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Angels Seek to Sustain Momentum Against Struggling Diamondbacks
The Los Angeles Angels will ride a wave of momentum into Phoenix as they face the Arizona Diamondbacks on Tuesday night in the opener of a three-game series. Fresh off a dramatic 9-7 comeback victory over the Houston Astros, the Angels are eager to keep their offense firing on all cylinders.
Angels’ Recent Surge
The Angels have won four of their past six games, showcasing resilience and determination. Sunday’s victory over the Astros was nothing short of spectacular, capped by Logan O’Hoppe’s game-ending, two-run homer. O’Hoppe’s hard-hit fly ball down the left field line initially appeared to be caught by Houston’s Trey Cabbage, but the ball dislodged from Cabbage’s glove and landed in the seats. Amidst the confusion, Kevin Pillar almost made a costly baserunning mistake, but the umpiring crew eventually ruled it a homer for O’Hoppe.
“It was bizarre,” O’Hoppe said. “I thought [Cabbage] caught it at first. It was a hell of a play. To even get a glove on it was impressive. Selfishly, I’m happy it dropped.”
This clutch moment marked O’Hoppe’s second four-hit game of his career, boosting his season stats to a .269 batting average with eight homers and 28 RBIs over 55 games.
The Angels also broke a 15-game streak of scoring four runs or fewer. Sunday’s offensive outburst included four runs off Astros ace Justin Verlander and another four in the final 1 1/3 innings.
“They showed some resilience. They come in every day and work hard,” Angels manager Ron Washington said. “It’s nice to see that work pay off because they didn’t give up.”
Challenges for Jordan Montgomery
Arizona’s left-hander Jordan Montgomery (3-4, 6.80 ERA) faces significant challenges as he looks to improve his performance. Montgomery has struggled recently, allowing 14 runs and 17 hits over just six-plus innings in his last two starts against the New York Mets and San Francisco Giants. His most recent outing against the Giants saw him give up six runs without recording an out in the third inning.
“Another stinker,” Montgomery said of his outing against San Francisco. “It just unraveled in the third inning. It’s hard to see any positives right now.”
Despite his current form, Montgomery boasts a 3-0 record with a 1.93 ERA in three career starts against the Angels. However, Angels players like Luis Rengifo (2-for-6, 1 HR) have found some success against him.
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Diamondbacks Look to Rebound
The Diamondbacks, coming off a split in a four-game road series against the San Diego Padres, are aiming to regain their footing. After being outscored 23-4 in losses on Friday and Saturday, Arizona bounced back with a decisive 9-3 victory on Sunday.
“I think it was in the midseason must-win category,” Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said. “And I think this team came out ready to play and showed how tough they are. I’m really proud of what we did. … They made a statement from the first pitch of the game all the way through until the last pitch.”
Right fielder Jake McCarthy, who went 3-for-4 with a homer on Sunday, exemplified the team’s fighting spirit.
“I’m going to control what I can control,” McCarthy said. “If I can swing at good pitches, if I [don’t] chase, hopefully, the balls in play drop. The common denominator is I want to be a tough out.”
Pitching Matchup
The Angels will counter with left-hander Jose Suarez (1-0, 6.54 ERA), making his first start of the season. Suarez has struggled with control, walking 20 batters in 31 2/3 innings over 16 relief appearances. However, he has shown some effectiveness against the Diamondbacks in the past, giving up just one run over four innings of relief in a previous matchup.
Key Matchups to Watch
- Logan O’Hoppe vs. Jordan Montgomery: O’Hoppe’s recent hot streak and clutch hitting will be tested against Montgomery, who needs to find his form.
- Jake McCarthy vs. Jose Suarez: McCarthy’s plate discipline and recent success could be pivotal against the sometimes wild Suarez.
- Angels’ Offense vs. Montgomery’s Slump: The Angels’ rejuvenated offense will look to exploit Montgomery’s current struggles, continuing their trend of high-scoring games.
As the series kicks off, all eyes will be on how these matchups play out and whether the Angels can maintain their winning momentum against a Diamondbacks team eager to rebound.
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