Zach Neto hit a grand slam to cap a six-run second inning and the visiting Los Angeles Angels cruised to an 8-2 victory over the New York Yankees on Wednesday night in the second game of a doubleheader.
Neto finished with a career-high six RBIs in the nightcap as the Angels earned a split. The Yankees took the opener 5-2 behind five scoreless innings from rookie Luis Gil.
Mickey Moniak started the scoring in the big inning against New York rookie starter Will Warren (0-1) with an RBI single under first baseman DJ LeMahieu’s glove. Nolan Schanuel drew a two-out, bases-loaded walk on a full count before Neto connected.
Warren was one strike away from finishing the inning, but Neto hit a full-count sinker 412 feet into the Los Angeles bullpen beyond the left field fence.
Neto added to the Angels’ lead by lining a two-run double in the fourth for an 8-1 lead. The shortstop surpassed his previous career high of four RBIs that he set against the New York Mets on Saturday.
Neto and Michael Stefanic produced three-hit showings as the Angels finished with 13 overall, two off their season high.
Angels starter Carson Fulmer held the Yankees to two runs in four innings but allowed seven pitches and fired 90 pitches. He walked one, struck out one and stranded runners in each of his four innings.
Hunter Strickland (3-1) pitched two scoreless innings and was awarded the win. He struck out Jazz Chisholm Jr. with a runner on to end the fifth and retired Juan Soto on a foulout with two on to finish the sixth.
LeMahieu hit an RBI single and Gleyber Torres lifted a sacrifice fly as the Yankees lost for the second time in 10 games since dropping 23 of 33 from June 15-July 26.
Warren, who replaced Gerrit Cole in a spot start for his major league debut last week in Philadelphia, was shelled for eight runs on eight hits in 4 1/3 innings. Serving as New York’s 27th man for the doubleheader finale, he struck out six and walked three.