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The Angels’ Jo Adell (7) celebrates his three-run home run against the Arizona Diamondbacks with teammates Zach Neto, center, and Mickey Moniak (16) during the fourth inning of a baseball game, Wednesday, June 12, 2024, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
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The Angels’ Matt Thaiss, left, signals to a teammate on the bases to stop as Arizona Diamondbacks catcher Gabriel Moreno, center, goes after a low pitch while home plate umpire Brian Walsh, right, looks on during the first inning of a baseball game, Wednesday, June 12, 2024, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
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The Angels’ Luis Rengifo, right, is greeted by Manager Ron Washington as he returns to the dugout after scoring a run against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the first inning of a baseball game, Wednesday, June 12, 2024, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
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Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Slade Cecconi throws to an Angels batter during the first inning of a baseball game Wednesday, June 12, 2024, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
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Arizona Diamondbacks first baseman Christian Walker fields a bouncing ball against the Angels during the first inning of a baseball game, Wednesday, June 12, 2024, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
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Angels starting pitcher José Soriano throws to the plate during the first inning of their game against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Wednesday night in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
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The Arizona Diamondbacks’ Corbin Carroll hits a single against the Angels during the first inning of the MLB game at Chase Field on June 12, 2024 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
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The Angels’ Zach Neto, right, celebrates his home run against the Arizona Diamondbacks with third base coach Eric Young Sr. (85) during the second inning of a baseball game, Wednesday, June 12, 2024, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
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The Angels’ Zach Neto celebrates after hitting a solo home run against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the second inning of the MLB game at Chase Field on June 12, 2024 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
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The Angels’ Mickey Moniak, right, greets teammates Zach Neto after Neto hit a solo home run against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the second inning of the MLB game at Chase Field on June 12, 2024 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
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The Angels’ Zach Neto (9) celebrates his home run with teammate Mickey Moniak, left, as Arizona Diamondbacks catcher Gabriel Moreno, right, pauses at home plate during the second inning of a baseball game, Wednesday, June 12, 2024, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
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Arizona Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo shouts at the home plate umpire on the location of a pitch during the first inning of the team’s baseball game against the Angels, Wednesday, June 12, 2024, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
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The Angels’ Mickey Moniak, right, walks back to the dugout after striking out as Arizona Diamondbacks catcher Gabriel Moreno throws the ball down to third base during the second inning of a baseball game, Wednesday, June 12, 2024, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
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Angels infielder Luis Rengifo fields a ground ball out against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the second inning of the MLB game at Chase Field on June 12, 2024 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
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The Angels’ Willie Calhoun hits an RBI single against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the third inning of the MLB game at Chase Field on June 12, 2024 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
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Arizona Diamondbacks second baseman Ketel Marte dives in vain for a run-scoring single hit by the Angels’ Willie Calhoun during the third inning of a baseball game, Wednesday, June 12, 2024, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
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The Angels’ Willie Calhoun celebrates his run-scoring single against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the third inning of a baseball game, Wednesday, June 12, 2024, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
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The Angels’ Zach Neto waits to bat against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the third inning of a baseball game, Wednesday, June 12, 2024, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
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Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Slade Cecconi throws against the Angels during the first inning of a baseball game, Wednesday, June 12, 2024, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
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The Angels’ Jo Adell hits a three-run home run against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the fourth inning of the MLB game at Chase Field on June 12, 2024 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
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The Angels’ Jo Adell, left, celebrates his three-run home run against the Arizona Diamondbacks with first base coach Bo Porter (88) during the fourth inning of a baseball game Wednesday, June 12, 2024, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
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Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Slade Cecconi, left, pauses on the mound after giving up a three-run home run to the Angels’ Jo Adell, right, during the fourth inning of a baseball game, Wednesday, June 12, 2024, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
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Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Slade Cecconi reacts after giving up a three-run home run to the Angels’ Jo Adell during the fourth inning of the MLB game at Chase Field on June 12, 2024 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
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The Angels’ Jo Adell, right, celebrates with teammate Zach Neto after hitting a three-run home run against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the fourth inning of the MLB game at Chase Field on June 12, 2024 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
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The Angels’ Jo Adell, right, is congratulated by teammate Mickey Moniak after hitting a three-run home run against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the fourth inning of the MLB game at Chase Field on June 12, 2024 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
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The Angels’ Jo Adell, left, celebrates with teammates in the dugout after hitting a three-run home run against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the fourth inning of the MLB game at Chase Field on June 12, 2024 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
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Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Slade Cecconi, right, is removed by Manager Torey Lovullo during the fourth inning of the MLB game at Chase Field on June 12, 2024 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
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Arizona Diamondbacks relief pitcher Scott McGough throws against the Angels during the fifth inning of a baseball game, Wednesday, June 12, 2024, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
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Arizona Diamondbacks relief pitcher Scott McGough, foreground, has a single hit by the Angels’ Nolan Schanuel get past him as Diamondbacks third baseman Blaze Alexander, left, tries to make a play while Angels’ Mickey Moniak runs to third base during the fifth inning of a baseball game Wednesday, June 12, 2024, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
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The Angels’ Mickey Moniak takes a lead off of third base against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the fifth inning of a baseball game, Wednesday, June 12, 2024, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
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Angels starting pitcher José Soriano throws to the plate during the first inning of their game against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Wednesday night in Phoenix. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
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The Arizona Diamondbacks’ Lourdes Gurriel Jr. checks his swing on an inside pitch during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Angels, Wednesday, June 12, 2024, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
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Angels starting pitcher José Soriano throws to the plate during the fifth inning of their game against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Wednesday night in Phoenix. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
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Angels starting pitcher José Soriano sits in the dugout after the fifth inning of their game against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Wednesday night in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
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Angels manager Ron Washington, left, pauses after arguing with umpire Vic Carapazza during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks, Wednesday, June 12, 2024, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
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Angels manager Ron Washington pauses in the dugout during the sixth inning of the team’s baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks, Wednesday, June 12, 2024, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
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Arizona Diamondbacks left fielder Lourdes Gurriel Jr., right, makes a catch on a fly ball hit by the Angels’ Willie Calhoun, as third baseman Blaze Alexander (9) watches during the sixth inning of a baseball game Wednesday, June 12, 2024, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
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Angels starting pitcher José Soriano points to the sky after retiring the Arizona Diamondbacks during the sixth inning on Wednesday night in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
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Angels starting pitcher José Soriano throws to the plate during the fifth inning of their game against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Wednesday night in Phoenix. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
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Angels starting pitcher José Soriano (59) talks with Manager Ron Washington (37) during the eighth inning of their game against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Wednesday night in Phoenix. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
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Angels manager Ron Washington walks back to the dugout after talking with Angels staring pitcher José Soriano during the eighth inning of their game against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Wednesday night in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
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Angels starting pitcher José Soriano, right, slaps hands with catcher Matt Thaiss after the final out of the eighth inning of their game against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Wednesday night in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
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Angels starting pitcher José Soriano throws to the plate during the ninth inning of their game against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Wednesday night in Phoenix. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
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Angels starting pitcher José Soriano leaves the field after being pulled by Manager Ron Washington, far left, during the ninth inning of their game against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Wednesday night in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
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Angels starting pitcher José Soriano, far right, leaves the field after being pulled by Manager Ron Washington (37) during the ninth inning of their game against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Wednesday night in Phoenix. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
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Angels starting pitcher José Soriano (59) gets a hug from outfielder Kevin Pillar after Soriano pitched into the ninth inning of their game against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Wednesday night in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
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Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder Randal Grichuk backs away from an inside pitch during the ninth inning of a baseball game against the Angels, Wednesday, June 12, 2024, in Phoenix. The Angels won 8-3. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
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Angels catcher Matt Thaiss pauses on the field after making a late throw to first base against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the ninth inning of a baseball game, Wednesday, June 12, 2024, in Phoenix. The Angels won 8-3. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
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The Arizona Diamondbacks’ Ketel Marte looks to the sky as he runs the bases on a two-run home run against the Angels during the ninth inning of a baseball game Wednesday, June 12, 2024, in Phoenix. The Angels won 8-3. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
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Angels relief pitcher Matt Moore, right, slaps hands with catcher Matt Thaiss after the final out of the team’s baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks, Wednesday, June 12, 2024, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
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Angels outfielder Jo Adell watches from the dugout during the fifth inning of the MLB game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field on June 12, 2024 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
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The Angels’ Zach Neto warms up on deck during the seventh inning of the MLB game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field on June 12, 2024 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Angels defeated the Diamondbacks 8-3. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
PHOENIX — Typically, any pitcher who can throw 101 mph is going to pile up strikeouts, which can be a blessing and a curse, because of the way they crank up a pitch count.
Jose Soriano, however, is showing that his high velocity comes with pitch efficiency, because his triple-digit fastballs are sinkers, which produce one ground ball after another.
Soriano dominated for eight innings in the Angels’ 8-3 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks on Wednesday night, inducing 12 ground balls and four double plays on his way to getting 24 outs with just 97 pitches.
“He throws 98, 99, 100 miles an hour, and if you get an opportunity to see the movement on his sinker, you see why (he gets so many ground balls),” Manager Ron Washington said. “They swing at it in one spot. By the time they hit it, it went down to another spot. That’s why he gets the ground balls. He had his knuckle curveball working tonight. He had his split working. He was just on his game tonight.”
Soriano faced the minimum 21 hitters through seven innings, and he was ultimately charged with two runs – one that scored after he was out of the game – on four hits, with strikeouts and two walks.
Washington said Soriano’s performance on Wednesday was the best of his 12 major league starts, and the 25-year-old right-hander agreed.
“Basically everything was working well,” Soriano said through an interpreter. “I was trying to minimize pitches for every batter.”
The Diamondbacks, who came into the game ranked eighth in the majors in runs per game, agreed.
“Their starting pitcher was pretty good,” Arizona manager Torey Lovullo said. “You’ve got to maybe sometimes, every once in a while, tip your cap to that type of performance.”
Arizona right fielder Jake McCarthy, who grounded out in two of his three at-bats, said Soriano’s sinker was impressive.
“You’d find the barrel and it would go straight into the ground,” McCarthy said. “It seemed like whenever we got something going, he got out of it with a double play. I think it made his other pitches work better because we were so keyed in on the fastball. He had a good day. And he was in the zone, too, really, it’s not like we were doing a ton of chasing.”
Soriano lost his bid for a shutout when he allowed a solo homer to lead off the eighth, but he then struck out three of the next four batters to get out of the inning.
Washington then gave him a chance to get the Angels’ first complete game of the season. Geraldo Perdomo hit a sharp comebacker that Soriano could only deflect back toward the plate, allowing Perdomo to reach with an infield single.
Washington then pulled Soriano, who was charged with a second run after left-hander Matt Moore gave up a two-run homer.
Soriano has made good on the Angels’ decision to move him from the bullpen, producing a 3.48 ERA in 72⅓ innings.
Many young starters, even those who are successful, begin their careers by having trouble getting deep into games. Soriano, though, has proven to be pitch efficient because of his sinker.
He’s worked at least six innings in seven of his 12 starts, even though he has still not thrown 100 pitches.
Soriano has struck out just 20.3% of the hitters he’s faced, which is less than the major league average. His ratio of 1.6 ground outs per fly out, however, is well above the major league average.
While Soriano was cruising through” the Diamondbacks’ lineup, the Angels were pounding Arizona pitching to provide a healthy cushion.
Jo Adell blasted a 434-foot, three-run homer in the fourth to put the Angels ahead 6-0.
Zach Neto hit his eighth homer of the season and barely missed his ninth. In the sixth inning, he hit a drive to center field that was initially ruled a two-run homer. Upon review, umpires determined the ball hit just below the line, so Neto settled for an RBI double.
Neto has hit .289 with eight homers and an .855 OPS over 161 plate appearances since April 22.
“I’m feeling good at the plate right now, just like a bunch of guys are,” Neto said. “Trying to get over that hump to change this around.”
