Kent Bewley's News Story Collection

On Tues, Jun 16, the Los Angeles Angels faced the Arizona Diamondbacks in the second game of a three-game series at Chase Field in Phoenix. The Angels lost on Monday night 4-3 after missed scoring chances and a couple of late runs from Arizona. Looking for a bounce back win, the Halos had Reid Detmers on the mound pitching for them. Detmers was on an incredible stretch of success in his past four starts and he was looking for a win against the Diamondbacks, who countered with Merrill Kelly as their starting pitcher.

Both pitchers threw solid first innings, but in the top of the second, the Angels got on the board after a Jo Adell double and an RBI single by Wade Meckler. Detmers pitched a scoreless second inning and in the top of the third, Zach Neto came up to bat and hit a cutter from Kelly to deep left field for a solo home run. It was Neto’s 14th homer of the season and his fourth in the last two weeks. In the bottom of the third, Detmers benefited from a double play turned behind him and continued his stellar form of pitching.

In the fourth inning, the Halos got some two-out hits on a single to shallow center by Denzer Guzman and a line drive double hit down the left field line by Logan O’Hoppe. Donovan Walton came up and hit a ball out to right field that brought in Guzman, but O’Hoppe was thrown out at home plate with a strong throw by Corbin Carroll to end the inning. A tough way to conclude a good rally, but the Angels had a 3-0 cushion for Detmers to work with. Detmers took care of business in the bottom of the fourth with him retiring Geraldo Perdomo, Carroll and Lourdes Gurriel Jr in order. In the top of the fifth, the top of the Halos order was due up as Neto led off with a ball that traveled high and far to center field. But the high yellow line around the batters eye prevented the ball from being a home run and instead Neto had to settle for his second triple of the season. Mike Trout came up next and on the very next pitch thrown by Kelly, Trout did what Neto could not as he smashed a ball that traveled to deep center field and the ball made it over the yellow line barrier for a two-run homer. Trout hit a home run(his 17th of the season) for the second straight night at Chase Field, where he had hit a homer in the 2023 World Baseball Classic. This was only Trout’s second series ever playing as a major leaguer in the downtown ballpark in Phoenix and he was the making the most of a golden opportunity after injuries had prevented him from playing in Arizona in 2021 and 2024. It was now 5-0 in favor of the Angels and another great inning pitched by Detmers got him in line for his third win of the season.

In the sixth inning, a couple of singles by Guzman and O’Hoppe forced Kelly out of the game. Ryan Thompson entered to pitch and struck out Neto for the second out of the inning, but Trout hit a ball to left center that scored Guzman for an RBI double. Detmers pitched into the seventh inning with a 6-0 lead and he did not surrender a run to the D-Backs.

The eighth inning saw the Halos add on one more run on an RBI double by Walton that scored O’Hoppe. Kirby Yates and Chase Silseth pitched the final two innings of the game and Arizona was held scoreless through all nine innings. The Angels won 7-0 for their 30th win of the season. Detmers had his third win of 2026 as he continued looking like a solid pitcher in a starting rotation that has endured plenty of changes due to injuries and inconsistent pitching. Detmers relied on nine ground ball outs to contain Arizona’s bats, but he also reached 100 strikeouts for the 2026 season. Neto and Trout continued their offensive dominance and were aided by a trio of RBIs by Meckler and Walton combined.

The Angels will now go for the series win at Chase Field on Wednesday afternoon when Sam Aldegheri takes the mound while the Diamondbacks counter with Eduardo Rodriguez. A four-game series at Sutter Health Park against the Athletics shall follow as the Halos look to improve their road record in 2026. With 30 wins on the season, this Angels ballclub seeks to continue playing well like they have over these past few weeks.