ANAHEIM -- It took only six pitches for the Angels to go from potentially being on the wrong side of history to winning in an incredibly unlikely fashion.
They came into the ninth inning being no-hit by A's right-hander J.T. Ginn, only for Adam Frazier to break up the no-hitter with a single to left-center. And just three pitchers later, Zach Neto connected on a two-run walk-off blast to center to give the Angels a much-needed 2-1 win on Monday in the series opener.
The comeback snapped the club’s losing streak at six games, although they still haven’t scored more than two runs in any of their last seven contests.
“That was a heavy one,” Neto said. “Six-game losing streak. That one was big for us, not only me, but for the team; just to get it off our shoulders, and go to sleep good tonight. And be able to enjoy it, and come in tomorrow with a better attitude. We still trust each other.”
With their two hits in the ninth, the Angels have gone 4,227 consecutive games, including postseason, without being no-hit. The last time was on Sept. 11, 1999, when they were no-hit by Twins lefty Eric Milton in Minnesota. That’s the longest active streak in MLB and the 15th-longest all-time.
There has still not been an MLB no-hitter since a combined effort by three Cubs pitchers against the Pirates on Sept. 4, 2024.
Neto’s hit marked just the third time since 1961 in which a team was being no-hit in the ninth inning only to win on a walk-off homer, joining Pittsburgh's Josh Harrison in 2017 (10th inning) and Washington's Don Lock in 1963.
“I don't know if I've seen that ever,” said manager Kurt Suzuki. “He comes out for the ninth and didn't get an out. Two hitters, two runs, and game over. But he had good stuff all game, man.”
Neto’s two-run shot came after the A’s had scored in the ninth inning off reliever Ryan Zeferjahn to give Ginn a chance to complete the no-hitter. But he gave up the homer on his 105th pitch of the night.
“It’s just a crazy game we play, you know?” Ginn said. “I fell behind 2-0, threw a good sinker, and [Neto] was waiting on it and put a good swing on it. Tip your cap to him.”
It was the eighth homer of the season for Neto, who has had a down year by his standards and is slashing .225/.336/.412 in 48 games. But Neto said he’s been feeling more like himself at the plate recently and believes his homer can help get him going.
Neto has admittedly been too tough on himself this season, and it was easy to see how much giving his team the win meant to him.
“It's awesome,” Neto said. “I feel like my swing's starting to come around a little bit. Today was a really good feeling, getting one against a tough pitcher. Ginn had his stuff working today, and he just so happened to leave one up and out over, and I took advantage of it.”
Suzuki and Neto also said the energy remained high in the dugout throughout the game despite the no-hitter being thrown against them. They had a short team speech before the start of the ninth inning. Neto said that helped fuel the rally because they never lost hope.
“Nobody gave up on each other,” Neto said. “That was the most electric ninth-inning speech that we've ever had in my career, in my life. We were getting no-hit, and everybody was still boosting each other up. Like, ‘Hey, get on base. Hey, let's do this.’ Everybody's still cheering, and that's what it's all about.”
The Angels were able to complete the comeback after another strong pitching performance from rookie right-hander Walbert Ureña, who held the A’s scoreless for six innings. He scattered four hits and two walks to lower his ERA to 2.70 in 33 1/3 innings this season. It was his first career start in which he didn’t allow a run.
Reliever Chase Silseth also escaped a pivotal jam in the top of the ninth, coming to face slugger Nick Kurtz with the bases loaded and one out. Silseth got Kurtz to ground into a double play that left the door open for the Angels’ improbable victory.
“Hats off to the Angels,” said A’s catcher Shea Langeliers. “It was just a pitchers' duel the whole game on both sides. For us to squeak across that run in the ninth, it kind of felt like we could breathe there for a second. Sometimes, that’s the way it is.”