The Los Angeles Angels staged a thrilling comeback on Monday night, defeating the Texas Rangers 6-5 at Angel Stadium thanks to a dramatic walk-off walk by Nolan Schanuel. The win pushed the Angels to 44-46 on the season, while the Rangers dropped to 44-47.
Travis d’Arnaud Sparks Angels With Big Night
Veteran catcher Travis d’Arnaud was a difference-maker, showing his familiarity with former Mets teammate Jacob deGrom. In the second inning, d’Arnaud launched a two-run homer off deGrom, snapping the ace’s Rangers franchise record of 14 consecutive starts with two or fewer runs allowed.
“Getting lucky to hit a homer against any Cy Young winner is really special,” said d’Arnaud, who finished 2-for-4 with three RBIs.
Later in the sixth, d’Arnaud delivered again, this time doubling to deep left-center to score Luis Rengifo and tie the game 4-4. That set the stage for a nail-biting finish.
Nolan Schanuel Walks It Off in the Ninth
With the score tied 5-5 in the bottom of the ninth and the bases loaded, Nolan Schanuel showed poise at the plate. Despite an 0-for-4 night, the young first baseman drew a walk to force in the winning run.
“I didn’t need a hit,” said Schanuel. “I put my pride aside.”
Logan O’Hoppe celebrated by dousing Schanuel with a cooler of sports drink, capping a wild ending in front of the home crowd.
Late Game Heroics from LaMonte Wade Jr.
Earlier in the ninth, pinch-hitter LaMonte Wade Jr. gave the Angels a brief lead with a clutch RBI single, living up to his nickname “Late Night LaMonte.” Wade, wearing the team’s retro ‘70s uniforms for “Throwback Week,” delivered off the bench despite limited playing time in recent weeks.
“Huge at-bat by him,” said interim manager Ray Montgomery, who was ejected in the seventh inning for arguing balls and strikes.
Pitching Recap: deGrom and Kikuchi Struggle
Jacob deGrom wasn’t at his sharpest, allowing three earned runs over five innings with five strikeouts and two walks. He failed to dominate as he usually does, giving up key hits to d’Arnaud and others.
Meanwhile, Yusei Kikuchi also had a rough outing. Despite recently being named an All-Star, the southpaw labored through five innings, surrendering four runs on six hits and striking out just four.
“I didn’t have my best stuff, but the team really picked me up today,” Kikuchi said via interpreter.
Injury News: Angels Bullpen Hit with Setbacks
The Angels’ bullpen took a hit Monday as Hunter Strickland was placed on the 15-day IL due to right-shoulder inflammation. He reported stiffness after his Sunday outing against the Blue Jays and will undergo an MRI on Tuesday.
In his place, the Angels recalled Víctor Mederos from Triple-A Salt Lake City.
Meanwhile, Robert Stephenson has resumed soft tossing after recovering from a stretched nerve in his right bicep. Though his return timeline remains uncertain, it marks progress for the reliever who signed a three-year, $33 million deal but has thrown just one inning this season.
Final Thoughts
The Angels’ gritty 6-5 win over the Rangers was a testament to their resilience. Nolan Schanuel’s walk-off walk capped a dramatic night filled with timely hits, bullpen challenges, and emotional moments. With both clubs closely matched in the AL West standings, every game counts — and Monday’s thriller could be a momentum builder for Los Angeles.
