Trout’s slam powers Angels
ANAHEIM, Calif. — Any pitcher who wants a prayer of retiring Mike Trout should throw high fastballs, at least according to the old conventional wisdom on the star slugger.
That’s exactly what Drew Smyly threw, and that’s exactly what Trout hit 458 feet for the grandest homer yet in his latest power binge.
Trout hit a grand slam for his fourth homer in three days, and the Angels beat the Rangers 5-1 on Saturday for their first back-to-back victories of the season.
Trout’s fourth-inning drive off Smyly (0-1) cleared the bullpens beyond the left field fence at Angel Stadium. He absolutely clobbered a fastball at the top of the strike zone, taking an eraser to yet another item on the diminishing list of effective strategies to deal with the two-time AL MVP.
“It’s just adjustments,” Trout said of his increasing acumen at hitting high pitches. “I couldn’t tell you one thing that I’m doing to hit those pitches. Just getting a good pitch to hit and trying to put a barrel to it, not trying to do too much. If you try to do too much with a pitch up (high), you’re not going to hit it.”
After homering in the Angels’ home opener Thursday and adding two more Friday, Trout connected for his first grand slam since 2015 and No. 5 for his career. He has homered in three straight games for the seventh consecutive time in his career; he homered in four straight during May 2017.
Tyler Skaggs (1-1) pitched 61⁄3 innings of fivehit ball in a strong outing for the Angels, earning his first victory since July 25.