'He certainly made a case': Aldegheri zeroing in on open rotation spot

ANAHEIM -- Growing up in Italy, it would’ve been a much more conventional path for Sam Aldegheri to pick playing soccer over baseball.

But Aldegheri took a different route and he’s been making the most of being a rare European-raised Major Leaguer, including throwing five strong innings in a spot start in a 4-3 win over the Rays in the series opener on Friday night at Angel Stadium. Aldegheri, ranked as the club’s No. 16 prospect by MLB Pipeline, allowed two runs (one earned) on three hits and three walks with four strikeouts to improve to 2-1 with a 2.12 ERA this season.

So, while it wasn’t quite as big of a stage as the World Cup -- which took place just 40 miles away at SoFi Stadium on Friday night -- Aldegheri was pleased to make the most of his opportunity on the baseball diamond instead of the soccer pitch.

“You’ve got to throw strikes and attack these guys because, at the end of the day, confidence is the most important thing for me,” Aldegheri said. “I'm really glad that they gave me the opportunity to start tonight. I wanted to show that I'm able to handle these games.”

Aldegheri, who pitched for Team Italy in this year’s World Baseball Classic, made the start with an open spot in the rotation because right-hander Jack Kochanowicz is set to undergo season-ending Tommy John surgery. The 24-year-old got the nod after faring well in relief, including throwing 5 1/3 scoreless innings against the Rockies on June 2 and giving up an unearned run in extra innings against the Astros on Monday. And with his solid showing against Tampa Bay, he could remain as one of the club's five starters.

“He certainly made a case,” manager Kurt Suzuki said. “He pitched his butt off tonight and definitely put himself in the conversation.”

He ran into trouble early, loading the bases with two outs in the first, but got Ben Williamson to fly out to deep center field to get out of the jam. He settled down from there, retiring 10 in a row before he walked Chandler Simpson on six pitches to open the fifth despite getting ahead with an 0-2 count.

“Nothing really changed. I just mentally tried to attack the zone,” Aldegheri said. “You have to be able to flip the switch and be like, ‘OK, you better just do it, just do what you need to do.’”

The defense let him down after that, as shortstop Zach Neto made an error on a potential double play grounder and the Angels couldn’t execute a bunt to rookie third baseman Denzer Guzman with second baseman Oswald Peraza late covering first base.

Aldegheri helped his own cause by striking out Yandy Díaz looking, but gave up a two-run single to Jonathan Aranda. Neto then helped make up for his error by turning a 6-3 double play to get out of the inning without any further damage.

“I thought he pitched great,” Suzuki said. “He commanded his fastball to both sides of the plate, getting in on those righties. And then obviously the changeup's been a weapon for him, and he mixed in some breaking balls. But I think the biggest thing for him was attacking the strike zone. He was getting ahead, he was putting guys away, so it was nice.”

Aldegheri was also aided by early run support, as Trey Mancini laced a two-run triple off lefty Shane McClanahan in the first inning. They scored two more runs in the third, keyed by a leadoff double from Peraza and an RBI single from Nick Madrigal, who also stole second and scored on an RBI single from Logan O’Hoppe.

But the Angels had to get creative after Aldegheri exited, as right-hander Chase Silseth threw a scoreless sixth before they tried to get lefty Mitch Farris through three frames for a rare three-inning save.

Farris couldn’t quite make it, exiting with two outs in the ninth after surrendering an RBI single to Aranda. But right-hander Ryan Zeferjahn came in and pitched around Junior Caminero to get to pinch-hitter Cedric Mullins, who struck out to end the game.

Farris could now find himself pitching in more high-leverage roles, while Zeferjahn recorded the club’s first save since May 23.

“That was a great spot to be in,” Farris said. “You worked for that, so I’m grateful they gave me the opportunity. It didn't necessarily end the way I wanted to, but we got the win, so I'm happy with it.”