Angels starting pitcher Noah Syndergaard throws to the plate during the first inning of their game against the Chicago White Sox on Monday night at Angel Stadium. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Chicago White Sox starting pitcher Lucas Giolito throws to the plate during the first inning of their game against the Angels on Monday night at Angel Stadium. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
The Angels’ Shohei Ohtani loses his helmet as he swings at a pitch during the first inning of their game against the Chicago White Sox on Monday at Angel Stadium. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Angels starting pitcher Noah Syndergaard throws to the plate during the first inning of their game against the Chicago White Sox on Monday night at Angel Stadium. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Angels starting pitcher Noah Syndergaard throws to the plate during the first inning of their game against the Chicago White Sox on Monday on Monday at Angel Stadium. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Chicago White Sox starting pitcher Lucas Giolito throws to the plate during the second inning of their game against the Angels on Monday night at Angel Stadium. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
The Angels’ Brandon Marsh watches the flight of his RBI triple during the second inning of their game against the Chicago White Sox on Monday at Angel Stadium. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
The Angels’ Brandon Marsh watches the flight of his RBI triple during the second inning of their game against the Chicago White Sox on Monday at Angel Stadium. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
The Angels’ Brandon Marsh watches the flight of his RBI triple during the second inning of their game against the Chicago White Sox on Monday at Angel Stadium. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Chicago White Sox starting pitcher Lucas Giolito throws to the plate during the first inning of their game against the Angels on Monday night at Angel Stadium. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
The Angels’ Andrew Velazquez runs to first base after hitting an RBI single during the second inning of their game against the Chicago White Sox on Monday at Angel Stadium. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Chicago White Sox second baseman Lenyn Sosa chases an RBI single hit by the Angels’ Andrew Velazquez during the second inning on Monday night at Angel Stadium. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Chicago White Sox second baseman Lenyn Sosa chases an RBI single hit by the Angels’ Andrew Velazquez during the second inning on Monday night at Angel Stadium. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
The Angels’ Shohei Ohtani follows through after hitting a single during the third inning of their game against the Chicago White Sox on Monday at Angel Stadium. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Chicago White Sox starting pitcher Lucas Giolito throws to the plate during the first inning of their game against the Angels on Monday night at Angel Stadium. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
The Angels’ Mike Trout reacts after striking out during the third inning of their game against the Chicago White Sox on Monday at Angel Stadium. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
The Chicago White Sox’s Jose Abreu takes off his helmet after he lined out during the fourth inning of their game against the Angels on Monday at Angel Stadium. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Angels starting pitcher Noah Syndergaard throws to the plate during the fourth inning of their game against the Chicago White Sox on Monday night at Angel Stadium. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
The Chicago White Sox’s Josh Harrison, left, tosses his helmet after striking out during the fifth inning of their game against the Angels on Monday at Angel Stadium. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Angels starting pitcher Noah Syndergaard throws to the plate during the first inning of their game against the Chicago White Sox on Monday night at Angel Stadium. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
The Chicago White Sox’s Tim Anderson is congratulated by teammates after he scored on a double hit by Andrew Vaughn during the sixth inning of their game against the Angels on Monday at Angel Stadium. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
The Chicago White Sox’s Jose Abreu watches his RBI double during the sixth inning of their game against the Angels on Monday at Angel Stadium. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
The Chicago White Sox’s Jose Abreu celebrates after his RBI double during the sixth inning of their game against the Angels on Monday at Angel Stadium. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
The Chicago White Sox’s Andrew Vaughn celebrates with teammates after he scored on Jose Abreu’s double during the sixth inning of their game against the Angels on Monday at Angel Stadium. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
The Angels’ Taylor Ward hits a two-run double during the seventh inning of their game against the Chicago White Sox on Monday night at Angel Stadium. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
The Angels’ Taylor Ward hits a two-run double during the seventh inning of their game against the Chicago White Sox on Monday night at Angel Stadium. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
The Angels’ Taylor Ward watches the flight of his two-run double during the seventh inning of their game against the Chicago White Sox on Monday night at Angel Stadium. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
The Angels’ Taylor Ward watches the flight of his two-run double during the seventh inning of their game against the Chicago White Sox on Monday night at Angel Stadium. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
The Angels’ Brandon Marsh, right, slides home in front of Chicago White Sox catcher Seby Zavala to score the go-ahead run on a double by Taylor Ward during the seventh inning on Monday night at Angel Stadium. The Angels rallied to win, 4-3. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
The Angels’ Brandon Marsh loses his helmet as he scores the go-ahead run on a double by Taylor Ward during the seventh inning of their game against the Chicago White Sox on Monday night at Angel Stadium. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
The Angels’ Brandon Marsh, left, scores on a double hit by Taylor Ward as White Sox catcher Seby Zavala misses the throw during the seventh inning on Monday night at Angel Stadium. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Angels relief pitcher Raisel Iglesias throws to the plate during the ninth inning of their game against the Chicago White Sox on Monday night at Angel Stadium. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
The Angels’ Shohei Ohtani points to his teammate as he and David MacKinnon celebrate the team’s 4-3 victory over the Chicago White Sox on Monday night at Angel Stadium. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
The Angels’ Shohei Ohtani points to his teammate as he celebrates the team’s 4-3 victory over the Chicago White Sox on Monday night at Angel Stadium. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
The Angels’ David MacKinnon, from left, Shohei Ohtani and Brandon Marsh celebrate the team’s 4-3 victory over the Chicago White Sox on Monday night at Angel Stadium. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
The Angels’ Taylor Ward celebrates the team’s 4-3 victory over the Chicago White Sox on Monday night at Angel Stadium. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
The Angels’ Taylor Ward, right, celebrates a 4-3 victory over the Chicago White Sox with teammate Jared Walsh on Monday night at Angel Stadium. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
The Angels’ David MacKinnon, from left, Shohei Ohtani and Mike Trout celebrate the team’s 4-3 victory over the Chicago White Sox on Monday night at Angel Stadium. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
The Angels’ Mike Trout stands on the field during batting practice before the team’s baseball game with the Chicago White Sox Monday, June 27, 2022, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
The Angels’ Mike Trout stands on the field during batting practice before the team’s baseball game with the Chicago White Sox Monday, June 27, 2022, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
The Angels’ Shohei Ohtani laughs while chatting with former Angels player Tim Salmon in the dugout before the team’s baseball game with the Chicago White Sox, Monday, June 27, 2022, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
The Angels’ Mike Trout stands on the field during batting practice before the team’s baseball game with the Chicago White Sox Monday, June 27, 2022, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
The Angels’ Mike Trout gets ready for his batting practice before the team’s baseball game with the Chicago White Sox Monday, June 27, 2022, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
ANAHEIM —The first day of the Ray Montgomery Era was a good one.
Montgomery, the Angels’ bench coach, oversaw a 4-3 victory over the Chicago White Sox on Monday night, just hours after he’d learned that he’d be in charge for most of the time while Manager Phil Nevin serves a 10-game suspension for his part in Sunday’s fight with the Seattle Mariners.
“It’s going to be different,” Montgomery said. “You have a responsibility to those guys to make sure they have what they need and that I’m prepared for whatever happens during the game.”
Montgomery was also suspended for two games, which he’ll serve on the upcoming trip, but otherwise, he’ll be holding the lineup card for eight of the games while Nevin is out. He’s going to be a successful manager if the Angels play as well for the rest of the time as they did in this game.
In contrast with the baseball the Angels have played during much of their miserable month – in which at least one area of the team performed poorly enough to cost them just about every night – this time the Angels combined solid work from starter Noah Syndergaard, perfect outings from two relievers, spectacular defense, clutch hitting and even a perfectly executed sacrifice bunt.
Trailing 3-2 in the seventh, Max Stassi drew a walk to lead off the inning. Brandon Marsh then poked a single into left field, the second of his three hits.
No. 9 hitter Andrew Velazquez then put a perfect bunt down the third base line, moving the runners to second and third.
Taylor Ward followed with a drive into right-center. Center fielder Luis Robert raced back to the fence but couldn’t hold the ball, as both runners scored to put the Angels ahead.
Relievers Ryan Tepera and Raisel Iglesias – who were each available because they are appealing the suspensions levied against them earlier in the day – then held the lead over the final two innings, with the help of two spectacular defensive plays.
Third baseman Tyler Wade made a diving stop against speedy Tim Anderson to lead off the eighth. Second baseman Luis Rengifo also made a sprawling play going toward the middle for the final out of the game.
The defense helped Syndergaard twice. In the sixth, Marsh made a diving catch in left-center of a would-be double. In the seventh, first baseman Jared Walsh alertly cut off a throw from center fielder Mike Trout and fired it quickly to second to nail Seby Zavala, who had gone too far past the bag after a run-scoring single.
Those plays helped minimize the damage in the only two innings in which the White Sox scored against Syndergaard, allowing him to escape with three runs scoring in seven innings.
“I thought it was really positive, one of the best (outings) I’ve had all year,” Syndergaard said. “I feel like I was executing for the most part. Slider is getting better. Command and everything is getting better. Just trusting my delivery instead of just trying to be too fine with things.”
Syndergaard needed just 79 pitches to get through seven. He struck out seven, equaling his season high, and he walked just one. He induced a season-high 17 whiffs.
Syndergaard retired the first nine hitters on just 28 pitches, with four strikeouts and three groundouts.
“I think he stepped up in a spot where we needed him,” Montgomery said. “He was really efficient. You kind of know he’s having a good day when the ball is on the ground. We saw that right from the get-go and felt pretty good about it.”
The Angels also got him a quick lead, with two runs in the second inning
Angels manager Phil Nevin keeping tabs on Jo Adell’s attitude while he’s at Triple-A
Walsh singled and then Marsh tripled, hitting a ball to right field that right fielder Gavin Sheets couldn’t hold in his glove as he raced back toward the fence. Marsh then scored when Velazquez smoked a ball off the foot of White Sox right-hander Lucas Giolito, a former Harvard-Westlake standout. It deflected high into the air, allowing Velazquez to reach on an infield hit.
The Angels certainly could have scored a few more runs – wasting leadoff singles in the first and fourth and coming up empty with two on and one out in the third – but they managed to execute perfectly offensively and defensively over the late innings.
They have now won back-to-back one-run games after losing their previous 10.
They are still just 36-40, though, with plenty of work to do to climb back into the postseason chase. Syndergaard said they can forget the losing, as well as the emotional, fight-marred victory on Sunday that some believed could be a catalyst to a fresh start.
“I think just the team as a whole has a short-term memory,” Syndergaard said. “Today was a new day. Yesterday is in the past. Just focus on playing as a team, and playing good baseball, and we came out on the other side of things.”
