Ray Montgomery hopes that because the climate continues to warmth up, so will the bats of the Los Angeles Angels.
The second half of the season bought off to a great begin for the Angels on Friday, and so they’ll look to creator one other strong effort on Saturday after they proceed their street collection with the Philadelphia Phillies.
After closing the primary half of the season by taking two of three in opposition to the Arizona Diamondbacks, the Angels hit three residence runs in Friday’s 6-5 victory in Philadelphia.
Taylor Ward hit a go-ahead, two-run homer within the seventh, following earlier blasts by Jo Adell and Jorge Soler.
“I used to be simply going to say that (Ward) must play within the humidity,” stated Montgomery, the Angels’ interim supervisor. “The man likes to play when it is heat. Once more, three residence runs tonight — Soler, him and Jo retains on doing it. That is form of our MO. At any given time, any of our guys can do this.”
The Phillies additionally hit three residence runs, together with two by Bryce Harper. The 2-time MVP had beforehand managed just one homer in 11 video games since coming back from the disabled checklist in late June.
“He seems to be nice,” Philadelphia supervisor Rob Thomson stated. “He is utilizing the (complete) area and it seems to be like he is seeing the ball very well proper now.”
Kyle Schwarber added a solo homer for Philadelphia, carrying over the momentum from Tuesday’s All-Star Recreation, the place the veteran designated hitter took residence MVP honors after homering on all three of his swings through the game-deciding residence run derby.
“He does superb issues,” Thomson stated. “After that All-Star Recreation and arising and first swing he hits the ball out of the ballpark, everyone was like, ‘That is Schwarbs!'”
Schwarber and Harper will goal for extra productive swings in opposition to left-hander Yusei Kikuchi (4-6, 3.11 ERA), who was chosen to this week’s All-Star Recreation however elected to not pitch within the contest. Kikuchi’s most up-to-date outing got here final Saturday in opposition to the Diamondbacks, when he allowed three runs and 6 hits over 5 2/3 innings to earn the victory.
Kikuchi has made one profession begin in opposition to Philadelphia — in August 2023 as a member of the Toronto Blue Jays. He gave up one run and 4 hits in six innings however didn’t get a call within the 2-1 victory.
The Phillies will flip to veteran righty Taijuan Walker (3-5, 3.55), who has 9 begins and 11 aid appearances this season. He final pitched July 8 in opposition to the San Francisco Giants, when he began and yielded one run and two hits over 4 innings.
“I feel it may be very tough,” Thomson stated about Walker going forwards and backwards between the rotation and the bullpen. “I feel it will depend on the man. I feel it may be very tough. In Walker’s case, I feel he is dealt with it very professionally. He is been an important workforce man all through this complete factor.”
All 9 of Walker’s earlier appearances in opposition to the Angels have come as a starter. In these outings, he has posted a 5-3 file with a 5.06 ERA.
–Subject Degree Media
