Saturday was the hottest day on record in the history of Angel Stadium, and the ball was flying out accordingly. Four home runs were hit in the first game of the doubleheader, three by the Angels, but they kept the ball in the ballpark in the seventh for a walk-off 10-9 win over Astros.
Justin Upton, who homered earlier in the game, came within about a foot of a walk-off three-run shot in the seventh inning, but settled for an RBI double to pull the Angels within one. Jo Adell, who also homered earlier, singled one out later to score the tying and winning runs for the Angels’ third straight win, matching their longest streak of the season.
Felix Peña was staked to a one-run lead in the seventh, but a double and a single before he recorded an out tied the game. Another double with two outs put two runners in scoring position. Former Angels catcher Martin Maldonado followed with a broken-bat single to right field to score both runs.
The Angels have blown 11 saves this season.
They had a lead in the first place thanks to a double to right field by Andrelton Simmons, his second of the game, scoring Anthony Bemboom to break a 6-6 tie in the sixth. The home runs came earlier.
Game time temperature in Anaheim was 109 degrees, which according to Angels communications manager Matt Birch is one degree hotter than the previous record, set on July 6, 2018 against the Dodgers.
The milestone homer came from Mike Trout, who hit his 300th career home run to set a franchise record. The two-run shot pulled the Angels to within a run in the third inning, and was one of three extra-base hits in the game for Trout, who doubled twice and walked.
Lucky No. 3️⃣0️⃣0️⃣ for @MikeTrout. pic.twitter.com/9lW8KWA2mz
— MLB (@MLB) September 6, 2020
Adell and Upton homered as well, with tying shots in the third and fifth innings, respectively. It’s the 26th time three Angels outfielders have homered in the same game.
Though there were four home runs in this one, we nearly saw five. George Springer led off the game with a drive to right field, but Adell brought it back.
Get up, @joadell0‼️ pic.twitter.com/2bCQuTJZss
— Los Angeles Angels (@Angels) September 5, 2020
Game 1 particulars
Home runs: Mike Trout (15), Jo Adell (3), Justin Upton (5); Kyle Tucker (7)
WP — Felix Peña (3-0): 1 IP, 4 hits, 3 runs, 1 strikeout
LP — Enoli Paredes (1-2): ⅓ IP, 2 hits, 1 run, 1 strikeout
Up next
The Angels haven’t named a Game 2 starter yet, but they will face Jose Urquidy, who makes his season debut for the Astros after spending more than a month on the COVID-related injured list. Houston will be the home team in the nightcap.