Angels fall to Yankees 5-2 on June 16, 2025, as Taylor Ward's homer isn't enough to overcome struggles with RISP. See why José Soriano couldn't stop Aaron Judge.
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
Another night, another frustrating case of what could have been. The Angels rolled into the Bronx with a chance to make a statement against the Yankees but left with a familiar feeling of disappointment, falling 5-2 in the series opener. Despite a solo blast from Taylor Ward, the offense couldn't muster the clutch hits needed to support a battling José Soriano, continuing a trend that has kept this team hovering just below mediocrity all season.
The Angels went a dismal 1-for-7 with runners in scoring position, leaving seven men stranded on the basepaths.
José Soriano was tasked with quieting a potent Yankees lineup, and while he showed flashes of his electric stuff, striking out six, the Bronx Bombers ultimately got the best of him. Soriano's five-inning outing was marred by two costly home runs, including a towering shot from Aaron Judge for his 27th of the year. A two-run double by Anthony Volpe did further damage, saddling Soriano with four earned runs and his fifth loss of the season. It was a classic case of a starter keeping his team in the game, but a few key mistakes proved too much to overcome.
If there's one consistent bright spot in the Angels' lineup, it's Taylor Ward. He continued his stellar season by launching his 18th home run of the year, a solo shot that briefly gave the Halos life. Ward is on a torrid pace, cementing himself as the team's primary power threat and a reliable run producer. Alongside him, Nolan Schanuel chipped in with a solid 2-for-4 night and an RBI, but the rest of the lineup couldn't follow suit. It's great to see Ward excelling, but it underscores the desperate need for more consistent production from top to bottom.
Ultimately, this game was lost on the basepaths. Yankees starter Clarke Schmidt was effective, striking out eight over six innings, but the Angels had their chances. They put runners on, but time and again, they failed to bring them home. Finishing the night 1-for-7 with runners in scoring position is simply not going to win you many games, especially not at Yankee Stadium. This lack of clutch hitting has been the team's Achilles' heel, turning potential rallies into inning-ending outs and leaving the team four games under .500.
The Halos have no time to dwell on this one, as they're right back at it tomorrow in New York. The challenge doesn't get any easier, and the pressure is on the offense to wake up and provide the run support needed to even this series. One loss doesn't define a road trip, but it puts the spotlight squarely on the Angels to find an answer for their offensive woes, and fast.
