Angels Snap Cardinals 5‑1 with Thundering First Inning

Explosive Start Secures Three‑Game Winning Streak

The Angels rolled to a 5‑1 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals on Tuesday night in Anaheim, extending their own winning streak to three games. This run marks their longest stretch of success since a four‑game run from June 9‑13. Five of Los Angeles’s ten hits arrived in the opening frame, powering a five‑run outburst that put the game out of reach.

Zach Neto led off with a single, only to be tossed out trying to stretch it into a double. Nolan Schanuel walked, and Jorge Soler responded with a two‑run double to left field. Vaughn Grissom’s RBI single pushed the Angels ahead 3‑0, and Jo Adell capped the inning with his 15th home run—a two‑run shot that made it 5‑0.

Ureña Dominates From the Mound

Walbert Ureña earned the win, tossing six innings and allowing just one run on six hits. The right‑hander struck out five batters and walked one, lowering his season ERA to 2.78 and improving to 2.49 in 14 starts since May 1. This was Ureña’s first appearance since the All‑Star break, and he tossed 16 pitches at 100 mph or faster, including a season‑high 101.5‑mph sinker to Jordan Walker in the first inning.

Ureña’s velocity surge is notable; he had thrown just 16 pitches at that speed across his previous 81 ⅓ innings in 17 starts. His ability to combine velocity with control helped the Angels keep the Cardinals offense in check for most of the night.

Cardinals Manage Only a Late Inning Run

St. Louis broke through in the fifth on a fielder’s‑choice grounder by J.J. Wetherholt, bringing home its solitary run. Starter Matthew Liberatore (5‑7) recovered from a shaky first inning to hold the Angels to four hits over 4 ⅓ innings. Despite the late tally, the Cardinals have struggled, losing 10 of their last 14 games.

Liberatore’s outing showcased his resilience, but the damage done early proved too much to overcome. The Cardinals’ current dip has left them hovering just above the .500 mark, and a win on Wednesday would provide a needed boost.

Relief Pitchers Lock Down the Finish

Angels relievers combined to preserve the victory. Mitch Farris tossed 1 ⅓ innings, striking out two, while Chase Silseth handled the eighth inning’s final two outs. Ryan Zeferjahn closed out the game with a scoreless ninth, fanning three of the five batters he faced.

The bullpen’s solid performance capped a team effort on both offense and defense. With the win, Los Angeles improves its postseason positioning as the summer stretch drives on.

Next Up: A Head‑to‑Head Battle Wednesday

On Wednesday, Cardinals right‑hander Hunter Dobbins (11‑4, 4.03 ERA) will face Angels left‑hander Reid Detmers (3‑6, 4.16 ERA). Both pitchers are looking for momentum shifts after their respective performances in this contest. The matchup promises to be competitive, with each team eager to build on their recent results.