Italian rookie Sam Aldegheri earned his first Major League win, allowing one run on three hits over six innings in the Los Angeles Angels’ 5-1 win against the Texas Rangers on Friday night.
Aldegheri (1-1), who is the first Major League pitcher born and raised in Italy, struck out seven and walked three in his second career start. Last Friday, the 22-year-old left-hander gave up seven runs – two earned – in five innings during a 9-5 loss to Seattle.
Aldegheri, who first got to know Major League Baseball by watching videos of Dodgers star Clayton Kershaw on YouTube and streaming on Italian TV, said he has dreamed of this first win “a lot.”
“For sure it was something that I was looking to accomplish today, and I did it,” Aldegheri said. He began the season in Single-A with the Philadelphia organization, was acquired at the trade deadline, and was brought up from Double-A last Friday. “So, it feels really great.”
Aldegheri is the third Italian-born pitcher to win a Major League game, the first since Marino Pieretti of the Chicago White Sox in 1949.
“This kid has an idea how to pitch,” Angels manager Ron Washington said, “and he showed that tonight.”
Logan O’Hoppe hit a three-run home run in the sixth inning.
O’Hoppe took an 0-2 changeup from reliever José Ureña and sent it deep into left field after Anthony Rendon reached base on a fielding error by third baseman Josh Jung, and Mickey Moniak singled. It was O’Hoppe’s career-best 19th home run of the season.
The Angels took a 2-0 lead in the third inning against Gerson Garabito (0-2), who was making his second start of the season and first since May 26. Zach Neto drove in Brandon Drury with a bases-loaded double play, and Nolan Schanuel singled to score Niko Kavadas.
