PHILADELPHIA -- The Angels saw their streak of using just five starters this season come to an end after 96 games, but it was the offense that came through when it mattered most in the first game out of the All-Star break.
The Halos used seven relievers as part of a bullpen game, while Mike Trout provided a key RBI single in his homecoming and Jorge Soler, Jo Adell and Taylor Ward all homered in a 6-5 win over the Phillies on Friday night at Citizens Bank Park. It helped the Angels improve to 48-49 as they try to remain in contention heading into the Trade Deadline on July 31.
The next two weeks will be critical to determine whether the Angels will be buyers or sellers. They’ve hovered just below .500 or at .500 for more than a month but haven't been over .500 since they were 11-10 on April 20.
“We’ve just got to keep going,” Ward said. “We’ve been hovering around this mark for a while, and I think it's time to go past it. So hopefully we just continue to play good baseball.”
Ward provided the biggest blow, as his two-run shot gave the club the lead in the seventh inning. He smacked a 1-0 sweeper from lefty Tanner Banks over the left-field fence for his team-leading 22nd homer of the year. The 22 homers are tied for the fifth most in the American League.
Ward also is used to hearing his name in trade rumors the past few years and again could be a trade candidate despite being under team control through next year. But if it were up to him, he’d remain with the only organization he’s known.
“Same old, same old,” Ward said. “I have my inner circle that shoots me stuff. But again, I want to stay here. I want to win with this group. I think it'd be the cherry on top getting to the playoffs and winning with this group.”
With the Angels trailing, 4-1, in the fourth, Trout helped spark a rally with a leadoff double before Adell connected on a two-run blast to center field for his 20th homer of the year. Adell’s homer came on a 1-0 changeup from Jesús Luzardo at the bottom of the zone.
Trout also came through in the fifth with a two-out RBI single off Luzardo to tie the game. It helped the Angels erase a three-run deficit, as lefty Jake Eder served up a three-run homer to Bryce Harper in the third inning. It was career RBI No. 996 for Trout, who is also five homers away from 400 in his career.
“It's just a continuation of what we've seen since he's come back [from his left knee injury],” interim manager Ray Montgomery said. “The important thing is he keeps staying healthy.
Trout and the Angels haven’t been to the postseason since 2014, the longest active streak in the Majors, but he believes this group can compete.
“We’ve got a great mindset,” Trout said. “We come to the ballpark, we pull for each other, we hold each other accountable. We’ve got a great group in there. We pass the baton at the plate. We're tough outs, and that's why we’re winning ball games.”
Right-hander Ryan Zeferjahn, who started the game since right-hander Jack Kochanowicz was optioned on July 11, also gave up a solo homer to Kyle Schwarber in the first, but Soler countered with a solo shot of his own in the top of the second. It was Soler’s 11th homer of the year, as he’s looking to get back on track in the second half.
Otherwise, the bullpen was solid, with Kenley Jansen closing it for his 17th save of the year. Jansen is another player who has seen his name come up in trade rumors, but like Ward, he doesn’t want to go anywhere after signing a one-year deal worth $10 million in February.
“I came here with one goal in mind, just trying to help this organization to turn it back to a winning organization,” Jansen said. “And we’ve got a great group of guys around here, and I think we can do it. We can sneak in as a Wild Card. You never know what can happen in the next 65 games. So we just got to keep coming with this energy. We played a really great team today and the bullpen pitched well and everybody played well, but we have to focus on tomorrow and not the next two weeks.”