Walk-off HBP lifts Angels past Cardinals in low-scoring affair

Field Level Media|published: Tue 21st July, 01:12 2026

Jul 20, 2026; Anaheim, California, USA; Los Angeles Angels right fielder Jo Adell (7) reacts after a walk-off hit by pitch against the St. Louis Cardinals at Angel Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Jo Adell was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth to give the Los Angeles Angels a 3-2 walk-off victory over the St. Louis Cardinals in the opener of a three-game series on Monday night in Anaheim, Calif.

The Angels, who were 0-48 when trailing after eight innings this season and had lost their last 106 such games, entered the bottom of the ninth behind 2-1.

Cardinals' All-Star closer Riley O'Brien (3-4) struck out Mike Trout to begin the frame, but Nolan Schanuel followed with a single and Jorge Soler was hit by a pitch.

Vaughn Grissom then doubled off the top of the right field fence, missing a home run by inches, to drive in pinch runner Oswald Peraza with the tying run. After Jose Lowe was then intentionally walked to load the bases, Adell was plunked with a 3-0 sinker to drive in the game-winning run.

Adell also hit a home run among two hits and Schanuel also had two hits for Los Angeles, which won its second straight game. Jose Fermin (3-1) struck out two in a scoreless inning of relief to pick up the win.

Nathan Church went 2-for-3 with an RBI and Jordan Walker doubled and scored a run for St. Louis, which was coming off an 8-7 loss at Arizona on Sunday afternoon that saw it blow a 7-0 lead.

St. Louis took a 2-0 lead in the second inning. Walker led off with a line-drive double over the head of Josh Lowe and to the fence in left field and advanced to third on a single by Lars Nootbaar. One out later, Church snapped an 0-for-30 drought with a single to right, driving in Walker and sending Nootbaar to third. Blaze Jordan then drove in Nootbaar with a groundout to third.

Los Angeles cut the lead to 2-1 in the third when Adell led off with his 14th home run, a 389-foot drive to left. The homer snapped an 0-for-24 streak for Adell.

The final inning overshadowed a pair of strong pitching performances from the starter. Angels right-hander Jose Soriano allowed two runs on four hits over seven innings, striking out seven and walking one. St. Louis right-hander Kyle Leahy gave up one run on three hits over six innings, striking out four with no walks.

--Field Level Media

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