Angels lose 8-3 to the Braves on July 3, 2025, after a 7-run bullpen collapse. Ryan Zeferjahn implodes as Sean Murphy & Matt Olson homer. Read more.
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
For five innings, it felt like the Angels were in control. Yusei Kikuchi was dealing, the offense had an early lead, and a win against the formidable Atlanta Braves seemed within reach. Then came the sixth inning—a catastrophic frame that not only erased all the early promise but sent the Halos spiraling to an 8-3 defeat, leaving fans with a bitter taste of what could have been.
Reliever Ryan Zeferjahn faced six batters in the sixth inning without recording a single out, watching his ERA balloon from 4.78 to 6.19.
The game turned on its head in the bottom of the sixth. With a 2-1 lead, manager Ron Washington went to his bullpen, bringing in Ryan Zeferjahn to relieve a solid Yusei Kikuchi. The move backfired spectacularly. Zeferjahn failed to record an out, surrendering a go-ahead three-run homer to Sean Murphy followed by a back-breaking grand slam to Matt Olson. In the blink of an eye, a one-run lead became a six-run deficit. The seven-run inning was a gut punch, rendering the rest of the game a formality and highlighting the team's ongoing bullpen struggles.
As if the on-field collapse wasn't enough, the Angels lost a key piece of their infield in the very same inning. Rookie second baseman Christian Moore was placed on the 10-day injured list with a left thumb sprain after diving for a ground ball. His hand bent awkwardly on the play, forcing him from the game. The injury sidelines one of the team's promising young players at a critical time, adding another layer of adversity to an already challenging season.
Despite the lopsided final score, there were a few moments for Angels fans to celebrate. Center fielder Jo Adell continued his hot streak, extending his hitting streak to 13 games with a two-run single in the first inning. Later, in the ninth, newly activated Jorge Soler provided some late fireworks, crushing his 200th career home run—a massive 448-foot shot. These individual achievements, while welcome, were unfortunately buried under the weight of the team's disastrous inning.
The front office was busy on Thursday, making moves to address the team's needs. In a move signaling a desire for change in the bullpen, the Angels released veteran right-hander Héctor Neris. To fill the roster spot and add infield depth in the wake of Moore's injury, the team selected the contract of shortstop Chad Stevens from Triple-A Salt Lake. These transactions reflect a clear attempt to shake things up and find solutions for a pitching staff that has struggled with consistency.
It was a day of extremes for the Angels, where individual milestones were completely overshadowed by a collective meltdown. The team must now regroup from a gut-wrenching loss, navigate yet another key injury, and hope the latest roster shuffle can provide some much-needed stability. With the bullpen in flux and a key rookie sidelined, the Halos' resilience will be tested as they look to bounce back and salvage the series.
