Angels-Rangers Benches Clear After Mike Trout Hit by Pitch

The Los Angeles Angels defeated the Texas Rangers 8-5 in a tense game marked by multiple hit-by-pitches (HBPs) that led to the benches clearing in the eighth inning without any punches thrown. Rangers reliever Shawn Armstrong hit Mike Trout and Zach Neto consecutively, sparking frustration from Angels interim manager Ray Montgomery, who confronted Rangers manager Bruce Bochy on the field. Montgomery's outburst was partly due to earlier HBPs on Angels players Neto and Luis Rengifo, although he did not accuse the Rangers of intentional targeting. Despite being outhit 14-6, the Angels rallied late with key RBIs from Gustavo Campero, Yoán Moncada, and Zach Neto to secure the win and improve their playoff positioning. The incident underscored the ongoing tensions in this divisional rivalry, but the teams managed to avoid escalation beyond heated words. Trout remains a key performer for the Angels this season, recently celebrating a significant MLB milestone despite some injury setbacks.