ARLINGTON, Texas — The Angels might have something here.
Sam Aldegheri earned his first major league win, allowing one run on three hits in six innings in the Angels’ 5-1 victory over the Texas Rangers on Friday night at Globe Life Field.
Aldegheri (1-1), the first major league pitcher born and raised in Italy, struck out seven and walked three in his second career start. Last Friday night, the 22-year-old left-hander gave up seven runs (two earned) in five innings in a 9-5 loss to the Seattle Mariners.
The Angels’ offense built a five-run lead with two in the third and three in the sixth on Logan O’Hoppe’s three-run home run to left, his 19th homer this season. O’Hoppe drove an 0-and-2 changeup to deep left field off reliever José Ureña after Anthony Rendon reached on a fielding error by third baseman Josh Jung, and Mickey Moniak singled.
The Angels had taken a 2-0 lead in the third off Gerson Garabito (0-2), who made his second start of the season and first since May 26. Zach Neto scored Brandon Drury while hitting into a bases-loaded double play, and Nolan Schanuel singled home Niko Kavadas.
The Rangers scored a run in the sixth after Wyatt Langford led off with an infield single to third, moved to third base on Josh Jung’s single, and scored on Adolis Garcia’s sacrifice fly to center. Aldegheri was not flustered, however, and retired Nathaniel Lowe and Ezequiel Duran on fly outs to end the inning.
Aldegheri, who turns 23 on Sept. 19, was acquired along with right-hander George Klassen from the Philadelphia Phillies for right-handed reliever Carlos Estévez on July 27.
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If Angels fans weren’t sure what they were getting in Aldegheri, they might have a better idea after his first two starts. He located a low-90s four-seam fastball effectively and used a low-80s changeup to keep batters off-balance. Rangers veteran slugger Marcus Semien popped up three times to the infield against Aldegheri.
The Angels’ bullpen received scoreless innings from Hunter Strickland, Brock Burke, and José Quijada to close it out. The trio combined to allow one hit and one walk while striking out five.
AROUND THE BASES
Angels right fielder Jo Adell left with left oblique irritation after striking out in the second inning and was replaced by Kevin Pillar. … Left fielder Taylor Ward singled and walked, extending his on-base streak to a season-best 16 games.
More to come on this story.
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