Moniak, whose blast sparked the Angels to a 7-5 win, had been in a slump for most of the season, but he simplified his approach at the plate a couple of weeks ago and has seen better results.
Angels starting pitcher Tyler Anderson throws to the plate during the second inning of their game against the Oakland A’s on Tuesday night at Angel Stadium. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
The Oakland A’s Miguel Andujar, left, tosses his bat in the air after swinging for a strike during the first inning of their game against the Angels on Tuesday night at Angel Stadium. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
Oakland A’s starting pitcher Mitch Spence throws to the plate during the first inning of their game against the Angels on Tuesday night at Angel Stadium. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
Oakland Athletics right fielder Daz Cameron catches a fly ball hit by the Angels’ Nolan Schanuel during the first inning on Tuesday night at Angel Stadium. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
Angels starting pitcher Tyler Anderson throws to the plate during the fourth inning of their game against the Oakland A’s on Tuesday night at Angel Stadium. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
The Oakland A’s Armando Alvarez gets his first major league hit, a double, during the third inning of their game against the Angels on Tuesday night at Angel Stadium. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
The Oakland Athletics’ Armando Alvarez, left, celebrates near Angels shortstop Zach Neto after hitting a double, his first hit in the majors, during the third inning on Tuesday night at Angel Stadium. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
The Oakland Athletics’ Armando Alvarez, left, talks with Angels shortstop Zach Neto after hitting a double, his first hit in the majors, during the third inning on Tuesday night at Angel Stadium. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
The Oakland Athletics’ Armando Alvarez slides home to score during the third inning of their game against the Angels on Tuesday night at Angel Stadium. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
The Oakland Athletics’ Armando Alvarez is congratulated after scoring during the third inning of their game against the Angels on Tuesday night at Angel Stadium. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
Angels shortstop Zach Neto throws out the Oakland Athletics’ Shea Langeliers at first base during the third inning on Tuesday night at Angel Stadium. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
Oakland A’s center fielder JJ Bleday fields a single hit by the Angels’ Nolan Schanuel during the third inning on Tuesday night at Angel Stadium. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
The Oakland A’s Armando Alvarez connects for a single during the fourth inning of their game against the Angels on Tuesday night at Angel Stadium. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
Oakland A’s starting pitcher Mitch Spence throws to the plate during the first inning of their game against the Angels on Tuesday night at Angel Stadium. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
The Angels’ Mickey Moniak hits a grand slam during the fourth inning of their game against the Oakland A’s on Tuesday night at Angel Stadium. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
The Angels’ Mickey Moniak hits a grand slam during the fourth inning of their game against the Oakland A’s on Tuesday night at Angel Stadium. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
The Angels’ Mickey Moniak celebrates as he runs the bases after hitting a grand slam during the fourth inning of their game against the Oakland A’s on Tuesday night at Angel Stadium. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
From left, the Angels’ Willie Calhoun, Logan O’Hoppe and Zach Neto celebrate after scoring on a grand slam by Mickey Moniak, not pictured, during the fourth inning of their game against the Oakland A’s on Tuesday night at Angel Stadium. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
The Angels’ Mickey Moniak celebrates as he runs the bases after hitting a grand slam during the fourth inning of their game against the Oakland A’s on Tuesday night at Angel Stadium. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
The Angels’ Mickey Moniak, center, is congratulated by Zach Neto, left, Logan O’Hoppe (14) and Willie Calhoun (back) at home plate after he hit a grand slam during the fourth inning of their game against the Oakland A’s on Tuesday night at Angel Stadium. The Angels held on for a 7-5 win. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
The Angels’ Mickey Moniak, right, runs past teammate Luis Guillorme after hitting a grand slam during the fourth inning of their game against the Oakland A’s on Tuesday night at Angel Stadium. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
The Angels’ Mickey Moniak, left, receives an electronic halo from teammate Taylor Ward as he returns to the dugout after hitting a grand slam during the fourth inning of their game against the Oakland A’s on Tuesday night at Angel Stadium. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
The Angels’ Mickey Moniak (16) is congratulated by Manager Ron Washington, right, as he returns to the dugout after hitting a grand slam during the fourth inning of their game against the Oakland A’s on Tuesday night at Angel Stadium. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
The Oakland A’s Brent Rooker is congratulated in the dugout after hitting a solo home run during the fifth inning of their game against the Angels on Tuesday night at Angel Stadium. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
The Angels’ Mickey Moniak gestures after advancing to second base on a wild pitch by Oakland A’s starting pitcher Mitch Spence during the sixth inning on Tuesday night at Angel Stadium. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
The Angels’ Mickey Moniak, left, celebrates with Manager Ron Washington as he returns to the dugout after scoring during the sixth inning of their game against the Oakland A’s on Tuesday night at Angel Stadium. Moniak hit his first career grand slam two innings earlier. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
Oakland A’s starting pitcher Mitch Spence sits in the dugout after being replaced during the sixth inning of their game against the Angels on Tuesday night at Angel Stadium. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
Oakland A’s relief pitcher T.J. McFarland throws to the plate during the sixth inning of their game against the Angels on Tuesday night at Angel Stadium. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
Angels shortstop Zach Neto, right, catches a pop-up hit by the Oakland Athletics’ JJ Bleday, as third baseman Luis Rengifo watches during the seventh inning on Tuesday night at Angel Stadium. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
Oakland A’s third baseman Armando Alvarez throws out the Angels’ Luis Rengifo at first base during the seventh inning on Tuesday night at Angel Stadium. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
Oakland A’s infielder Zack Gelof, left, tags out the Angels’ Logan O’Hoppe as he tries to steal second base during the seventh inning on Tuesday night at Angel Stadium. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
The Angels’ Taylor Ward runs the bases after hitting a solo home run during the seventh inning of their game against the Oakland A’s on Tuesday night at Angel Stadium. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
The Angels’ Taylor Ward, left, is congratulated by first base coach Bo Porter as he runs the bases after hitting a solo home run during the seventh inning of their game against the Oakland A’s on Tuesday night at Angel Stadium. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
The Angels’ Taylor Ward celebrates as he runs the bases after hitting a solo home run during the seventh inning of their game against the Oakland A’s on Tuesday night at Angel Stadium. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
The Angels’ Taylor Ward, left, is handed an electronic halo after he hit a solo home run during the seventh inning of their game against the Oakland A’s on Tuesday night at Angel Stadium. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
The Angels’ Zach Neto, right, steals second base next to Oakland Athletics second baseman Zack Gelof during the eighth inning on Tuesday night at Angel Stadium. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
Oakland A’s manager Mark Kotsay argues with the umpires during the eighth inning of their game against the Angels on Tuesday night at Angel Stadium. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
Oakland A’s manager Mark Kotsay argues with umpire Alan Porter during the eighth inning of their game against the Angels on Tuesday night at Angel Stadium. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
Angels relief pitcher Carlos Estevez throws to the plate during the ninth inning of their game against the Oakland A’s on Tuesday night at Angel Stadium. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
Angels relief pitcher Carlos Estevez celebrates after striking out the Oakland Athletics’ Shea Langeliers for the final out of the ninth inning of their 7-5 victory on Tuesday night at Angel Stadium. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
Angels relief pitcher Carlos Estevez celebrates after striking out the Oakland Athletics’ Shea Langeliers for the final out of the ninth inning of their 7-5 victory on Tuesday night at Angel Stadium. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
Angels left fielder Taylor Ward, left, right fielder Jo Adell (7) and center fielder Kevin Pillar celebrate after the team’s 7-5 victory over the Oakland A’s on Tuesday night at Angel Stadium. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
The Angels’ Mickey Moniak (16) celebrates with relief pitcher Carlos Estévez (53) and catcher Logan O’Hoppe, second from right, after their 7-5 victory over the Oakland A’s on Tuesday night at Angel Stadium. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
ANAHEIM — For as miserable as much of the first half has been for Mickey Moniak, he can take solace in knowing there’s more than half a season left.
Moniak’s first career grand slam sent the Angels on their way to a 7-5 victory over the Oakland A’s on Tuesday night, continuing an encouraging two weeks for a player who had been slumping.
“He’s been putting in a lot of work,” Manager Ron Washington said. “He’s trying to find that consistency. And that big blow he gave us tonight was huge. We really needed it. And he came through for us.”
Closer Carlos Estévez, who has also been much better after an early-season slump, finished off the game with a scoreless ninth, but he gave up a two-out single. Estévez had retired 26 hitters in a row over nine outings, coming up just one out shy of pseudo perfect game.
Moniak was hitting .161 on June 7, the day before hitting coaches Johnny Washington and Tim Laker talked to him about simplifying his approach.
They told Moniak to focus on swinging at the right pitches, having a good bat path and staying balanced, while not worrying so much about everything else.
Since then, Moniak has hit .304 with a .961 OPS in 53 plate appearances.
“Baseball is a weird game, ebbs and flows,” Moniak said. “The goal is to stay as consistent as possible. Just kind of trying to get back to that. Try not to get too high not try not to get too low.”
Moniak’s grand slam in the fourth turned around a game in which the Angels were trailing 2-0 against Oakland right-hander Mitch Spence.
Taylor Ward led off the inning with a double. Willie Calhoun then singled, sending Ward to third. Logan O’Hoppe punched a single up the middle, driving in a run. Zach Neto was then hit by a pitch to load the bases for Moniak.
Moniak got a hanging curveball and he lined it over the right field fence, his fourth homer of the season.
“When you put the team ahead, it’s always a great feeling,” said Moniak, who had the ball from the homer saved in a case in his locker. “I was glad I was able to do it right there.”
Jo Adell provided an insurance run in the sixth. After Moniak walked, Adell drove him in with a double into the left field corner.
An inning later, Ward belted his 14th homer of the season, and second in as many nights, to push the lead to 7-3.
Five of the Angels’ nine hits were extra-base hits, helping them generate enough offense to get a victory for Tyler Anderson on a night when he struggled.
Anderson has been sharp for most of the season, often getting through six or seven innings without much damage, but he couldn’t put the ball where he wanted it on Tuesday night.
In the third inning, he walked three hitters and he hit one, plunking Tyler Nevin with the bases loaded on a 1-and-2 pitch. He had just walked Brent Rooker with the bases loaded.
Anderson gave up a homer to Rooker in the fifth inning, his final frame of the night.
“Not good command,” Anderson said. “Kind of all over the place, falling behind, walking guys. Not a good place to be right there. … I felt like in the first inning it started that way and it got worse and worse. The adjustments I wanted to make, instead of making it better, it made it worse.”
Anderson’s performance left four innings for Angels relievers on the night before a bullpen game.
Hunter Strickland and Luis Garcia easily got through the sixth and seventh, but then the A’s turned an error and two bloop singles into two runs against José Marte in the eighth. Ben Joyce came in and got out of the inning with a double play, preserving the two-run lead.
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