ANAHEIM, Calif. — In a thrilling matchup on Saturday night, April 19, 2025, the San Francisco Giants edged out the Los Angeles Angels with a narrow 3-2 victory at Angel Stadium. The game showcased a stellar performance from Giants pitcher Landen Roupp and a powerful swing from third baseman Matt Chapman, who contributed significantly to the win.
Landen Roupp, making waves in the league, struck out a career-high nine batters over seven impressive innings. The right-hander's performance was marked by his effective use of a 77-mph curveball, which helped him induce 12 of his 18 swinging strikes. Roupp's curveball has been a major factor in his success this season, leading to a remarkable total of 42 swinging strikes with the pitch, a major league high.
Despite a strong outing, Roupp did encounter challenges, allowing two home runs to Angels superstar Mike Trout. Trout's performance on the night included a pair of solo shots, marking his franchise-record 28th multihomer game. With these two homers, Trout now has eight home runs this season, placing him second in the league behind the Athletics' Tyler Soderstrom, who leads with nine.
Chapman set the tone early for the Giants, launching a two-run home run in the first inning that traveled 384 feet over the left-field wall. This blast not only gave the Giants a quick 2-0 lead but also marked Chapman's fourth home run of the season. Following his homer, Chapman continued to contribute offensively, adding a leadoff single in the fourth inning and drawing a walk in the sixth, finishing the night with a solid 2-for-3 performance.
The Giants extended their lead to 3-0 in the third inning when Mike Yastrzemski doubled to right-center and later scored on a Willy Adames RBI single. This early cushion proved crucial as the Angels mounted a late comeback effort.
Angels starter Kyle Hendricks struggled on the mound, surrendering three runs on four hits across five innings. He struck out one and issued two walks, falling to 0-2 for the season. Despite the loss, the Angels showcased their power with Trout's two homers, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the Giants.
As the game progressed, Roupp continued to impress, striking out the side in the first inning and maintaining control throughout his outing. His ability to mix pitches and keep the Angels' hitters off balance was evident, as he threw 96 pitches, allowing just five hits and one walk.
In the eighth inning, Tyler Rogers came in to retire the side in order, setting the stage for Ryan Walker to close out the game. Walker faced a tense moment in the ninth when he had to navigate a runner on second base. However, he successfully got Nolan Schanuel to fly out to left field, securing his fifth save of the season and sealing the Giants' victory.
One of the key moments of the game came in the ninth inning when Trout, looking to add to his home run tally, sent a drive to the wall in left-center. Heliot Ramos made a spectacular leaping catch, denying Trout what would have been his third homer of the game, a pivotal play that kept the Giants ahead.
Reflecting on his performance, Roupp expressed his excitement about facing Trout, stating, "It was fun. I wish I could have gotten him all three times, but that's baseball and the way it goes, and I'll learn from it." Roupp's manager, Bob Melvin, praised the young pitcher, noting the significance of his seven-inning outing and his ability to strike out nine batters while only walking one.
Chapman also shared his thoughts on Roupp's performance, saying, "I thought it was great. I think he continues to get experience every time he goes out there. He gets to go back out for the seventh, and he's gaining confidence, gaining experience. He's got really good stuff, and I think he gave [the Angels] some trouble tonight."
The Giants, now boasting a record of 14-7, will look to build on this momentum as they prepare for the series finale against the Angels. On Sunday, April 20, 2025, left-hander Yusei Kikuchi (0-3, 4.13 ERA) will take the mound for the Angels, while the Giants will counter with right-hander Justin Verlander (0-1, 6.75 ERA).
The Angels have struggled recently, striking out 89 times while only walking eight times over their last eight games, indicating a pressing need for improvement at the plate.
As the season progresses, both teams are keen to find their rhythm, with the Giants looking to solidify their standing and the Angels hoping to turn their fortunes around. With players like Roupp and Chapman stepping up, the Giants appear to be heading in the right direction, while the Angels will need to regroup and address their offensive struggles.
