Zach Neto ties a franchise HR record and Travis d'Arnaud walks it off as the Angels beat the Diamondbacks 6-5 on July 12, 2025. Recap the thrilling finish.
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
Just when it seemed like a scorching hot start had cooled into a nail-biter, the Halos found a way. Travis d'Arnaud played the hero Friday night, lacing a pinch-hit single down the left-field line in the bottom of the ninth to score Logan O’Hoppe and give the Angels a dramatic 6-5 walk-off victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks in front of a buzzing crowd of 35,209.
With his seventh leadoff homer of the season, Zach Neto tied the Angels' single-season franchise record set by Brian Downing in 1987.
The night started with a bang—literally. On the very first pitch he saw, Zach Neto launched his seventh leadoff home run of the season, electrifying the stadium and instantly tying a franchise record held by Brian Downing since 1987. The fireworks didn't stop there. Just two batters later, Yoán Moncada, in his first home game since being activated from the injured list, announced his return with a towering two-run blast. By the time the dust settled on the first inning, the Angels had a commanding 4-0 lead, looking every bit the dominant force.
But this is baseball, and no lead is ever truly safe. The Diamondbacks, powered by former Angel Randal Grichuk's two home runs, methodically chipped away at the lead. Angels starter Tyler Anderson battled through five innings but surrendered four runs on eight hits, unable to keep the Arizona bats silent. The Angels' offense, after its initial explosion, went quiet, and what once felt like a blowout slowly tightened into a tense 5-5 deadlock heading into the final frame.
The stage was set for a hero. After veteran closer Kenley Jansen (3-2) shut down the D-backs in the top of the ninth, the Angels went to work. Logan O’Hoppe got things started, and with two outs, the call went to Travis d'Arnaud to pinch-hit. The veteran catcher delivered, finding a hole down the left-field line for the game-winning RBI. It was a textbook walk-off, sending the home crowd into a frenzy and marking another gritty win for a team that improved to 7-3 against the NL West.
Before the game, the Angels made a small bullpen move, recalling lefty Jake Eder from Triple-A Salt Lake and optioning righty Jack Kochanowicz. Now, with the series-opening win secured, the focus shifts to Saturday's matchup. The Angels (46-48) will send their All-Star, LHP Yusei Kikuchi (3-6, 3.02 ERA), to the mound. He'll face Arizona's Zac Gallen (7-9, 5.15 ERA) in what promises to be a compelling pitching duel. The Halos will look to build on this momentum and inch closer to the .500 mark.
Friday night was a reminder of everything we love about this team: historical moments, comeback power, and late-game heroics. With a thrilling victory in their pocket and their ace on the hill for Saturday, the Angels have a prime opportunity to clinch the series against Arizona. Can they keep the magic going? Be sure to tune in and find out.
