Angels fall to Braves 8-3 on July 3, 2025, after a 7-run sixth inning fueled by a Matt Olson grand slam. Rookie Christian Moore exits with a thumb injury.
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
It was a night that started with promise but ended with a double dose of pain for the Los Angeles Angels. A catastrophic seven-run sixth inning, punctuated by a Matt Olson grand slam, handed the Halos a crushing 8-3 defeat against the Atlanta Braves. But the loss on the scoreboard was compounded by a potentially significant injury, as promising rookie second baseman Christian Moore was forced to leave the game with a left thumb injury, leaving the team and its fans holding their breath.
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.
What was a tight 1-0 game completely unraveled in the sixth inning. Reliever Ryan Zeferjahn entered and experienced a full-blown meltdown on the mound. He failed to record an out against the six batters he faced, surrendering two walks, two singles, and two home runs. The devastating blow came from former A's slugger Matt Olson, who launched a grand slam that broke the game wide open. By the time the dust settled, a one-run lead had turned into a six-run deficit, an insurmountable hole for the Angels to climb out of.
Adding injury to insult, the Angels lost a key piece of their infield in the very same inning. Second baseman Christian Moore made a fantastic diving effort on a ground ball but came up clutching his left thumb. He immediately exited the game, and the severity of the injury remains unknown. Losing the energetic rookie for any extended period would be a major blow to the team's defense and lineup, making the outcome of his diagnosis just as important as the outcome of the game itself.
Despite the brutal loss, there were a few individual bright spots. Jo Adell continued his torrid pace, extending his hitting streak to an impressive 13 games with a two-run single in the first inning. Later, slugger Jorge Soler provided a milestone moment, launching a solo shot in the ninth for his 200th career home run. It's a significant achievement for Soler, who has provided a welcome power surge since returning from the injured list, but it was unfortunately a footnote on an otherwise forgettable night.
The Angels will look to shake off this tough loss and salvage the series finale on Thursday. They'll send José Soriano (5-5, 3.99 ERA) to the mound to face Atlanta's Bryce Elder. While a win would be a welcome sight, the entire fanbase will be anxiously awaiting an update on the severity of Christian Moore's thumb injury, which could have a far greater impact on the season than a single game in July.
