Anaheim, Calif. — July 9, 2025
The Los Angeles Angels rode a late-game surge powered by Jorge Soler and Mike Trout to an 11-8 win over the Texas Rangers on Wednesday night, taking a thrilling back-and-forth contest at Angel Stadium and clinching a pivotal win in the AL West standings.
Trailing 8-6 in the bottom of the eighth, the Angels rallied behind Soler’s booming two-run homer off reliever Luke Jackson. The 421-foot blast to left field broke the tie and ultimately served as the game-winner in an offensive slugfest that featured five total home runs and numerous lead changes.
Trout’s Power on Full Display
Mike Trout, the longtime face of the Angels franchise, turned back the clock with a vintage performance at the plate. The three-time AL MVP launched a two-run shot in the third inning and followed up with a solo home run in the fifth — his 16th of the season — putting the Angels ahead 6-5 at the time. In addition to his homers, Trout added a productive flyout in the seventh inning that moved two runners into scoring position, setting the table for Taylor Ward’s game-tying two-RBI single.
Trout’s multi-homer night was his fourth of the season and 27th of his career, reinforcing his status as one of the league’s most dangerous hitters when healthy.
Rangers Answer with Firepower
The Texas Rangers didn’t go quietly, scoring in five separate innings and leaning on Marcus Semien and Kyle Higashioka to carry the offensive load. Semien delivered a two-run homer in the seventh — his 10th of the year — to briefly give the Rangers an 8-6 edge. He finished with four RBIs and has now driven in 16 runs in his last 12 games.
Higashioka added a solo homer and an RBI single, helping Texas match the Angels punch for punch through the first seven frames. But the bullpen couldn’t hold the lead late, and the loss dropped the Rangers to 45-48 on the season.
Pitching Struggles on Both Sides
Neither starting pitcher made it out of the fifth inning. Texas starter Kumar Rocker, who entered with a 5.80 ERA, gave up six runs over 4 1/3 innings, surrendering two home runs and walking three. Angels veteran Kyle Hendricks fared only slightly better, lasting 3 2/3 innings and allowing five runs, four of them earned.
The Angels used eight pitchers in the win, with José Fermin (2-0) picking up the victory after a scoreless eighth. Closer Kenley Jansen worked around a leadoff walk in the ninth to secure his 16th save of the season.
Key Moment: Soler Goes Deep
Jorge Soler’s clutch home run came on the first pitch he saw from Jackson in the eighth. After Yoán Moncada singled to lead off the inning, Soler turned on a fastball and deposited it deep into the left-field seats. It was Soler’s 13th homer of the season and his fifth go-ahead blast in the eighth inning or later — the most in the majors.
Stat of the Night
The two teams combined to use 13 pitchers and tally 21 hits, with seven players recording multi-hit games. The Angels improved to 30-8 in games where they score five or more runs, while the Rangers fell to 13-21 in games decided by three runs or fewer.
What’s Next
The series finale is set for Thursday at Angel Stadium, with first pitch scheduled for 9:38 p.m. ET. The Rangers will send veteran Nathan Eovaldi (6-3, 1.62 ERA) to the mound looking to even the series, while the Angels counter with right-hander José Suarez (4-4, 4.89 ERA).
With the season entering a crucial stretch before the All-Star break, both clubs are battling not only for positioning in the AL West, but to find consistency in what has been a rollercoaster first half.
