach Neto started it and Travis d'Arnaud finished it.

Neto hit his seventh leadoff homer of the year to spark a four-run first inning and d’Arnaud delivered a pinch-hit, walk-off RBI single in the ninth to lead the Angels to a 6-5 win over the D-backs in the series opener on Friday night at Angel Stadium.

With one out, Logan O’Hoppe started the ninth-inning rally by getting hit by a pitch from reliever Kyle Backhus before Luis Rengifo singled. It set the stage for d’Arnaud to step in for Gustavo Campero and rope an RBI single down the left-field line for his sixth career walk-off hit and his first since joining the Angels this season.

“Just not trying to do too much,” d’Arnaud said. “A single obviously puts us ahead. I was just trying to hit the ball on the barrel. Luckily, I got a slider or sweeper that didn't hit the ground and was able to float it over the third baseman's head for a base hit. Just trying to hit the ball on the barrel.”

It was another quality at-bat from d’Arnaud, who got off to a slow start offensively but has been heating up since the start of June. He’s slashed .291/.322/.600 with five homers, two doubles and 13 RBIs in 17 games dating back to June 3.

“When you're getting constant ABs, or at least more ABs, you feel good coming off the bench, and he keeps producing,” interim manager Ray Montgomery said. “You're never going to see panic from him. You’re trying to get a heartbeat from him. He's such a pro, he's been in that spot a lot, so I felt really good about the AB.”

Neto’s tone-setting blast tied the club’s single-season record set by Brian Downing in 1987. It’s also the most in the American League this year and only trails Shohei Ohtani’s nine with the Dodgers.

Neto, who missed the club’s first 18 games after undergoing right shoulder surgery in November, initially batted seventh for his first three games and hit second for six games but has since become entrenched as the club's No. 1 hitter since April 29. He’s provided power and speed atop the lineup with 15 homers and 16 stolen bases in 75 games.

“It's great, I saw that little note with Brian Downing,” Montgomery said. “I think it's just great because it's a dynamic start to the game. Gives everybody energy, and obviously he has plenty of energy. Guys feed off that, and it just sets the tone.”

Neto jumpstarted the offense against right-hander Ryne Nelson, crushing a 1-0 fastball over the middle to give the Angels an early lead. It sparked the rest of the lineup, as Nolan Schanuel walked, Mike Trout reached on a hustle double to center field -- that left the bat at 113 mph, per Statcast -- and Taylor Ward brought home a run with a sacrifice fly. Yoán Moncada capped it with a towering two-run shot on a first-pitch four-seamer to make it a four-run game. It was the 100th homer of Moncada's career.

It was far from an easy one from there, as the D-backs countered with four runs against lefty Tyler Anderson in the second to tie it. Anderson, though, still was in line to pick up his first win since April 18, as he got through five innings and the Angels took the lead in the bottom of the fifth on an RBI double from Luis Rengifo.

Lefty Reid Detmers, however, couldn’t hold the lead in the eighth, giving up a solo homer to Randal Grichuk for his second homer of the game. It marked the second straight game that Detmers gave up a homer after he had turned in 22 straight scoreless appearances.

But after closer Kenley Jansen threw a scoreless ninth, d’Arnaud made sure the game wouldn’t head to extras. He credited long reliever Carson Fulmer for throwing 5 1/3 innings in Thursday’s 11-4 loss to the Rangers for keeping the bullpen fresh on Friday, which gave the Angels the chance to win against Arizona.

“That was a huge win for us,” d’Arnaud said. “The last series, I know we split it, but it was exhausting. Definitely put a toll on our pitchers. I think what Carson did yesterday definitely set us up for the win today. This is a big series for us right before break, and now we’re up 1-0 and have a chance to win the series.”