Angels take gritty series opener against Phillies backed by Soler, Adell, and Ward homeruns

PHILADELPHIA -- The Angels begin their second half of the season with a win as they pull through with a close 6-5 victory against the Phillies. 

Jorge Soler, Jo Adell, and Taylor Ward led the charge on offense, each contributing home runs, and Mike Trout had a multi-hit game, going 2-5 and hitting .308 in his last seven games. The Halos ran a bullpen game today, as seven Angels pitchers took the mound at Citizens Bank Park, starting with Ryan Zeferjahn as the opener, and Kenley Jansen closed it out for his 17th save of the season. 

The MLB All-Star Game MVP, Kyle Schwarber, started the offense for both sides, launching his 31st home run of 2025 in the bottom of the first to give the Phillies an early 1-0 lead. Jorge Soler started the scoring bid for the Halos in the top half of the second with a solo shot of his own, his 11th of the season. 

Jake Eder came on for the Angels for the third and ran into some trouble as he gave up a single to Trea Turner and a free base to Schwarber. Eder would throw a wild pitch that would allow both Turner and Schwarber to advance 90 feet with Bryce Harper coming up to the plate. 

Harper connected with a sweeper up in the letters on a full count and launched the ball 375 feet over the right field fence for a three-run home run to give the Phillies a 4-1 lead. 

The Angels would have some ground to cover early, but chipped away at it early, as after Trout led off the fourth with a double, Adell smacked a line drive two-run home run to put Los Angeles within one. 

With runners on the corners and two outs, up came Trout again, and he lined an RBI knock to right center that allowed Zach Neto to score from third, and the Angels tied the game 4-4.  

Ward would put the finishing touches on the Angels' offensive production in the seventh by crushing his 22nd homerun, a two-run shot, to break the tie and give Los Angeles a 6-4 lead heading into the latter part of the game. 

Harper was doing everything in his power to keep the Phillies afloat by hitting his second home run of the game in the bottom of the eighth, but it was not enough as the Angels would secure a gritty 6-5 series-opening win. That home run marks career home run number 348 for Harper.

The Angels are now just one game under .500, 48-49, and 3.5 games out of a wild card spot.