Detmers much better in second start after staying with Angels at Deadline

ANAHEIM -- When lefty Reid Detmers took the mound on Wednesday in Baltimore, his head was still spinning after being a constant subject of trade rumors, including an inaccurate report that he had been traded to the Cubs ahead of the Aug. 3 Trade Deadline.

Detmers understandably scuffled in that start, allowing three runs over four innings, but bounced back with a strong effort against the Rangers on Monday night at Angel Stadium. Detmers allowed just one run over six innings, while Mike Trout hit a solo homer and Wade Meckler robbed Corey Seager of a three-run blast with a leaping catch in right field in a 4-1, 10-inning loss in the series opener.

While the Angels listened to offers on Detmers ahead of the Trade Deadline, they didn’t with Trout, who has a full no-trade clause and met with interim general manager John Mozeliak several weeks ago as it became clear he wouldn’t be moved.

Here are three takeaways from the first game of a four-game set that kicked off a seven-game homestand:

Detmers looks more like usual self

Despite pitching knowing that he could potentially be traded, Detmers was impressive in his first three starts after the All-Star break with a 1.65 ERA in 16 1/3 innings before his subpar showing against the Orioles. But Detmers was much better against Texas, allowing one run on three hits and four walks.

The four walks were a bit out of character, as he’s been solid at avoiding free passes this year, but he was able to navigate his way out of a few jams, including getting Seager to ground into a double play with two runners on in the third. The lone run he surrendered came on an RBI single on an 0-2 fastball to Elias Díaz with two outs in the fourth.

“The stuff felt really good, but I’d like to have that pitch back to Díaz,” Detmers said. “Four straight fastballs, it's usually not a good outcome. We had him in a good spot to throw a fastball in, but I should have thrown a slider. It is what it is. The four walks kind of hurt, but the pitch count was fine. Overall it was good. Six innings, give up a run, we'll take that every time.”

His slider (seven whiffs) and changeup (five) were both effective and helped him rack up six strikeouts. He's struck out 156 batters in 135 innings, which is the fourth-most punchouts in the American League, and has a 4.00 ERA in 24 starts.

Trout adds to his gaudy total against Texas

Trout broke a homerless stretch of 21 games with his solo shot on his birthday on Friday, and went deep again with a solo blast off lefty MacKenzie Gore in the first inning Monday to reach the 20-homer mark for the 11th time in his career. It’s three more 20-homer seasons than any other Angels player.

It also was his 49th career homer against the Rangers, which moved him ahead of Hall of Famer Harmon Killebrew into second place all-time against the Texas franchise (including its years as the Washington Senators). Only Hall of Famer Reggie Jackson (54) has hit more. Trout is also now tied with fellow Hall of Famer George Brett for the most extra-base hits against Texas with 98. He walked three times (once intentionally) and went 1-for-2 at the plate.

The homer was the 424th of Trout's career, tying Edwin Encarnación for 54th in Major League history.

“It was a nice swing,” Suzuki said. “It was a picturesque Trout swing and a good piece of hitting. He stayed back on that breaking ball and hit it to the left-center field gap. It’s the kind of swing that we've all come to love watching him play these last 15 years.”

Meckler wows with robbery to end seventh

There’s something about the right-field fence and home run robberies for the Angels this year, especially after Jo Adell’s legendary three-robbery performance against the Mariners on April 4. But Adell was traded to the Guardians on Monday, and Meckler is now getting his chance as the club’s everyday right fielder.

Meckler made the most of it with a great leaping catch up against the wall to take away a three-run homer from Seager in the seventh. Meckler didn’t hold back his emotions and was fired up after the play, which kept the game tied.

“That was huge,” Suzuki said. “He’s been such a spark for us offensively, playing some really good defense, and has really impressed us. He's been playing awesome, and he's fun to watch. I really don't know if he knows what he can be. He's still so fresh in the big leagues, but the at-bats and defense he’s been showing have been great.”