Jacob deGrom Is Getting CRUSHED, And The Angels Just Unleashed A Rookie Nobody Saw Coming

Holy smokes, you guys. If you were watching baseball last night, you saw an absolute ambush in Anaheim! The Angels, who have been struggling hardcore, finally found some offense and hammered Jacob deGrom, taking a 9-6 win against the Texas Rangers. And get this: a rookie, Wade Meckler, made his first career Angels at-bat one for the highlight reels, smashing a three-run bomb that basically set the tone for the whole game. What a way to break a three-game losing streak!

Angels Offense Shows Up Big Time

The Halos came out swinging, and they didn't waste any time. Zach Neto kicked things off with a leadoff solo home run on deGrom's very first pitch, a 398-foot shot to left field. Talk about starting with a bang! That was Neto's 12th career leadoff homer and his fourth multi-home run game ever. After Mike Trout and Jorge Soler walked, Meckler stepped up for his very first big league plate appearance, and BAM! He launched a 403-foot, three-run homer into the right field bleachers, making it 4-0 just like that. This kid just got here and he’s already making noise. The Angels kept piling it on, getting two more runs in the third inning thanks to Logan O'Hoppe's two-run, bases-loaded single, pushing the lead to 6-0. Neto wasn't done, either. He led off the eighth with his tenth homer of the season, a 427-foot blast to left-center. Oswald Peraza even got in on the action with his sixth homer, a 418-foot drive in the seventh. This offense looked totally different from the team that had only won two games in their last eleven!

DeGrom Gets Ambushed, Rangers Fight Back (Almost)

Man, Jacob deGrom had a rough night, plain and simple. He tied a career-high by giving up four home runs in his previous start, and this game started no better. Neto took him deep on the first pitch, and it just spiraled from there. DeGrom lasted only three innings, giving up six runs on six hits and three walks, while only striking out three. It's tough to watch a pitcher of his caliber struggle like that, and his record now sits at 3-4. But give the Rangers credit for fighting back. Brandon Nimmo homered and doubled, driving in two runs. Evan Carter hit a two-run triple that sailed over Trout's head in center, and Jake Burger lined a ground-rule double to help cut the lead. Danny Jansen added his third homer of the season in the ninth off Mitch Farris, but by then, it was too little, too late.

What's Next for the Halos and Rangers?

The Angels got a much-needed win, especially with Grayson Rodriguez getting his first win since July 31, 2024, after missing almost two seasons with injuries. He pitched 5 2/3 innings, allowing four runs on seven hits, walking two, and striking out five. He looked solid for his second start in 670 days. This win was a huge boost for the Angels, who are desperate to find some consistency. These two teams aren't done yet, folks. They’ve got two more games in this series. Will the Angels keep this offensive momentum going, or will the Rangers get revenge and deGrom bounce back? You gotta tune in to see what happens next!

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.