Lowe's Grand Slam Victory
Josh Lowe's Grand Slam Propels Angels to Series Victory Over Athletics
Josh Lowe hit a 403-foot grand slam in the second inning on Sunday, powering the Los Angeles Angels to a 4-1 win over the Athletics and a series victory at Angel Stadium. FOX Sports reported the blast — Lowe's first home run since May 20 — came on a 1-2 count cutter from A's starter Aaron Civale and landed in the right-field corner, producing all four of the Angels' runs.
The win capped a strong stretch for Los Angeles. Since mid-May, the Angels have gone 19-15 — a .559 winning percentage — and scored 185 runs, second most in the majors behind only the Dodgers, according to StatMuse. All of this has unfolded while the front office burns around them.
Grand Slam Seals the Rubber Match for Anaheim
Lowe's slam was the only offense either team needed. Oakland went 0-for-8 with runners in scoring position and left eight men on base, according to CBS Sports. Starting pitcher Sam Aldegheri did the rest, allowing just one run over five innings to improve his record to 3-3. Reliever Samy Natera Jr. closed it out and earned his first career major league save.
The game came one day after the Angels bounced back from a 9-3 series-opening loss on June 26. In that rubber match, veteran closer Kirby Yates secured the save in a 5-2 win on June 27, setting up Sunday's finale. Manager Kurt Suzuki told reporters after the series clincher that the "vibes are good," according to NBC Sports.
Triple-A Callups Are Driving the Angels' Hot Run
Aldegheri and Natera Jr. both spent time in Triple-A earlier this season. Their success is not a coincidence. Baseball Almanac noted that manager Kurt Suzuki has moved away from a veteran-first approach, instead pushing younger players with aggressive plate discipline and internal competition for roster spots.
Suzuki told reporters, "I truly do believe that we've hit a cold stretch [earlier], but this group is ready to show what Angels baseball can look like when everyone pulls in the same direction." Lowe himself is batting just .204 with 6 home runs and 18 RBI in 49 games, per FantasyPros, but his big moments keep coming at the right time.
GM Fired Days Before Series, Front Office in Flux
The Angels fired General Manager Perry Minasian on June 26 — the same day the series began — midway through his sixth season. Team President Molly Jolly named former St. Louis Cardinals GM John Mozeliak as interim GM, according to WRAL. Mozeliak has said that "winning still matters" despite the internal review of the organization underway.
Catcher Logan O'Hoppe captured the clubhouse mood after the firing. "He brought me here... it's just a tough situation," O'Hoppe said, per WRAL. The series win gave the team a chance to focus on the field rather than the front office. Mozeliak now faces a permanent GM search and an approaching trade deadline with a team that is playing better than expected.
What the Hot Streak Means for the Trade Deadline
The Angels have not made the playoffs in 12 years. They have posted 10 straight losing seasons. But their 185 runs since May 18 — second in all of baseball — has complicated the usual plan to sell off veterans at the July deadline, according to MLB Trade Rumors. Owner Arte Moreno may now face pressure to buy instead of sell.
Analysts warn the team's farm system is weak. A buying strategy at the deadline could cost prospects the Angels badly need. Still, the success of Lowe, Aldegheri, and Natera Jr. signals that the team's own pipeline may be more useful than previously thought, per Field Level Media. Suzuki, on a one-year deal, knows his job next season may hinge on what happens in the next few weeks.
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