Ureña continues dominant rookie campaign, offense finally wakes up ANAHEIM, Calif. — The Los Angeles Angels have struggled throughout the 2026 season, but right-hander Walbert Ureña has emerged as a consistent bright spot. On Monday night, Ureña extended his dominant rookie campaign with a masterful performance, pitching seven innings of one-run baseball while striking out eight batters and walking none in the Angels’ 10-1 victory over the New York Yankees. The game marked a rare offensive breakthrough for the Angels, who had been in a prolonged slump, and ended a seven-game losing streak for the team. Ureña’s outing showcased his growing command and poise, even against a formidable lineup. Manager Kurt Suzuki praised the 24-year-old’s ability to eliminate anxiety early, noting that Ureña dominated the first 11 batters with first-pitch strikes. “When you watch (Walbert) from pitch one, it was zero anxiety,” Suzuki said. “That’s the sign of an ace.” The only blemish on Ureña’s night came in the first inning, when he allowed a pair of two-strike hits and a passed ball to load the bases with two outs. He escaped the jam by striking out Trent Grisham, and he didn’t surrender a baserunner to the Yankees until the seventh inning. In the seventh, Ureña turned a double play to end the threat after allowing a lead-off single. He then struck out Spencer Jones to finish the game. The performance marked a significant improvement from his previous start, where he walked five batters. Ureña’s control was evident in his pitch distribution, as he landed his first pitches for strikes 76% of the time and threw strikes at a 72% clip overall. “I’ve been working on my glove side,” Ureña said. “Last time, I was opening too much.#new_york_yankees #los_angeles_angels #kurt_suzuki #walbert_urea #vaughn_grissom
Walbert Ureña, Angels beat Yankees in series opener Right-hander Walbert Ureña delivered a dominant performance in the Angels’ series opener against the Yankees, helping his team snap a seven-game losing streak with a 10-1 victory at Angel Stadium. The 22-year-old rookie, who had struggled in his previous two starts by allowing six runs over 8 2/3 innings, rebounded with a career-high eight strikeouts in seven innings. He allowed just one run on five hits and no walks, showcasing sharp command and electric stuff that included a sinker reaching 101 mph. Ureña’s changeup, averaging 91.8 mph, kept opposing hitters off-balance, contributing to eight of his 16 swings and misses. The win improved his record to 9-9 with a 2.85 ERA in 25 outings this season, ranking him fifth in the American League in ERA among pitchers with at least 120 innings and second among rookies behind Parker Messick. Manager Kurt Suzuki praised Ureña’s poise, noting that the young pitcher “was zero anxiety” from the first pitch. Suzuki highlighted Ureña’s ability to dominate high-profile matchups, citing his 11-of-11 first-pitch strike rate as a sign of an emerging ace. Ureña’s performance was critical in overcoming early challenges, as he allowed two hits in the first inning and a passed ball by catcher Tyler Heineman that put runners in scoring position. However, he quickly settled in, striking out Trent Grisham to escape the jam. He then retired 11 consecutive batters, including four strikeouts, before surrendering a solo home run to Spencer Jones in the fifth inning. Despite the setback, Ureña maintained his composure, retiring the next five batters before allowing a leadoff single in the seventh. He finished the game after throwing 95 pitches, striking out Jones to end his outing.#yankees #angels #kurt_suzuki #walbert_urea #vaughn_grissom
