The Sports Xchange
May 27, 2017
MIAMI -- Mike Trout hit a titanic 443-foot solo home run, helping the Los Angeles Angels defeat the Miami Marlins 5-2 on Saturday afternoon.
The first three batters in the Angels' lineup -- Cameron Maybin, Andrelton Simmons and Trout -- combined for six hits, five runs and three RBIs. Maybin scored three times, including the go-ahead run.
Trout's homer, his American League-leading 16th of the season, landed in the upper level of the Clevelander bar. Marlins left fielder Marcell Ozuna, knowing it was a homer, didn't even turn to chase the ball.
The Angels (26-26) snapped a three-game losing skid. Miami (17-30) has lost 22 of its past 29 games.
JC Ramirez (5-3) earned the win, allowing seven hits, one walk and one run (none earned) in seven innings.
Vance Worley (0-2) took the loss, allowing two hits, no walks and two runs in five innings.
Los Angeles opened the scoring in the first inning, nearly hitting consecutive home runs to left. On the first drive, by Simmons, Ozuna reached over the fence and caught it for the second out.
However, Trout followed by smashing his solo homer to left.
Miami tied the score 1-1 in the bottom of the first. Christian Yelich started a two-out rally with a single. He advanced on a single by Ozuna and scored when Angels shortstop Simmons threw wildly to first in a poorly advised attempt to throw out Ozuna.
The Angels took a 2-1 lead in the third. Maybin tripled down the right-field line and scored on a Simmons groundout.
Miami had a major opportunity in the fifth, loading the bases with two outs and Giancarlo Stanton at the plate. However, Angels catcher Martin Maldonado picked Dee Gordon off first base to end the threat. Gordon was ruled safe originally, but the call was reversed on video review.
The Marlins lost another chance in the seventh when JT Riddle doubled high off the fence in right field, missing a homer by a couple feet. He was stranded at second when pinch hitter Ichiro Suzuki grounded out.
Los Angeles padded its lead to 4-1 in the eighth. Reliever Kyle Barraclough walked the first two batters he faced, Maybin and Simmons, and Trout hit an infield single to load the bases. Luis Valbuena cashed in with a two-run single.
Maybin scored in the ninth to give the Angels a 5-1 lead. He singled with two outs and scored on a double off the fence in left by Simmons.
Ozuna homered to the right-field corner in the bottom of the ninth, but it wasn't enough for the Marlins.
NOTES: 3B Christian Colon, who made his Marlins debut on May 18 at the Los Angeles Dodgers, earned his first home start with Miami. He began the season with the Kansas City Royals but was designated for assignment on May 10. ... Marlins 3B Martin Prado (hamstring) and SS Adeiny Hechavarria (oblique) are about two weeks away from returning. ... Miami's 14-year playoff drought is the second longest in the majors. ... Angels LF Cameron Maybin (knee soreness) started after missing Friday's game. ... Angels RHP Matt Shoemaker, who will pitch the series finale on Sunday, has won three consecutive starts. Miami will counter with RHP Jose Urena.