Angels, Rockies back to finishing lost seasons after witnessing milestone

Los Angeles Angels star Mike Trout can go to the ballpark on Sunday with a weight lifted off his shoulders.

On Saturday night in Denver, Trout hit his 400th career home run, a 485-foot solo shot in the eighth inning of a 3-0 win against the Colorado Rockies in Denver, helping the Angels snap their eight-game losing streak.

The Rockies (42-113) won the opener of the three-game series on Friday, 7-6.

Trout's homer finally gave Angels fans a reason to smile. Los Angeles (70-85) has fallen into last place in the American League West, three games behind the Athletics.

Trout had been waiting for the milestone home run since he hit No. 399 on Sept. 11.

"It was tough, and boy am I glad to get it out of the way," Trout said. "I have felt great every game, but I have just been trying to do too much. A lot of people have been texting me asking when I was going to get this homer."

The homer was Trout's 22nd of the season. The Angels' all-time home run leader, he has 200 home runs on the road and 200 at home.

He is the 59th player to reach the milestone. Dave Winfield (1991) and Vladimir Guerrero (2009) also hit their 400th home run as Angels, but only Trout has played his whole career with the team.

"He is one of the best players in the game and for a big stretch, a long, long stretch, he was the best player in the game," Rockies manager Warren Schaeffer said. "He is a future Hall of Famer. Good for him."

The Angels are 6-13 in September following an 11-16 mark in August, assuring they will fail to reach the postseason for an 11th straight season.

In 2014, the 98-win Angels had the best record in the majors but were swept by the Kansas City Royals in the American League Division Series. Those were the only three playoff games in Trout's career.

"We put up a pretty good fight all year, so, yeah, it is disappointing to come in and play like this in September," Angels interim manager Ray Montgomery said this week. "This is not what these guys wanted, and it leaves a bad taste in your mouth."

Schaeffer, meanwhile, said he was disappointed that Colorado starter German Marquez took the loss on Saturday despite giving up just two earned runs in seven innings in what might be his last start in Coors Field after 10 years with the team.

"He pitched great, and I know he was feeling pressure because it may be his last start here," Schaeffer said. "He means a lot to this organization."

Schaeffer will send another veteran, southpaw Kyle Freeland (4-16, 5.14 ERA), to the mound to try to win the series.

In his ninth season with the Rockies, Freeland is 1-3 in September. He is 2-0 in four career starts against the Angels, with a 2.63 ERA, and has not faced them this season.

The Angels will counter with rookie right-hander Caden Dana (0-2, 7.45), who will make his sixth appearance (fourth start) of the season. In three September appearances, Dana has allowed 12 runs (11 earned) in 13 1/3 innings.

He has never faced the Rockies.

--Field Level Media