The Angels came out absolutely swinging against the St. Louis Cardinals on Tuesday, dropping a ridiculous five-spot in the very first inning that flat-out stunned starter Mathew Liberatore. This was an explosive statement, marking the most runs the Halos have put up in a first inning since June 2025 against the Red Sox. You know it’s a good omen when the first six guys to the plate all reach base, and that’s exactly what went down.
Adell’s Bomb Caps Off a Monster First Inning
The Angels lineup was on fire. Jorge Soler and Vaughn Grissom both came through with clutch RBIs, Soler ripping a single and Grissom mashing a double. These two have been locked in, driving in runs in their second straight game, showing that consistency we all crave. But let’s be real, the true fireworks belonged to Jo Adell. This guy has been looking to ignite a hot streak for himself and the team, after a two-RBI game against the Cardinals the night before that ended with a walk-off hit by pitch. He put a huge exclamation point on that crazy first inning with his 15th home run of the season, a screaming two-run shot into left field. He even said watching other guys’ at-bats helped him refine his own approach, waiting for “something I can do damage with.” Mission accomplished, Jo, because you absolutely did damage! That’s the kind of power combination that makes a difference.
Walbert Ureña’s Disgusting Heat Blanks St. Louis
As if that five-run cushion wasn’t enough, Walbert Ureña decided it was his turn to put on a legendary show. This rookie has been a revelation, boasting a 2.88 ERA and 1.32 WHIP going into this start. He was on an absolute tear before the All-Star break, giving up just one combined run over his final two starts. Yeah, he had that seven-run mishap against the Athletics in June, but last night against the Cardinals? He was simply untouchable. Ureña navigated some traffic in the first inning, escaping run-free, and the All-Star break rest must have done him some good. An insane 16 of his 28 pitches in the first inning clocked in at 100+ MPH! Ureña admitted he couldn’t help but peek at the radar behind home plate to see those triple digits himself. And get this: even his own teammates were blown away. Mike Trout apparently looked at Adell and joked, “These are like 100 MPH changeups.” Adell called them “disgusting,” saying some of the Cardinals’ best hitters were “just baffled.” You love to hear about that level of dominance from a young gun. Ureña finished with six sharp innings, allowing just one earned run, six hits, one walk, and six strikeouts. He left the game with a commanding 5-1 lead that never felt in doubt.
The Angels didn’t tack on any more runs after that first inning explosion, but they didn’t need to! Mitch Farris, Chase Silseth, and Ryan Zeferjahn came in from the bullpen and absolutely slammed the door shut, tossing scoreless innings that completely suffocated any comeback hopes for the Cardinals. This secured the Angels’ third-straight win, their first three-game winning streak since early June when they rattled off four straight against the Houston Astros and Tampa Bay Rays. Manager Kurt Suzuki summed it up perfectly, calling it a “great team victory” with everyone setting the tone early and finishing strong. This kind of momentum is exactly what you need, especially as the season rolls on. Can they keep this rolling? You bet your bottom dollar we’re watching!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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