The Los Angeles Angels had a dominating performance against the Chicago Cubs on Saturday afternoon, with pitcher Tyler Anderson leading the charge. Anderson threw eight scoreless innings and tied a career-high with 10 strikeouts, helping the Angels to a much-needed 7-0 victory to snap a five-game losing streak.
Anderson was in top form, not allowing a single walk and giving up just three hits, all singles. He kept the Cubs off balance all game, not allowing a baserunner to advance beyond first base. Anderson made 98 pitches before Angels manager Ron Washington decided to bring in Ben Joyce to close out the game in the ninth inning.
Joyce did just that, finishing the shutout despite giving up a single to Nico Hoerner. He struck out two batters in the inning, including Cody Bellinger on a blazing 103.1 mph fastball. The Angels’ pitching staff was firing on all cylinders, shutting down the Cubs’ offense completely.
The Angels’ offense also came alive in this game, providing ample support for Anderson on the mound. Every player in the starting lineup contributed at least one hit, with the team totaling 12 hits overall. Jo Adell hit his 14th home run of the season, tying him for the team lead with Taylor Ward.
Nolan Schanuel, Keston Hiura, and Logan O’Hoppe each had two hits for the Angels, while Zach Neto added two stolen bases to the offensive onslaught. It was a stark turnaround for the Angels, who had struggled to score runs in their previous games, managing just one run in their last three outings.
Cubs starter Kyle Hendricks was forced to leave the game after just two innings due to lower back tightness, allowing the Angels to jump on the bullpen early. They loaded the bases in the first inning and scored one run on a hit-by-pitch, but Cubs right fielder Seiya Suzuki’s throw to home plate cut down a runner trying to score, limiting the damage.
The Angels continued to pressure the Cubs bullpen, scoring runs in the second and third innings to build a comfortable lead. Anderson’s stellar pitching performance kept the Cubs at bay, retiring 13 consecutive batters at one point and breezing through several innings with ease.
Overall, it was a complete team effort for the Angels, who showcased their pitching prowess and offensive firepower in the victory. With the win, they snapped their losing streak and will look to build on this momentum in their upcoming games.
