ANAHEIM, California – Griffin Canning pitched six innings of one-run ball, Nolan Schanuel hit his first career home run and the Los Angeles Angels snapped their three-game skid with a 7-2 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals.
Willie Calhoun had three hits, including an RBI double during the Angels’ four-run opener, while Zach Neto and Taylor Ward later homered in the Angels’ seventh win in 26 games.
Kevin Pillar had his fourth consecutive multi-hit game for Los Angeles, which struck out 14 times while salvaging the final out of a 2-5 home game against Missouri’s two major league teams.
“We just kept the line from top to bottom,” Neto said. “That’s what we do as a team. We just play the game correctly and receive the rewards. When we do the little things right, good things happen.”
Canning (2-4) is off to another hot start for the Halos, finishing home with 11 2/3 innings of one-run ball in two starts. Louis got five hits and three hits from Canning, but the right-hander stranded six runners and held the Cards scoreless through the first five innings.
“Being able to get out there with a lead so early in the game just allows you to be on the attack early on,” Canning said. “It was amazing.”
Paul Goldschmidt singled in the sixth for the Cardinals, whose three-game winning streak ended. St. Louis has yet to win a series this season.
“I still like what we saw today from a lot of guys — a lot of hitting, the defense,” Cards coach Oliver Marmol said. “There are still some positives from a series win, but unfortunately we weren’t able to sweep.”
Lance Lynn (1-2) gave up four runs and eight hits with two walks in five innings for St. Louis. The senior allowed at least four earned runs in all three starts in May.
Schanuel, the Angels’ 22-year-old first baseman, hit his fourth home run of the season off the short right-field porch on Lynn’s third pitch. Calhoun added an RBI double moments later before scoring on Pillar’s infield single.
Pillar, who finally scored on a wild pitch, went 2-for-3 to improve to 10-for-16 with eight RBIs in his last four games with the team that signed him on May 1 after the White Sox designated him for assignment.
“That first inning … there were some oddities, but (Lynn) held it to four runs and gave us a chance,” Marmol said. “Overall, we had an opportunity.”
Goldschmidt led off the sixth with his fourth home run and the latest sign of improved form at the plate. The 2022 MVP has two home runs in his last four games after hitting just two while struggling in his first 37 games this season.
Neto hit his fourth home run in the sixth against Nick Robertson. Ward also hit his eighth home run in the seventh before Calhoun doubled and scored on Mickey Moniak’s single.
“(Calhoun) has been swinging the bat well, along with Pillar,” Angels manager Ron Washington said. “Those two seniors really gave us a boost.”
TRAINER’S ROOM
Angels: INF Luis Rengifo plans to return on Friday from a viral infection that caused blisters on his feet. … INF Miguel Sanó heads to the spring training complex in Arizona to continue recovery from inflammation in his left knee. He hopes to return in a week.
NEXT
Cardinals: Kyle Gibson (2-2, 3.67 ERA) wins Friday against Boston to open a nine-game homestand.
Angels: Tyler Anderson (3-4, 2.92 ERA) wins Friday in Texas against longtime Halos starter Andrew Heaney and the Rangers return to Los Angeles manager Ron Washington to face the team he led to two World Series.
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