The fourth-place Los Angeles Angels didn’t need any extra challenges in Monday’s game against the first-place New York Yankees, but that’s exactly what happened. Yankees slugger Giancarlo Stanton made his season debut in the game after rehabbing from tendinitis in both elbows.
The 6-foot-6-inch, 245-pounder has 429 career homers, which tops all active players. He also won the ALCS MVP award last season and hit seven homers with 16 RBI across 14 playoff games in New York’s pennant run.
Stanton picked up where he left off on Monday, going 2-for-4 with a double and a groundout on a rocket to Angels third baseman Luis Rengifo. The 35-year-old opened up about his outing postgame, via SNY.
New York Yankees designated hitter Giancarlo Stanton (27).
David Dermer-Imagn Images
“It’s good to be out there. Thought I saw the ball pretty well, besides one at-bat,” he said. “So just working on that, making sure my timing’s geared up. Get rolling.”
Stanton and third baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr. combined for five of New York’s eight hits.
The Angels only had seven hits, but they still won 1-0 in 11 innings. First baseman Noach Schanuel plated rookie second baseman Christian Moore on a double in the top of the 11th, and Los Angeles’ bullpen took care of the rest.
New York is now 2.5 games ahead of the Tampa Bay Rays for first place in the AL East, while Los Angeles is 1.5 games behind the Texas Rangers for third in the AL West and is 2.5 out of a Wild Card spot.
Monday was the Angels’ first win over the Yankees this season. New York leads the season series 3-1 ahead of Tuesday night’s rematch.
