PHILADELPHIA — On a warm, sticky day in Philadelphia, the Angels didn’t have to sweat.
The Angels scored five runs in the second inning and never looked back on their way to an 8-2 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies on Sunday.
Right-hander José Soriano gave up two runs in seven innings and the entire lineup produced. They had 13 hits and scored in four innings.
The Angels (49-50) won two of three in the series against the National League East division leaders. It was the first time they won on a Sunday since May 18.
The only downside on the game was that first baseman Nolan Schanuel was hit in the left wrist by a pitch in the first inning. Schanuel was removed from the game with what was initially diagnosed as a contusion. He’s day to day.
Not long after Schanuel left the game, the Angels showed that they could produce without him.
With one out in the second inning, the Angels strung together four straight singles — three from the bottom of the lineup — to produce a run. An out later, the bases were still loaded for Mike Trout. He took a 3-and-2 pitch that appeared to nick the top of the strike zone, but it was called a ball, pushing in the second run of the inning with a walk.
Four pitches later, Taylor Ward doubled into the gap in left center, clearing the bases and putting the Angels up 5-0. Ward added an RBI double in the seventh.
Trout contributed a sacrifice fly and LaMonte Wade Jr. — who replaced Schanuel at first — had the Angels’ only homer. Wade had three hits and a walk.
Eight players registered hits in each of the three games of the series. It was the eighth time in the last 10 games that the Angels reached double-figures in hits.
Over that span, they’ve hit .293.
With a comfortable lead before he threw his 13th pitch of the game, Soriano cruised.
Soriano got 16 outs on 14 ground balls, including two double plays. Soriano leads the majors with 24 ground ball double plays.
Soriano struck out five and walked two in his 93-pitch outing.
By getting deep in the game, Soriano helped provide a rest for the bullpen two days after Friday’s bullpen game. The entire bullpen except Carson Fulmer — who pitched Saturday and Sunday — will be available for the opener of a series on Monday against the New York Mets.
More to come on this story.