The Los Angeles Angels made some more home run history last night, with Mike Trout once again leading the way.
The Los Angeles Angels were a streaky team last night, and it happened in the best way possible. It was an offensive display this time, and as usual Mike Trout led the way, following up on his home run duel with Aaron Judge by connecting in the first inning last night for his third straight home run in consecutive at-bats off starter Ryan Weathers.
That led to another back-to-back-to-back streak by the two hitters behind Trout, as Jo Adell and Jorge Soler added solo shots of their own. The last time that happened was in 2023 in Colorado, which Trout led a similar home run parade that featured the likes of Brandon Drury and Matt Thais as the followers.
“It was good,” Trout said in a piece written by Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com. “Last night was just the back and forth, and it obviously didn't come out with what we wanted to with the loss. But we came back and turned the page quick and kept the same rhythm offensively.”
Trout has now done this six times in his legendary career, which ties him with the likes of Hank Aaron, Adrian Beltre, J.D. Drew and Frank Thomas for the most times this has been done since 1900, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. The Angels have now accomplished this particular trifecta streak 15 times.
Bollinger noticed that Trout has been stepping back before starting each swing, but the Angels outfielder said he’s been doing this for some time. It also helps him gather himself after being pitched inside, which is happening all the time now.
“It just keeps me from getting stuck and spinning and being under the ball,” Trout explained.
It was also career homer No. 409 for Trout to tie him with Mark Teixeira for 57th on the all-time list, according to Bollinger. Coincidentally, when the Angels lost Teixeira via free agency to the Yankees prior to the 2009 season, they received a compensatory Draft pick they used to select Trout in the draft that year.
None of these home runs are cheap, either. Trout’s exit velocity was 110.1 mph, the writer added, while Adell hit 110.5 and Soler checked in at 104 mph. Yankees analyst Paul O’Neill noticed how hard Trout was swinging in virtually every at bat, but Weathers had a different take on what happened.
“To go out there and have it all happen in four pitches, it's pretty tough,” Weathers said, although he did manage to recover and make it through five innings. “It's obviously not a good idea to misfire a heater down the middle to one of the best hitters that ever played this game."