Angels Win With Walk-Off Homer After Being No-Hit Into 9th

The Angels came to bat in the ninth inning without a single hit, then won the game six pitches later with a walk-off home run.

Facing Oakland A's pitcher J.T. Ginn on Monday night in Anaheim, the Angels looked destined for the wrong side of history. Through eight innings, they hadn't recorded a hit and trailed 1-0 after Oakland scored in the top of the ninth.

Adam Frazier stepped up first and broke up the no-hitter with a single to left-center. Three pitches later, shortstop Zach Neto launched a two-run blast to center field for a 2-1 win that ended the team's six-game losing streak.

"That was the most electric ninth-inning speech that we've ever had in my career, in my life," Neto said. "We were getting no-hit, and everybody was still boosting each other up."

The comeback marked just the third time since 1961 that a team being no-hit in the ninth inning won on a walk-off homer. The Angels extended their streak of avoiding no-hitters to 4,227 consecutive games dating back to 1999, the longest active streak in baseball.

Manager Kurt Suzuki could hardly believe what he witnessed. "I don't know if I've seen that ever," he said. "Two hitters, two runs, and game over."

Why This Inspires

What makes this moment special isn't just the unlikely comeback. It's what happened before the ninth inning started.

The Angels gathered for a team speech with zero hits on the board. Instead of deflating under pressure, they lifted each other up. Players called out encouragements, kept the energy high, and refused to quit on each other.

Neto, who's struggled this season with a .225 batting average, found himself in the perfect moment to break through. The 23-year-old admitted he's been too hard on himself this year, making the game-winning homer even sweeter.

"Nobody gave up on each other," Neto said. "That's what it's all about."

Even A's catcher Shea Langeliers tipped his cap to the effort. "Hats off to the Angels," he said after the game.

Baseball rewards the team that keeps fighting until the final out.