Jose Soriano pitched six strong innings, Jorge Soler homered and drove in two runs, and the visiting Los Angeles Angels beat the Cleveland Guardians 4-1 on Friday to snap a five-game losing streak.
Three-time American League MVP Mike Trout went 1-for-5 in his return from the injured list for Los Angeles, singling in the fourth inning while serving as the designated hitter. He hadn’t played since April 30 due to a bone bruise in his left knee, missing 26 games.
Soriano (4-5) won for the second time in three starts, scattering four hits and four walks. The right-hander struck out two and only allowed one runner to get past second base.
Closer Kenley Jansen failed to finish the shutout, giving up a two-out RBI single to Nolan Jones in the ninth inning. Angels reliever Robert Stephenson only threw three pitches before leaving in the seventh inning with biceps discomfort.
Los Angeles’ Jo Adell matched a season high with three hits.
Cleveland’s Jose Ramirez went 0-for-3, ending his career-best hitting streak at 21 games. The Guardians fell to 25-4 against the Angels at home since 2015.
Adell singled home Soler in the second with the lone run off Guardians starter Luis L. Ortiz (2-6), who struck out five and allowed seven hits and two walks in six innings. Ortiz lowered his ERA in five home starts to 2.22 but remained winless in seven outings overall since April 18.
The Angels increased their lead to 3-0 in the seventh. A passed ball by Bo Naylor allowed Scott Kingery to sprint home before Soler’s single brought in Nolan Schanuel.
Soler tacked on a solo homer in the ninth off Andrew Walters, who subsequently exited with a injury to his right arm or side.
Kingery started at second base, making his first major league appearance since June 8, 2022, with the Philadelphia Phillies. He went 1-for-3, posting his first hit since 2021.
Angels third baseman Yoan Moncada was not in the lineup because of a sore right knee but was available off the bench.
Earlier in the day, the Guardians placed center fielder Lane Thomas on the injured list with plantar fasciitis in his right foot. They were unable to fill his roster spot before the first pitch.
