Mike Trout is rewriting the Los Angeles Angels record book with each swing.
Mike Trout is rewriting the Los Angeles Angels record book with almost every at-bat. He has already set the franchise record for home runs and runs scored.
He set another one on Tuesday when he surpassed Tim Salmon to claim the No. 1 spot for walks with his 941st free pass.
This is the second franchise record, Trout has set this season, The first was on April 9 when he hit his sixth home run in his 11th game becoming the fastest player in franchise history to reach six homers to start a season.
His record-setting Tuesday helped the Angels beat the Tampa Bay Rays 7-3. He also crushed his seventh home run of the season while batting second in the lineup for the first time this year.
“I felt really good,” Trout said. “I think in Boston I was just a little off. Just off in the sense that one pitch I’d feel really good and then not. It’s just about recognizing pitches. That’s when I feel right.”
It was also Trout’s 10th career homer in 27 career games at Tropicana Field. For some reason, Trout is one of the best hitters in the history of the park. He’s a career .320/.419/.690 hitter there and his 1.109 OPS ranks first.
In five games against the Rays this season, Trout is 9-for-22 with three home runs and six runs batted in. He’s also scored four runs and has only struck out once. He went 6-for-12 with two homers and four RBIs in three games against the Rays last week.
“Keep the guys off base in front of him, I think, is what we learned last series,” Rays manager Kevin Cash said. “That’s easier said than done. He’s good. He’s going to get his hits. You just hope the damage comes when maybe there’s nobody on base. But Mike Trout’s too talented to really hold down.”
Trout, a three-time AL MVP and 11-time All-Star, has played at an MVP-caliber level again this season. He is batting .290/.362/.710 with seven homers, two triples, one double, and 10 RBIs in 17 games. He has also drawn seven walks, stolen three bases, and struck out 14 times.
