Phillies defeated the Angels for the tenth time in a row

The Philadelphia Phillies won 7-2 on Saturday night, sending slumping slugger Mike Trout and the Los Angeles Angels to their longest losing streak in nearly six years. Zack Wheeler struck out nine batters in six strong innings, and Johan Camargo had four RBIs.

Trout, the three-time American League MVP, struck out three times and finished 0 for 4 in front of his hometown supporters in South Jersey, extending his hitless stretch to a career-high 0 for 23.

Wheeler (4-3) continued where he left off in May as the National League pitcher of the month, going 2-0 with a 1.65 ERA and 40 strikeouts in five starts. The right-hander allowed two runs on six hits and became the latest Angels starter to be stymied. With one shutout inning each, three relievers held Los Angeles at bay.

The Phillies had already won 10-0 the night before in interim manager Rob Thomson’s debut, and they continued to pound the ball with five runs in the first inning. Camargo chopped a two-RBI single to right centre, and J.T. Realmuto ripped a two-run, bases-loaded double to left field. It was 5-0 after Mickey Moniak’s RBI infield single against Angels starter Michael Lorenzen (5-3) — and 15 runs in Thomson’s first nine innings.

After his first win after being promoted from bench coach after Joe Girardi was sacked, Thomson says he received roughly 350 text messages.

“I’m still preparing some things that I’ll need during the game,” Thomson explained, “but it’s less about that and more about being with the players and connecting with them.”

In the eighth inning, Camargo added a two-run single. Realmuto made three consecutive doubles.

Lorenzen settled in and pitched 5 2/3 innings, striking out a career-high nine batters. In the first inning, he walked four batters.

The Angels, on the other hand, are on their worst losing streak since losing 11 in a row from August 4 to August 15, 2016. On the current road trip, which began against the Yankees, the team has lost five straight games.

The Angels have lost 14 of their last 17 games and haven’t looked like the squad that started the season 24-13 and tied for first place in the AL West on May 15. In their last four games, the Angels have only managed to score four runs. It may get worse: the Dodgers finish the three-game series on Sunday then come home to face the Boston Red Sox and the NL East’s top team, the New York Mets.

A trip for around 75 people was organized by the previous mayor of Trout’s hometown of Millville, New Jersey, who booked a suite to watch the outfielder play. When Trout last played in Philadelphia in 2014, Jim Quinn also made the trip. Millville symbolized the entire town as fans celebrated Trout’s at-bats, while the red in this suite was for Trout T-shirts and jerseys. Fans yelled “New Jersey!” after a TV graphic labelled Trout as a “Philadelphia Kid.” “He’s simply struggling right now,” a fan speculated after Trout struck out in his first at-bat.

3B for the Philadelphia Phillies After striking out in the first inning, Alec Bohm slammed his bat into the bat rack, only to miss the hole and have the bat come back under his face, cutting him. His clothing was ruined by the blood that ran down his neck.

Because of a right hamstring strain he suffered the night before, Angels OF Taylor Ward did not start.

INF for the Philadelphia Phillies After a hard landing on a catch Friday night, Nick Maton sat out with a stiff right shoulder and is day to day.

On Sunday, the Phillies’ Kyle Gibson (3-2, 3.83 ERA) will face Angels’ LHP Patrick Sandoval (3-1, 2.70).