Ward’s go-ahead homer leads Angels past Phillies 6-5

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Taylor Ward hit a go-ahead two-run homer, Jo Adell and Jorge Soler also went deep, and the Los Angeles Angels beat the Philadelphia Phillies 6-5 on Friday night.

The teams combined to hit six home runs, but it was Ward’s shot, his 22nd of the season, in the seventh that completed the Angels’ comeback from a three-run deficit.

Soler hit a solo homer in the second inning and Adell launched a two-run homer in the fourth. Both came off Phillies starter Jesús Luzardo, who allowed four runs on seven hits in 4 2/3 innings. He struck out seven.

Mike Trout, playing in just his sixth game in his hometown in his 15-year career, had a double and an RBI single. Trout also did outfield drills before the game, as he continues to work back from a bruised left knee. He hasn’t played in the field since April 30 and has served solely as a designated hitter since returning a month later.

The Angels used seven pitchers to cobble together nine innings in a bullpen game. Sam Bachman (2-2) pitched 2/3 of an inning to earn the win and Kenley Jansen pitched a perfect ninth for his 17th save.

Los Angeles Angels’ Taylor Ward, right, and Nolan Schanuel celebrate after Ward’s two-run home run against Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Tanner Banks during the seventh inning of a baseball game Friday, July 18, 2025, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Bryce Harper homered twice and had four RBIs and Kyle Schwarber also homered for Philadelphia, which has lost five of its last seven games.

Tanner Banks (2-2) took the loss, allowing the homer to Ward.

Key moment

Trout’s oppositefield RBI single off Luzardo came with two outs in the fourth inning and tied the game, erasing a three-run lead the Phillies had built on Harper’s first homer.

Key stat