Zach Neto's walk-off single on his bobblehead night lifts the Angels over the Mariners 3-2 on July 26! Recap Neto's heroics and key team injury updates.
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
Some nights, baseball just feels like a movie. Saturday at Angel Stadium was one of those nights. On a night dedicated to him with his very own bobblehead, Zach Neto delivered a Hollywood ending, lining an opposite-field single in the 10th inning to give the Angels a dramatic 3-2 walk-off victory against the Seattle Mariners.
Yeah, it was pretty special. I think the baseball gods were on our side tonight.
The 10th inning was the Zach Neto show. Before he even stepped to the plate, he made a game-saving defensive play, charging a bunt and executing a perfect glove-flip to pitcher Ryan Zeferjahn for a crucial force out at third. After Zeferjahn (6-3) escaped the jam, the stage was set. Following a deep fly ball from Logan O'Hoppe that advanced the runner to third, Neto stepped in and delivered his first career walk-off hit, sending the home crowd into a frenzy. The win, which also featured a key RBI double from Jo Adell, was a much-needed jolt of energy for a team fighting to stay relevant.
The euphoria of the walk-off was unfortunately paired with some grim roster news. The Angels placed two key outfielders, Jorge Soler and Chris Taylor, on the 10-day injured list before the game. Soler is dealing with low back inflammation, while Taylor suffered a re-fracture of his left hand on a diving play. Taylor's injury is particularly severe, with an expected recovery time of six weeks, targeting a September return.
These injuries couldn't have come at a worse time. Soler was arguably the team's hottest hitter, posting a sizzling 1.169 OPS since the All-Star break, and his name was swirling in trade rumors. His injury now complicates any potential deals ahead of the deadline. With Mike Trout still limited to DH duties, the Angels are suddenly paper-thin in the outfield. The team recalled Scott Kingery and Gustavo Campero from Triple-A Salt Lake, and they, along with LaMonte Wade Jr., will be tasked with patching the holes.
The roster moves didn't stop with the outfield. In a corresponding shuffle to bolster the pitching staff, the Angels optioned left-hander Jake Eder to Triple-A and selected the contract of fellow lefty José Quijada from Double-A Rocket City. The move signals the front office's ongoing search for reliable arms to stabilize a bullpen that has been a constant work in progress.
Saturday was a perfect encapsulation of the 2025 Angels season: a moment of brilliant, heart-pounding excitement followed by the sobering reality of injuries. While fans will rightly celebrate Neto's heroics, the front office faces a monumental task. With the team now at 50-54 and the outfield decimated, the next few days leading up to the trade deadline will be critical in shaping the rest of the season.
