José Soriano earned his first career win as a starting pitcher by throwing six innings, and Mickey Moniak’s three-run homer helped the Los Angeles Angels secure a 6-0 victory over the Cleveland Guardians on Friday night.
Soriano, who only pitched in relief last season, allowed five hits but managed to work out of a tight spot in the fifth inning by striking out Andrés Giménez with the bases loaded.
Moniak praised Soriano’s performance, especially his impressive curveball, saying it was enjoyable to watch him pitch from center field.
Amir Garrett pitched one inning, and José Suarez finished the game to secure the Angels’ second shutout of the season.
Despite a challenging moment in the fifth inning, when the Guardians put two runners on base, Soriano remained focused and managed to escape the jam without allowing any runs.
Nolan Schanuel homered and Willie Calhoun contributed three hits for the Angels, who broke a streak of struggles at Progressive Field by winning just their third game in their last 26 visits.
Moniak’s home run against Tanner Bibee in the fourth inning was a significant moment, adding three crucial runs to the scoreboard. The Angels capitalized on their offensive momentum, with Calhoun and Logan O’Hoppe hitting back-to-back doubles earlier in the inning to give their team a 2-0 lead.
Moniak, who has been performing well recently, attributed his success to improvements in his swing and feeling confident at the plate.
