Moniak’s 3 hits, defense help Angels rally for a 5-4 victory over Twins

By JOE REEDY
AP Sports Writer

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Mickey Moniak ended up coming through in center field for the Los Angeles Angels as Mike Trout had the night off.

Moniak had three hits and made a game-saving catch at the wall in the seventh inning as Los Angeles rallied for a 5-4 victory over the Minnesota Twins on Friday after Angels starter Reid Detmers took a no-hitter into the sixth inning.

Moniak was playing in center after Trout was out of the lineup for only the fourth time this season. The three-time AL MVP got an off day after the team flew cross country Thursday after completing a four-game series in Baltimore.

The all-around game continues what has been a strong start for Moniak since he was called up from Triple-A Salt Lake one week ago. In six games, he is 9 for 19 with two home runs and three RBIs.

“He’s done everything we’ve asked. He’s got an opportunity and he’s wrapped his hands around it and run with it,” manager Phil Nevin said.

In the top of the seventh, Moniak made a well-timed jump at the wall to rob Michael A. Taylor of what would have been a solo home run that would have given the Twins a two-run advantage.

In the bottom of the inning, Moniak’s triple to the right-field corner drove in Zach Neto and tied the score at 4-all.

“I like to pride myself on both sides of the ball. Just that catch there was a lot of work and refining stuff,” said Moniak, who was acquired from the Phillies at the trade deadline last year. “Just being able to see the fruits of my labor, I guess you could say is, is fun.”

Hunter Renfroe also had three hits for the Angels, including the RBI base hit in the seventh inning that drove in Taylor Ward for the go-ahead run.

Detmers tied a career high with 12 strikeouts and allowed only three Twins to reach base via walks before Byron Buxton lined a base hit to left with two outs in the sixth to end the left-hander’s bid for a second no-hitter. Carlos Correa’s walk and Buxton’s single started a three-run rally that allowed Minnesota to tie the score.

“I felt like I had all four pitches going. I was tunneling really well,” said Detmers, who allowed three runs and two hits. “I mean things kind of got out of hand in the sixth a little bit, but other than that it was really good.”

Willi Castro homered in the seventh inning for the Twins to give them a short-lived 4-3 lead.

Zack Weiss (1-0) got the win and Carlos Estevez picked up his 11th save.

Griffin Jax (2-6) was charged with the loss.

Minnesota has dropped three of four games on its road trip, and has squandered late leads.

“We didn’t just sit there and and mope and go, we’re just not going to score today. We went out there, scored some runs, and had the lead on a day where we don’t have a hit through most of the game,” manager Rocco Baldelli said. “We’ve done this a few times where we were in the driver’s seat, and then late in the game, we weren’t in the driver’s seat.”

The Angels opened the scoring in the third when Taylor Ward’s sacrifice fly brought home Zach Neto. Los Angeles added two runs in the fourth. Brandon Drury had an RBI double then scored on catcher Ryan Jeffers’ throwing error when Luis Rengifo stole second base.

After Buxton’s base hit in the sixth, Kyle Farmer followed with an RBI single to left to end Detmers’ night. The Twins then tied it on Alex Kirilloff’s two-run double down the right-field line off Jimmy Herget.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Twins: 2B Jorge Polanco (hamstring) will be out of the lineup for a couple days to see if he can avoid being placed on the injured list. … OF Kyle Garlick was called up from Triple-A St. Paul after Nick Gordon fractured his right tibia during Wednesday’s loss to the Dodgers.

Angels: INF Jared Walsh (headaches and insomnia) could be activated before Saturday’s game. … LHP Aaron Loup (right hamstring strain) threw a bullpen session on Friday and could face hitters on Monday.

UP NEXT

Twins: RHP Louie Varland (1-0, 4.30 ERA) makes his fifth start of the season after going a career-high 6 1/3 innings in last Sunday’s win against the Chicago Cubs.

Angels: LHP Patrick Sandoval (3-2, 3.22 ERA) came within two outs of throwing a no-hitter against the Twins last season.

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