Zach Neto, Angels flip the script, outlast White Sox

ANAHEIM — Zach Neto took a beat to admire his handiwork then savored the return to an easy trip around the bases.

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Neto paused at the plate as he launched a go-ahead home run in the fifth inning, his first in 23 games, and the Angels finished off a 4-3 victory over the Chicago White Sox that was something of a redemption story in its own right.

After a rocky opening from left-hander Sam Aldegheri, which led to a two-run deficit just one out into the game, the Angels regrouped for just their third victory in 16 games. Mike Trout and Jorge Soler added home runs.

A club that began play Tuesday with the worst record in the major leagues can only hope the rest of the season can somewhat resemble their most recent nine innings that went from disappointment to success.

And if Tuesday’s victory leads to a run of success, the Angels will have Pokemon cards to thank for it.

Trout asked Neto to open packs of Pokemon cards before the game and the distraction worked wonders.

“He said, ‘This case, when we rip it, it’s going to have homers.’ And he hit one and I hit one,” Neto said. “Later in the game you see him come over to me and hug me. You know, he was just telling me, ‘Hey, dude, I told you that case had homers.’ It’s just, just those little things that matter the most to me. That’s pretty cool.”

Even during the game, Neto went from low to high, ending an 0-for-23 dry spell with a single in the third inning then promptly getting picked off of first base.

His home run off White Sox starter Erick Fedde went 410 feet toward the bullpens in left field.

“It felt amazing,” Neto said. “I was in the biggest slump ever in my career, and just to hear that sound (off the bat) again, it reminded me a lot of the good things. It’s one of those things where it just takes one swing to get back into the mix of things. I felt good at the plate today. It’s just a matter of building days.”

In his first start with the Angels this season, Aldegheri gave up just the two early runs on four hits with two walks in four innings. He did not have a strikeout while throwing 69 pitches, when it originally looked as if he might not make it out of the first inning.

Aldegheri was plugged into the rotation spot left vacant when left-hander Yusei Kikuchi went on the injured list this past weekend with shoulder inflammation.

Saying this week he no longer is basking in his successful spell with Team Italy in the World Baseball Classic, Aldegheri is intent on making fresher memories this season.

The outing was just the second this season and only his sixth major league start since 2024.

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“It was nice but I wish I could have gone a little bit more innings,” Aldegheri said. “Definitely the first inning made it harder, but I bounced back and gave an opportunity to the team to stay in the game. It was great.”

Even the Angels’ beleaguered bullpen was able to get the job done, with José Fermin, Drew Pomeranz, Sam Bachman and Ryan Zeferjahn holding the White Sox to one run on four hits over the final five innings.

It hardly looked like it would be a high-leverage night for the relievers when Aldegheri gave up a single to Chase Meidroth to lead off the game then walked Miguel Vargas and Colson Montgomery to load the bases.

Randal Grichuk, in his second game and first start with the White Sox after he was signed as a free agent this week, delivered a broken-bat single to right-center field for an early 1-0 lead. Edgar Quero followed with a sacrifice fly to bring home the second run.

The Angels tied it in the bottom of the first when Trout hit a home run to left field with one out and Soler hit one of his own to center two batters later.

Aldegheri settled down by retiring 11 of the next 13 batters he faced.

Neto’s home run with two outs in the fifth gave the Angels a 3-2 lead and they tacked on what ended up being the game-winning run on a Trout walk and a double to the right-field corner by Nolan Schanuel.

“I got told today just to not forget who I am,” Neto said. “… I’m still swaggy, that confident person that I am every single day and I wanted to get back to that and joke around with everybody.”

The White Sox pulled within 4-3 in the seventh inning on a leadoff home run from Meidroth against right-hander Sam Bachman.

Chicago’s Munetaka Murakami, who entered tied with Aaron Judge for the major league lead in home runs, did not start the game but came on as a pinch-hitter in the sixth, then struck out against Zeferjahn in the eighth with the tying run on first base.

Zeferjahn ran into trouble in the ninth when he hit Sam Antonacci with a pitch to lead off the inning. Antonacci stole second base as Miedroth struck out then went to third when the throw from catcher Sebastian Rivero skipped into center field.

After a walk to Miguel Vargas, Zeferjahn struck out Colson Montgomery, walked Jarred Kelenic to load the bases and retired Quero on a ground ball to second base for his first save.

“I had some traffic but … I felt like I was in control the whole time,” Zeferjahn said. “… Those last three outs are the hardest in the game, so it was great to fight through that and fight through some adversity.”

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POPPA’S HOME 🏠 pic.twitter.com/4QCDprhgcY

— Los Angeles Angels (@Angels) May 6, 2026

TO THE TROUT FARM 🐟 pic.twitter.com/ce4UBYPR38

— Los Angeles Angels (@Angels) May 6, 2026

another one thank you 🙏 pic.twitter.com/lE6AKuxzhV

— Los Angeles Angels (@Angels) May 6, 2026