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The Los Angeles Angels moved Zach Neto to the No. 4 spot for Wednesday’s game against the Baltimore Orioles, and immediately saw results.
Neto, who entered the game with just two hits in 18 at-bats since the beginning of the month and had an OPS below .700 during July, ripped a three-run homer to give the Angels an early lead over the Orioles—one which would persist throughout the remainder of the game as they salvaged their series on the road.
He went 2-for-5 on the day with a single in addition to his three-run shot, marking his first multi-hit game since July 21.
“Looking at the result, it went great,” said manager Kurt Suzuki. “[Outfielder Wade] Meckler had good at-bats at the top, and then Neto coming up with those situations with guys on base. Just more opportunities for him to drive guys in. So I thought it flowed pretty well.”
Neto’s home run was his 20th of the year, marking the third consecutive season in which he has reached that mark. With the bomb, he became the first shortstop in Angels history with 20 homers and 20 doubles in three consecutive seasons.
Aug 6, 2026; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Los Angeles Angels shortstop Zach Neto (9) connects on a three-run home run during the third inning against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Mitch Stringer-Imagn Images
While perhaps not the main cause of his struggles, the trade talks which surrounded Neto in the weeks leading up to the deadline likely weighed on his mind.
“Like I said before, it’s probably one of the most stressful weeks during the year,” Neto said. “So I’m glad it’s over.”
Several teams took interest in Neto just before the trade deadline, with the Boston Red Sox being one of the main contenders for the controllable shortstop. The Angels—despite unloading several pieces at the deadline—decided to hold onto Neto, and will hope he can continue to perform well for them as they look to rebuild their franchise from the ground up.
The Angels are in the midst of the longest playoff drought in MLB, having not played October baseball since 2014, and certainly won’t this season, as they have the worst record in MLB at the moment.
The future is bright after they acquired several prospects at the deadline, though, and they’ll look to improve throughout the remainder of the season.
The post Zach Neto Busts Slump in Move Away From Leadoff Spot appeared first on LA Sports Report.
Continue reading...
Neto, who entered the game with just two hits in 18 at-bats since the beginning of the month and had an OPS below .700 during July, ripped a three-run homer to give the Angels an early lead over the Orioles—one which would persist throughout the remainder of the game as they salvaged their series on the road.
He went 2-for-5 on the day with a single in addition to his three-run shot, marking his first multi-hit game since July 21.
“Looking at the result, it went great,” said manager Kurt Suzuki. “[Outfielder Wade] Meckler had good at-bats at the top, and then Neto coming up with those situations with guys on base. Just more opportunities for him to drive guys in. So I thought it flowed pretty well.”
Neto’s home run was his 20th of the year, marking the third consecutive season in which he has reached that mark. With the bomb, he became the first shortstop in Angels history with 20 homers and 20 doubles in three consecutive seasons.
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Aug 6, 2026; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Los Angeles Angels shortstop Zach Neto (9) connects on a three-run home run during the third inning against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Mitch Stringer-Imagn Images
Why Was Zach Neto Struggling?
While perhaps not the main cause of his struggles, the trade talks which surrounded Neto in the weeks leading up to the deadline likely weighed on his mind.
“Like I said before, it’s probably one of the most stressful weeks during the year,” Neto said. “So I’m glad it’s over.”
Several teams took interest in Neto just before the trade deadline, with the Boston Red Sox being one of the main contenders for the controllable shortstop. The Angels—despite unloading several pieces at the deadline—decided to hold onto Neto, and will hope he can continue to perform well for them as they look to rebuild their franchise from the ground up.
The Angels are in the midst of the longest playoff drought in MLB, having not played October baseball since 2014, and certainly won’t this season, as they have the worst record in MLB at the moment.
The future is bright after they acquired several prospects at the deadline, though, and they’ll look to improve throughout the remainder of the season.
The post Zach Neto Busts Slump in Move Away From Leadoff Spot appeared first on LA Sports Report.
Continue reading...
