Taylor Ward is locked in, and the Los Angeles Angels are riding his scorching bat all the way up the standings.
Ward equaled a career best with five RBIs on Thursday, smashing a go-ahead grand slam in the seventh inning to propel the Angels past the Oakland Athletics with a 10–5 triumph. It was a pivotal moment in a game that saw Los Angeles extend their winning streak to seven and Ward’s second go-ahead grand slam in as many days.
Ward stated after the game that his ability to see the ball had improved. “To be honest, I think I can hit anything,” he remarked. “Right now, the game is sluggish. In addition, I am fortunate.
It certainly appears that way. The 31-year-old left fielder finished with three hits and extended his run of extra-base hits to eight games, just one shy of the team record established by Darin Erstad in 1998. He is still the driving force behind the Angels’ offense, which has exploded in recent weeks, and he has already recorded 17 RBIs in his previous ten games.
Ward’s homer against Oakland reliever Grant Holman in the seventh inning helped Los Angeles overturn a 5–4 lead with five runs. The Angels completed a four-game road sweep with a decisive victory, led by a single home run by catcher Logan O’Hoppe, his fourth of the series.
Since July 1997, this was the team’s first four-game sweep in Oakland. Additionally, it was their longest winning run on the road since the team’s 11-game winning streak away from home in 2018. Anaheim is gaining momentum, and the players are boosting one another’s vitality.
One of the main cornerstones of this team’s comeback is Ward. He was first groomed as a catcher out of Fresno State before switching to the outfield. He was selected by the Angels with the 26th overall choice in the first round of the 2015 MLB Draft. He started out in 2018 and has since developed into a reliable contributor.
Ward has 14 home runs, 34 RBIs, and a.225 batting average this season. He has 91 home runs, 276 RBIs, and a.250 average for his career.
Ward is the center of attention as the Angels head back home to play the Miami Marlins. This hot run doesn’t seem to be slowing down, with the squad clicking and confidence at an all-time high.
