Angels lose 8-3 to the Braves on July 3, 2025, after the bullpen implodes in a 7-run 6th. Ryan Zeferjahn struggles and Christian Moore gets injured.
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
For five and a half innings, it felt like the Angels had the formula. Strong starting pitching, timely hitting, and a 2-0 lead against the formidable Atlanta Braves. Then came the bottom of the sixth, a frame that will live in infamy for Angels fans, as a complete bullpen meltdown and a key injury turned a promising night into an 8-3 disaster at Truist Park.
Seven runs. Four hits. Two walks. Zero outs. The devastating sixth-inning line for reliever Ryan Zeferjahn.
Yusei Kikuchi was dealing. The veteran lefty masterfully navigated the potent Braves lineup for 5.2 scoreless innings, looking poised to hand a lead to the bullpen. But the wheels didn't just fall off; they were launched into orbit. Manager Ron Washington called on Ryan Zeferjahn, who proceeded to face six batters without recording a single out. A three-run homer by Sean Murphy erased the lead, and a back-breaking grand slam by Matt Olson blew the game wide open. What was a 2-0 Angels lead became a 7-2 deficit in the blink of an eye, a gut-punch that left the team and its fans stunned.
As if the seven-run inning wasn't painful enough, the Angels also lost their dynamic rookie second baseman, Christian Moore. The youngster made a valiant diving attempt on a ground ball in the sixth and came up clutching his left thumb. He immediately exited the game, and the team is now holding its breath awaiting an official diagnosis. Losing Moore for any significant amount of time would be a major blow to a team that has relied on his energy and production at the top of the order.
Despite the lopsided final score, there were a couple of individual achievements worth celebrating. Jo Adell continued his hot streak, lacing a two-run single in the first inning to extend his hitting streak to a team-best 13 games. Later, in the ninth, newly-activated slugger Jorge Soler provided a milestone moment, launching his 200th career home run into the seats. It was a solo shot that didn't change the outcome, but it's a significant personal achievement and a hopeful sign that Soler is finding his power stroke after his stint on the IL.
The Halos will look to wash the bitter taste of this loss away in the series finale on Thursday. They'll send right-hander José Soriano (5-5, 3.99 ERA) to the mound in a favorable matchup against Atlanta's struggling Bryce Elder. The team desperately needs a win to salvage a game in this series, but all eyes will be on the pre-game report for an update on Christian Moore's thumb. A win would be great, but a clean bill of health for the rookie might be the best news the Angels could hope for.
