CLEVELAND -- It only took Mike Trout two games back in the lineup to look like, well, Mike Trout.
The three-time American League MVP went 3-for-4, including an RBI double in the fifth inning, and scored a run in the Angels’ 7-5 loss to the Guardians on Saturday afternoon.
Trout was placed on the IL on May 1 with a bone bruise on his left knee before being activated for the series opener Friday at Progressive Field.
“It felt good to see something drop [in for a hit],” Trout said, smiling. “At the beginning of the year, I was hitting the ball hard and right at people. Things weren’t dropping either.”
It was Trout’s first three-hit game since April 8, 2024 against Tampa Bay -- and the first time he has accomplished the feat on the road since June 24, 2023 against Colorado at Coors Field.
Garrett Anderson is the only player in Angels history with more three-hit games with 176. Trout and Darin Erstad are tied for second with 118.
“It’s just awesome watching him play,” Angels starting pitcher Kyle Hendricks said. “Growing up as a fan of the game, it’s really cool being around him every day.”
Prior to his injury, Trout posted a career-low .179 batting average with a .726 OPS, nine home runs, 18 RBIs and two stolen bases over 29 games.
The 33-year-old was 1-for-5 in his return and started at designated hitter in both games in Cleveland, dropping from fifth to sixth in the batting order when Yoán Moncada was inserted.
“Last night was good. Today was even better,” said Los Angeles manager Ron Washington, who added that he will keep Trout out of his standard three-hole for at least one more game. “He was really good. He looked good today.”
Trout had a bloop single to right field in the second and a sharp single to left-center to the fourth against Guardians starter Slade Cecconi, who he faced for the first time in his 15-year career.
Hunter Gaddis came on in relief of Cecconi in the fifth inning and with two on and two out, Gaddis allowed Trout’s biggest moment of the game: a laser with 101.4 mph exit velocity that landed just inside the foul line in left. It scored Moncada and extended the Angels’ lead to 5-2.
Trout hit the ball even harder in his final plate appearance, smashing a 102.3 mph line drive that Guardians third baseman José Ramírez speared for the first out in the top of the eighth.
“On the double, I got good contact,” Trout said. “On the line drive to third, I had the same contact as the double. Just hit it right at him.”
Washington will use Trout at DH until the Angels leave Cleveland, as they agreed upon, but hopes he can play the field in their next series in Boston. The plan is to have him “run around” at Fenway Park and take outfield practice.
“Yesterday was his first day back and he was back out there today,” Washington said. “We’ll see where we go from there.”