Mike Trout home run daily: Breaking out of a June swoon

Today’s Mike Trout home run came four years ago, a midseason Saturday game against the A’s in Oakland, on June 18, 2016.

This was the middle game of a three-game weekend series, an afternoon contest perhaps better known as Tim Lincecum’s Angels debut. He’d allow just one run in six innings in this one to earn the win, but was done in by a 9.16 ERA in his nine starts with the Angels, and hasn’t pitched in the majors since.

Trout was in a slump for the first half of June, with one home run in 15 games, hitting .235/.371/.353. He struck out in the first inning against Andrew Triggs, but then tied the game at 1-1 with a home run to left center against him to lead off the fourth inning.

This was the 14th home run of the season for Trout, and his 153rd career shot.

The Angels blew open the game in the sixth inning with a five-run rally, capped off by a two-run double by Trout against John Axford, a pitcher he’s reached base against five times in seven career plate appearances.

Trout owned the A’s that season, hitting .418/.500/.672 with five home runs in 18 games against them.