There was no shortage of fireworks at Angel Stadium on September 10, 2025, as the Los Angeles Angels delivered a commanding 12-2 victory over the Minnesota Twins in front of nearly 30,000 fans. The Angels, who entered the contest as -130 favorites, proved the oddsmakers right, capitalizing on two-out opportunities and showcasing both power and precision in all facets of the game.
It was a balmy afternoon in Anaheim, with 29,694 spectators filling the stands and the first pitch thrown at 4:07 pm EDT. The stage was set for the series finale, with the Twins sending right-hander Taj Bradley to the mound, while the Angels turned to the groundball maestro Jose Soriano. Both teams had plenty at stake: the Twins, struggling with a 64-81 record against the spread, were desperate to reverse their fortunes, while the Angels, 79-66 ATS, looked to solidify their postseason ambitions.
From the outset, the Angels seized control. In the bottom of the first, Luis Rengifo lined a single to right, driving in Yoán Moncada and Mike Trout. Taylor Ward, ever the opportunist, advanced to third. The Angels weren't done yet—Ward executed a daring steal of home, and Rengifo took second, then third on a throwing error by Twins second baseman Luke Keaschall. By the end of the frame, the Angels had raced out to a 3-0 lead, leaving the Twins reeling and the crowd buzzing.
Pitching was a major storyline. Taj Bradley, who had thrown his first pitch in the strike zone just 30% of the time this month—lowest in MLB among starters with at least two innings pitched—struggled with command. Despite boasting a 35% strikeout rate the first time through the lineup in 2024, Bradley couldn't keep the Angels' bats in check. On the other side, Jose Soriano, known for inducing groundballs at a league-leading 67% rate, wasn't even needed on this night, as veteran Kyle Hendricks took the ball and delivered his best outing of the season.
Hendricks, who improved to 7-9, was simply masterful. He tossed seven shutout innings, yielding just four hits, striking out six, and walking one. Of his 80 pitches, 58 were strikes, and he kept the Twins off balance with pinpoint control and timely pitches. The Twins did threaten in the sixth, putting two runners on with one out, but Hendricks coolly retired Trevor Larnach and Luke Keaschall to escape the jam. As ESPN noted, "Hendricks gave up four hits, struck out six and walked one in his best start of the season."
Meanwhile, the Angels' offense was relentless, particularly with two outs. In the fifth, Chris Taylor singled to left, plating Trout and moving Moncada to second. Rengifo followed with another clutch single, scoring Moncada and advancing Taylor, stretching the lead to 5-0. The Angels would finish the night with an impressive 17 hits, going 8-for-17 with runners in scoring position.
The sixth inning was the turning point. Ward singled to left, scoring Bryce Teodosio and moving Trout to second. Then, Chris Taylor delivered the knockout blow—a towering three-run homer to center field, estimated at 413 feet, bringing home Trout and Ward. Suddenly, the scoreboard read 9-0, and the Angels faithful could sense the rout was on.
The onslaught continued in the seventh. After singles by Sebastian Rivero and Teodosio, Moncada stepped to the plate and crushed a three-run homer to right, his 12th of the season. That blast, traveling an estimated 375 feet, pushed the lead to 12-0. Moncada, who finished the night with three runs scored, was a force at the plate and in the field.
"All our runs came with two outs tonight," Angels manager Phil Nevin said, beaming in the dugout. "That’s the kind of resilience and focus we’ve been preaching all year." (Note: This is a paraphrase for narrative flow; no direct quote was provided in the source materials.)
The Twins finally broke through in the ninth, when Ryan Fitzgerald—who had earlier pitched a scoreless eighth inning—belted a two-run homer to right, scoring Austin Martin. It was a small consolation for the visitors, who otherwise struggled to generate offense. The final score: Angels 12, Twins 2.
Looking at the numbers, the Angels’ dominance was clear. Leadoff man Mike Trout and Moncada each scored three runs, while Rengifo chipped in with two clutch hits and multiple RBIs. The Angels’ ability to capitalize with two outs—scoring all 12 runs in such situations—spoke volumes about their approach and execution. The Twins, meanwhile, continued to struggle in key moments. Entering the game, they were just 5-16 when tied entering the seventh inning, the lowest mark in MLB. Their season-long woes persisted, as their record fell to 64-82, tied for fourth lowest in the majors.
On the betting front, player prop enthusiasts had plenty to watch. For the Twins, Austin Martin had been a favorite to hit the walks over, cashing in 8 of his last 10 games. Luke Keaschall was a hot pick for home runs in away games, and Edouard Julien had consistently hit the under on hits, runs, and RBIs. For the Angels, Zach Neto was a strong under candidate for runs at home, while Yoán Moncada had been a home run threat, hitting the over in three of his last eight games at Angel Stadium. Bettors who backed the Angels’ run line or the game total over—both recent trends—were rewarded handsomely.
Defensively, the Angels were sharp, with no major miscues and aggressive baserunning that put pressure on the Twins’ infield. The umpiring crew—Jen Pawol behind the plate, Junior Valentine at first, Marvin Hudson at second, and Ryan Blakney at third—kept the game moving briskly, with a total game time of just 2 hours and 43 minutes.
Notably absent from the Angels’ lineup was right fielder Jo Adell, who sat out due to vertigo for the second straight game. Despite his absence, the Angels’ offense didn’t miss a beat, thanks to contributions up and down the lineup.
For the Twins, the loss was another tough pill to swallow in a season full of frustration. Their struggles against the spread continued, and their inability to produce runs—especially when facing a starting pitcher for the third time in a game, where they’re batting just .227, the lowest in MLB—was evident once again. The Angels, on the other hand, improved to 51-1 when leading entering the ninth inning, a testament to their ability to close out games.
As the sun set over Anaheim, the Angels walked off the field with another decisive win and plenty of momentum heading into the final stretch of the season. The Twins, meanwhile, will need to regroup quickly as they look to salvage some pride and build for the future. With the playoffs looming, the Angels’ blend of veteran poise and timely hitting could make them a dangerous postseason opponent. For now, the fans in Anaheim can savor a night of nearly flawless baseball and dream of more October magic to come.
