Angels set franchise records for runs, hits in 25-1 rout of Rockies

The Los Angeles Angels got an early start and then continued to pile up the runs. The only question was how much they would end up with.

The Angels posted franchise numbers for runs, hits (28), and margin of victory in a game and tied team records for runs and homers with their massive third inning.

The margin of victory tied for the third-highest in the majors since 1900, behind Texas’s 30-3 win over Baltimore in 2007 and Boston’s 29-4 win over the St. Louis Browns in 1950.

“We were aggressive,” said Angels manager Phil Nevin. “We attacked throws in the zone. Hitting is sometimes contagious. Big guys do that sort of thing [in the third]it fires up the clubhouse.

David Fletcher hit a three-run homer to cap an eight-run fourth, as the Angels put up 21 runs on 17 hits in the third and fourth innings combined, sending 27 batters to the plate. Fletcher had three hits and five RBIs in his first game since being recalled from Salt Lake City.

“I don’t think I’ve seen anything like it, honestly,” Fletcher said. “Starting with three home runs in a row, pretty incredible. Hopefully we saved some for tomorrow.”

Hunter Renfroe and Mickey Moniak each had five hits and four RBIs for the Angels, ending a three-game slip in big fashion. Moniak stumbled around second base on a liner to center field in the sixth inning, otherwise his second double would probably have been a triple for the cycle.

“One after the other, the quality of the at bats we had today – unbelievable,” said Moniak. “To be able to do that in there [third] inning and the whole game was what led to a historic day.”

Drury had three hits and four RBIs and Trout had three hits and an RBI. Both were substituted in the fifth with the game well in hand. Each Angels starter had at least one hit, one RBI and a run scored. However, major league home run leader Shohei Ohtani had a mostly quiet night, finishing with an RBI single in seven at bats.

Griffin Canning (6-2) gave up four hits in six scoreless innings and struckout seven batters with a walk. He has won his last four decisions.

“The highlight of the night for me was how Griff threw the ball,” said Nevin.

‘It’s 1 game’

Trout, Drury and Thaiss homered on consecutive pitches in the third inning off Chase Anderson (0-2).

It was the second time Anderson gave up homers on three straight pitches. It happened while he was with Toronto on September 17, 2020, when Brett Gardner, DJ LeMahieu and Luke Voit of the Yankees went deep against him.

The third of 13 runs set a Rockies record for runs conceded in an inning, and the 24 runs were the second highest.

“It’s one game,” said Colorado manager Bud Black.

Brenton Doyle homered for Colorado in the eighth.