Young players step up to lead Angels to win
ANAHEIM ❯❯ The Angels' 5-1 victory over the Oakland A's on Friday night provided a little more hope for the future, which is all that matters as they play the final weekend of this disappointing season.
Right-hander Chase Silseth pitched four innings in his first game after a month out with a concussion, and Mickey Moniak hit a two-run homer in his first game after four weeks out with a back problem.
Silseth, 23, and Moniak, 25, have both shown enough this season to have likely roles on the Angels in 2024.
Silseth posted a 3.96 ERA in 52 1/3 innings, but that included a first half in which he was bounced between the rotation and bullpen several times. Once he returned from Triple-A in July with a simplified repertoire of pitches and a spot in the rotation, he had a 3.21 ERA. Two of his three victories were against the Atlanta Braves and Houston Astros.
His progress was interrupted by a freak injury, though.
On Aug. 26 in New York, Silseth was running from the mound toward third for a rundown when he was hit in the back of the head by a throw from first baseman Trey Cabbage.
Silseth was down on the field for a few minutes in a frightening scene. A few days later, he was diagnosed with a concussion. He returned to pitch at Triple-A twice before finally making it back to a major league mound.
Working with a limit of about 60 pitches on Friday, Silseth only lasted four innings. He walked three in the first inning to load the bases, but he escaped unscathed with a double play.
The only run he allowed came after Zack Gelof was awarded first base after he was hit by a pitch, even though it appeared he swung at the pitch.
The Angels were down 1-0 after Silseth threw his final pitch, but they took the lead with three runs in the bottom of the fourth.
That rally included a single for Moniak. He added a two-run homer in the fifth.
The homer against Ken Waldichuk was Moniak's first career homer against a lefty, in his 87th career at-bat.
Overall, Moniak is hitting .282 with 14 home runs and an .809 OPS in 320 plate appearances. He came into the season with a .157 average in 167 major league plate appearances.
Besides Silseth and Moniak, a few other Angels rookies had good games.
Right-hander Davis Daniel followed Silseth to the mound and pitched the final five innings of the game for his first majorleague victory.
First baseman Nolan Schanuel drew a walk and singled, extending his streak to 28 consecutive games reaching base. It's an Angels franchise record for the start of a career, and the fourth-longest such streak in major league history.
Schanuel also made a nice catch, leaning over the railing to grab a foul pop-up.
Shortstop Zach Neto and catcher Logan O'Hoppe each reached base safely twice.