Los Angeles Angels’ three-time AL MVP Mike Trout homered for the seventh time in seven games on Monday night against the Cleveland Guardians.
According to MLB Insider Sarah Langs, the ten-time All-Star is the ninth player in AL or NL history to homer in seven straight games since the Cincinnati Reds Joey Votto hit the same accolade last season.
Trout’s 35th homer came against lefty Konnor Pilkington in the fifth inning, turning around a 106.7 mph Pilkington fastball and hitting it 422 feet to center field, tying the game at 4-4 and leading to an eventual 5-4 loss.
Trout has the second-most home runs in the American League, trailing only New York Yankees star Aaron Judge’s 55. His teammate, Shohei Ohtani, is third with 34 home runs. Trout’s slash line has improved to.280/.369/.635.
The 31-year-old is one homer away from matching the major league record of eight consecutive home runs set by Dale Long of the Pittsburgh Pirates (1956), Don Mattingly of the New York Yankees (1987), and Ken Griffey Jr. of the Seattle Mariners (1993).
“I feel like I’ve just been getting good pitches to hit, and I’m putting good swings on them and they’re going out,” Trout said. “It felt good. I’m going up there ready to hit, and whatever happens, happens.”
“He just missed one earlier, too,” Angels interim manager Phil Nevin said. “You can see that his swings are good.”
“You just knew that if they missed down in the zone, that he might get one. Big homer in a big spot. It tied the game and really gave us a lot of life.”
On Tuesday night at home, Trout will attempt to break the record against the Guardians. He has never faced the right-handed Cleveland starter, Cody Morris. Despite having a better record against left-handed pitchers, Trout has 27 home runs this season against right-handers.
“I’ll come in [Tuesday] and do the same thing because it’s working for me,” Trout said.
Trout’s home run record
Trout’s home run streak began against the Houston Astros on September 4, and he then homered in three straight games against the Detroit Tigers. On Friday and Saturday, he homered again against the Astros, but he was benched on Sunday.
Trout’s home run on Saturday broke Bobby Bonds’ Angels club record of five successive home runs from Aug. 2-7, 1977. Trout also set a career-high with four home runs in four consecutive games in 2017 and 2019.
The eight-time Silver Slugger Award winner went 1-for-4 on Monday. He has recorded 35 home runs, 20 doubles, and 69 RBIs this season. He returned to the team on August 19 after being out for nearly a month due to a back and rib injury.
Since he came back, he’s hit.313/.367/.747 with 11 home runs and 18 RBIs in 21 games. During his homer streak, he is hitting.393 with seven home runs and 11 RBIs.
Monday’s night game
In the seventh inning, both managers Nevin and Terry Francona were removed from the game after Amed Rosario doubled home Steven Kwan to give Cleveland the lead.
“Truth be told, I’m not sure what was going through my mind,” Francona said. “And I don’t like that.”
After being hit on the mask by a foul ball hit by Matt Thaiss, umpire crew chief Ron Kulpa left the game in the ninth inning with two outs and two strikes. The second base umpire, Carlos Torres, took his place behind the plate.