The Angels’ Jo Adell rounds the bases after hitting a solo home run against the Texas Rangers during the seventh inning at Globe Life Field on May 18, 2024 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ron Jenkins//Keynote USA/Getty Images)
ARLINGTON, Texas – Jo Adell hit her eighth home run, tying her career high, and threw out a runner at the plate Saturday night.
But amid all that, the Angels outfielder was equally proud of another recent improvement in his game. He got two tickets.
It was just the second time in Adell’s career that he walked two in a game, and the first time he did so in a game with another hit.
“Honestly, the home run is cool, but it was a huge part of my game yesterday,” Adell said Sunday. “We talk about making good decisions. That’s what it’s about. So I’m really happy to be able to come in and take control of the zone later in the game, especially in a close game like that where it’s easy to get anxious and want to do too much. I didn’t have a pitch to hit, so we passed it on to the next guy.”
Adell walked in the ninth and twelfth innings. Unfortunately for the Angels, they couldn’t take advantage of his walks. He simply ended up being one of the runners left on base as the Angels went 0-for-18 with runners in scoring position.
Adell has drawn nine walks in 123 plate appearances this season, just two shy of the career high he set in 285 plate appearances in 2022. Adell’s walk rate of 7.3% is higher than the 4.9% rate he brought to the season.
“That’s growth,” manager Ron Washington said. “He is starting to accept what he is given and not try to force things. Early in his major league career, he was trying to be impressive. Now, the only person he’s trying to impress is Adell. “Once you get to that point, you’re moving forward.”
Adell is hitting .250 with an .847 OPS this season.
The throw Adell made was also a sign of his defensive improvement. Adell is now right around the Major League average in terms of Outs Above Average, according to Statcast. He had been significantly below average early in his career.
“I have to give a lot of credit to (field coach) Bo Porter for helping me go out there and create a routine for this to really go well,” Adell said. “It’s about rhythm and practice. “I’ve practiced in game-like situations and been able to manifest it, so I’m excited about it.”
AND MONIAK?
Outfielder Mickey Moniak, on the other hand, hasn’t made the strides that Adell has, despite having a breakthrough season last year.
Moniak entered Sunday’s game batting .186 with a .499 OPS.
When Washington was asked what Moniak needed to improve, he had a simple answer.
“Stop trying to dig deeper,” Washington said. “If you look at his blood pressure, everything is short and crisp. Then when you get into the game, your emotions take over. I just have to start controlling his emotions, start taking what the pitcher is giving him and I think things will start to work. But for that to happen, it has to be Moniak who does it.”
On Sunday, Washington could have benched Moniak in favor of veteran Kevin Pillar, who was hitting .432 in his first 11 games with the Angels.
Washington said he wanted to give Moniak a chance to get going with back-to-back games, having played just once in the previous four games.
The Angels are also trying to be careful with Pillar, who is 35 years old. He had played four games in a row before Saturday.
“When Pillar came here, he came here as a guy who was going to fill in here and there,” Washington said. “He’s hot. I’m not going to accept that from him. But I have kids who also need to play.”
Pillar is expected to play at least twice in Houston, including Monday against left-hander Framber Valdez.
GRADES
Luis García’s average fastball velocity had not been above 97 mph in any of his first 18 games, but in his last two games it has been 97.9 mph and 98.2 mph. He threw his three hardest pitches of the season on Saturday, each at 99 mph. Garcia has been adjusting his mechanics to focus on going straight toward the plate, rather than across his body, and this has allowed his velocity to increase. However, García gave up the tie streak on Saturday. He threw a splitter to Nathaniel Lowe, who hit a sacrifice fly. …
Left-hander Matt Moore’s fastball velocity was a season-low 91.8 mph when he allowed two runs on Friday. Although Moore threw only 21 pitches in that game, he was notably absent from the Angels’ 13-inning game Saturday night. Moore said Sunday that he feels healthy, but the Angels may be taking a cautious approach with how they use the 34-year-old. …
Saturday’s one-run loss added another chapter to the frustration of a team that Washington often says is still “learning how to win.” The Angels are 5-16 in games decided by one or two runs. “We know there is a lot of work to do,” Washington said. “Everything they go through as this year progresses will be a learning experience.” …
Willie Calhoun started at first base on Sunday, the first start of his major league career at that position. Calhoun had first played in Triple-A this season. Washington said earlier this month that Calhoun, who is 5-foot-8, was too short to play first, but gave him a chance Sunday because he wanted to give Nolan Schanuel the day off and didn’t have a better option. “Yesterday I told him I was going to throw him a bone and he better eat it,” Washington said. “Because if he makes a mistake and doesn’t eat that bone, it will be the last bone he gets.” …
Left-hander Amir Garrett elected free agent. The Angels designated Garrett for assignment earlier this week. He cleared waivers and then refused to remain in the minors with the Angels, exercising his right to become a free agent. The Angels are still trying to bring him back on a minor league contract.
UNTIL NEXT TIME
Angels (LHP Reid Detmers, 3-4, 5.19) vs. Astros (LHP Framber Valdez, 3-1, 2.95) at Minute Maid Park, 5:10 p.m. PT Monday, Bally Sports West, 830 a.m.
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