Zach Neto’s Home Run Lifts Angels Over Pirates 4-3

ANAHEIM, California — Zach Neto hit a tiebreaking home run leading off the eighth inning, giving the Los Angeles Angels a 4-3 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Thursday night. The win prevented the Angels from suffering a three-game series sweep.

Neto, recovering from right shoulder surgery, connected on an 81 mph sweeper from Pirates reliever Chase Shugart in the eighth inning to break a 3-3 tie. He finished the game with three hits, showcasing his return to form.

Angels closer Raisel Iglesias closed out the game by retiring Pittsburgh slugger Ke'Bryan Hayes on a line drive to right field, earning his sixth save of the season and the 453rd of his career.

The Pirates started strong with an early lead. O’Neill Cruz homered to right, and Ke’Bryan Hayes’ ground out scored another run, placing Pittsburgh ahead 2-0 in the first inning. Newly recalled first baseman Matt Gorski added to the lead with a 434-foot homer in the second inning, making it 3-0 for the Pirates. Gorski became the first Pittsburgh player to homer in his first big-league at-bat since 2012.

The Angels responded in the fourth inning, rebounding quickly by tying the game at 3. Mike Trout hit a triple and followed with an RBI single. Logan O’Hoppe contributed with a two-run homer, making a significant impact during the inning.

A key moment for the Angels came in the third inning when starting pitcher Tyler Anderson struck out Cruz and induced a flyout from Hayes, silencing a potential scoring threat with runners on second and third. Anderson retired 11 consecutive batters following that moment.

The win improves the Angels’ record to 12-13, while the Pirates fall to 10-15. Up next, the Pirates will send right-handed pitcher Mitch Keller (2-2, 2.87 ERA) against the Dodgers on Friday. Meanwhile, the Angels will start right-hander Patrick Sandoval (0-2, 4.50 ERA) against the Twins.