ANAHEIM — In one inning, the Angels did everything they had failed to do for most of the previous three weeks.
The Angels scored six runs in the eighth inning to overcome a one-run deficit on their way to an 8-3 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays on Tuesday night.
The Angels scored more runs in the eighth inning than they had scored in any game since April 10.
During that time, they had hit 19 solo homers and three two-run homers, but Yoán Moncada blasted a three-run homer give the Angels a comfortable lead in the eighth.
Moncada was playing his first game since going on the injured list with a thumb injury, just before the offensive slump began.
Moncada’s homer came just after the Angels manufactured two runs on a walk, a stolen base and two singles. It came just before Jo Adell capped the rally with a solo homer.
The late rally provided the bookend to a game that began with slumping Taylor Ward hitting a two-run homer in the first inning.
Ward also added an infield single in the eighth, just before Logan O’Hoppe’s single – his third hit of the night – knocked in the go-ahead run.
Ward, who also walked, had his best day in weeks, just after he’d spent some time getting extra at-bats against an Angels minor league pitcher.
Ward was 3 for 46 with 18 strikeouts over the 13 games before Sunday, when he snapped an 0-for-27 slump with a double.
The rally came too late to get a victory for starter Tyler Anderson, who cut his ERA to 2.68 with one of his better efforts of the season.
After Anderson allowed a two-run homer to George Springer in the first inning, he buckled down and did not give up another run through 6⅔ innings.
Anderson struck out a season-high seven, while walking one.
In the seventh, Anderson gave up a leadoff double to Ernie Clement. Washington came to the mound, with Ryan Johnson warming in the bullpen. After a conversation, Washington left Anderson in the game. Anderson rewarded the decision by getting Myles Straw and Andrés Gimenez on grounders.
Johnson gave up a tie-breaking homer to Anthony Santander, but in the bottom of the inning the hitters finally picked up the pitchers in a way they hadn’t in weeks.
One of the negatives for the Angels on this night was outfielder Gustavo Campero leaving with left ankle irritation. Campero twisted his ankle awkwardly on a swing in the fifth inning. The Angels said he is day to day.
The Angels were without closer Kenley Jansen, who Manager Ron Washington said was “under the weather” but should be fine tomorrow.
Jose Fermin pitched a scoreless ninth.
More to come on this story.
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