Zach Neto, Angels flip the script, outlast White Sox

Doug Padilla, The Orange County Register on May 6, 2026

Published in Baseball

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

Neto 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.

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.

Even 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.

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.

Even the Angels’ beleaguered bullpen was able to get the job done, with Felix 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 Mike Trout hit a home run to left field with one out and Jorge 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.

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.