Nolan Schanuel's first career walk-off hit leads Angels past A's in 10th

Doug Padilla, The Orange County Register on Jun 11, 2025

Published in Baseball

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ANAHEIM — Travis d’Arnaud and Nolan Schanuel rode to the rescue for the Angels, even if it was a shade late to benefit Jose Soriano.

Nearly 11 months into a home winless streak, Soriano still made the Angels’ 2-1 victory in 10 innings possible with a career-high 12 strikeouts over seven innings against the Athletics.

On an off night for the offense, d’Arnaud gave the Angels the run they desperately needed with a pinch-hit home run in the eighth for a 1-1 tie.

Hunter Strickland, Kenley Jansen and Reid Detmers (2-2) each delivered a scoreless inning for the Angels before Schanuel won it with a single to center in the 10th off left-hander Hogan Harris.

Schanuel’s first career walk-off hit on his first career potential game-ending plate appearance was sweet revenge after he had a home run taken away Monday in spectacular fashion.

As A’s center fielder Denzel Clarke was the toast of pregame with multiple national television appearances Tuesday, following his over-the-fence catch Monday, Schanuel could only smile and shrug. He finally was able to feel his own euphoria after his game-winner fell onto the grass in center, giving the Angels (32-34) their sixth win in eight games and handing the A’s (26-43) their 22nd loss in the past 26 games.

Soriano pitched another gem yet still remains without a home win since July 13 of last year when he limited the Seattle Mariners to one run over six innings.

When the Angels decided to stretch out Soriano into a starter two springs ago so soon after finally returning from Tommy John surgery in August of 2022, the move seemed hopeful at best.

Last season’s 3.42 ERA in 22 appearances (20 starts) showed more than enough promise though, and there has been plenty to savor this season, like his seven shutout innings in the season opener in Chicago against the White Sox.

His third start lasted 7⅔ innings against Tampa Bay, when he gave up one run. There were the two unearned runs he allowed in seven innings in San Diego on May 13.

The common theme in all three was pitching in front of opposing fans. At home, Soriano entered 0-3 with a 5.92 ERA this season.

The only blemish on his 110-pitch night (22 swinging strikes) was a two-out double to center in the sixth inning by the A’s Brent Rooker on a ball that just eluded the glove of a diving Jo Adell. Max Schuemann scored from first base following his leadoff walk.

The RBI double was the first hit of the game for the A’s. One day earlier, Angels left-hander Yusei Kikuchi held them hitless into the fifth inning.

The Angels’ offense scuffled through five scoreless innings against right-hander Mitch Spence and two more against right-hander Michael Kelly. But d’Arnaud delivered in the eighth against left-hander T.J. McFarland with a pinch-hit home run to left.

It was the second career pinch-hit homer for d’Arnaud and his first since Sept. 4, 2021, as a member of the Atlanta Braves in Colorado.