THE GAME: Miguel Sanó hit a three-run homer and minor leaguer Sam Brown drove in the winning run with a single in the bottom of the ninth inning, as the Angels beat the Colorado Rockies, 8-7, in a Cactus League game on Friday afternoon in Tempe, Ariz.
PITCHING REPORT: Right-hander José Soriano gave up three runs in three innings. After pitching a perfect first inning, Soriano gave up three runs on four hits in the second inning. He gave up three straight hits to start the inning, but he was one out away from escaping the jam with only one run scoring. He then gave up a two-run single to Brenton Doyle. He followed with a perfect third. “As well as he throws the ball, he’s not just going to keep throwing the ball past people in the big leagues,” Manager Ron Washington said. “You put the ball in the wrong spot, and they’ll get you. But I was impressed. He didn’t stop. He kept driving that ball toward home plate.” Soriano was a reliever in the majors last season, but the Angels are trying him this spring as a starter to add organizational rotation depth. … Right-hander Ben Joyce pitched a scoreless inning, working around a single and a walk. … Right-hander Zach Plesac gave up two runs in 2⅓ innings, with four walks. Plesac has allowed four runs in 6⅓ innings this spring. … Right-hander Guillo Zuñiga gave up two runs (one earned) in 1⅔ innings. He had not allowed any runs in his first four games this spring.
HITTING REPORT: Sanó, a former slugger who is trying to return to the majors for the first time since 2022, had two hits, including a tie-breaking three-run homer in the fifth inning. It was Sanó’s second homer of the spring. He’s now 4 for 26 (.154). Sanó, who was delayed in camp by visa issues, has the most plate appearances on the team. His at-bats “are getting better, and that’s all you want,” Washington said before the game. … Mike Trout was 1 for 3. Trout came up with runners at first and second in the fifth inning and he struck out. … Livan Soto singled in the third inning. He moved to third with one out and then tagged up on a fly ball to shallow right field. He was thrown out easily at the plate, even though Trout was coming up next. The Angels have been stressing aggressive baserunning this spring, with Washington insisting that he wants players to keep pushing the envelope even if they make an out on the bases. … Logan O’Hoppe drove in a run with a double and walked. … Taylor Ward barely missed a three-run homer, settling for a two-run double off the top of the fence. Ward, who also singled, is 8 for 24 (.333) this spring. … Brandon Drury tied the score with a two-out RBI single in the fifth.
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DEFENSE REPORT: Two Angels pitchers – Soriano and Plesac – made errors on pickoff throws. … Catcher Chad Wallach threw out a runner trying to steal second. Wallach also allowed a passed ball, bringing in the tying run in the eighth inning.
UP NEXT: Angels (LHP Tyler Anderson) at Guardians (LHP Logan Allen) at Goodyear Ballpark, Saturday, 12:05 p.m. PT, Bally Sports West, 830 AM