Soriano pitches effectively into the 9th inning and Angels roll over Diamondbacks 8-3

PHOENIX (AP) — José Soriano pitched effectively into the ninth inning, Jo Adell hit a three-run homer and the Los Angeles Angels rolled over the Arizona Diamondbacks 8-3 on Wednesday night.

The Angels bounced back from a 9-4 loss in the series opener by jumping on Arizona starter Slade Cecconi (1-5) early and often.

Zach Neto hit a solo homer in the second inning and Adell launched his three-run shot during Los Angeles' four-run fourth inning. Matt Thaiss added a run-scoring double in the sixth inning that was initially ruled a homer before being overturned upon review.

Neto and Nolan Schanuel each had three of the Angels' 14 hits

That was more than enough for Soriano (4-5).

The second-year right-hander was helped by four double plays in the first five innings and didn't allow a runner past first base until Christian Walker's leadoff homer in the eighth. Ketel Marte followed with a two-run homer off Matt Moore in the ninth inning.

Soriano allowed two runs on five hits with five strikeouts and two walks.

The Angels started knocking balls around Chase Field from the game's opening hitter, scoring seven runs in the first four innings.

Kevin Pillar hit a run-scoring double in the first inning, Willie Calhoun had an RBI single in the third and Luis Rengifo drove in another with a single in the fourth.

Cecconi allowed seven runs on 10 hits in three innings.

Soriano mixed the majors' highest average fastball (98.6 mph) with a wicked slider to keep the Diamondbacks off balance.

He held Arizona to three hits until Walker jumped on a 2-0 pitch in the eighth inning and sent it out to center for his 13th of the season. The homer was Walker's 133rd, moving him past Chris Young on the Diamondbacks' career list.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Angels: C Logan O’Hoppe has been cleared to play after taking a foul ball to the groin in the sixth inning against Arizona on Tuesday night, but manager Ron Washington wanted to give him a day off as a precaution. ... LF Taylor Ward also was held out of the lineup after leaving Tuesday's game late with a tight lower back.

UP NEXT

Los Angels RHP Griffin Canning (2-6, 4.65 ERA) faces Arizona RHP Brandon Pfaadt (2-5, 4.60) in the series finale on Thursday.

___

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB