The Los Angeles Angels celebrated a thrilling victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks, winning 10-9 on March 10, 2024, at Salt River Fields in Scottsdale, Arizona. This match marked the return of Mike Trout to center field for the first time in nearly two years, a significant milestone for the star player and the team.
Alek Manoah, the right-handed pitcher making his spring debut, began the game with two scoreless innings. He faced the minimum six hitters, throwing 25 pitches, of which only 11 were strikes. Manoah walked two batters but successfully executed two double plays to escape trouble. His fastball reached speeds of 93-94 mph in the first inning. “That’s perfect,” he remarked, adding that he felt good about his progress. Despite a slight dip in velocity during the second inning, he attributed it to using a slide step with a runner on base.
The Angels built an early 6-1 lead before right-hander Chase Silseth took the mound in the sixth inning. Unfortunately, Silseth struggled, allowing six runs on five hits, including two doubles and a home run. With options running out, he faced pressure to secure a spot on the roster. Sam Bachman followed, walking three batters while recording only two outs in the seventh. Left-hander Dylan Phillips stepped in to prevent further damage and held the one-run lead.
Trout made an immediate impact at the plate, walking and hitting a single in his first two at-bats of the spring. “Stuff I’ve been working on in practice, it’s tough to do it in live BPs,” he stated. “Finally good to be in a stadium with some crowds, get some adrenaline going.” Other contributions came from Adam Frazier, who drove in a run with a single, and José Siri, whose powerful double reached the center field fence at 110 mph.
The game also saw promising performances from Niko Kavadas, who added two RBIs with a double and a single, and Yolmer Sanchez, who reached base with a well-placed bunt single. Notably, Juan Flores, a 20-year-old catching prospect, hit a home run, adding to the excitement for Angels fans.
Defensively, Trout’s return to center field was significant, given his injury history over the past two seasons. He handled one routine fly ball in four innings, expressing his comfort in the position. “It feels good to be out there,” Trout said. “I just like being out there.” First baseman Trey Mancini also showcased his skills, completing two unassisted double plays, while Sanchez made a critical sliding play to secure the final out of the game.
Looking ahead, the Angels will face the Texas Rangers on March 11, 2024, with left-handed pitcher Reid Detmers set to take the mound against Jack Leiter at Tempe Diablo Stadium. The anticipation for the upcoming match is high as the Angels look to build on their spring momentum.
