On Monday night, baseball highlighted the fine line between glory and misfortune. The first game of the Freeway Series between the Angels and Dodgers had all the excitement of a rivalry. But one moment turned the mood from thrill to concern. Angels’ right fielder Gustavo Campero faced a situation that all outfielders fear.

In the eighth inning, Gustavo Campero jumped to try to catch a home run by Max Muncy. His left foot appeared to get caught on the outfield wall during the play, causing him to fall oddly. He fell to the ground in pain, unable to stand. Medical professionals rushed to help him, and after over ten minutes, carted him off the field.

Following the incident, an injury update is dropped by Mike Digiovanna on X, stating, “#Angels MGR Ray Montgomery said RF Gustavo Campero got his left foot stuck in wall and twisted it. Not sure severity of injury.” More tests are being done to find out how bad the injury is.

For Campero, this injury scare feels like déjà vu in the worst possible way. Gustavo Campero was placed on the 10-day IL in May 2025 due to left ankle inflammation. The injury occurred after a flyout in the fifth inning against the Blue Jays on May 6, prompting him to leave in the sixth inning.

Despite the injury setbacks, Campero had been grinding this season. As of now, he has played in 58 at-bats. And he’s hitting with a .172 average with three home runs and eight runs batted in. His performance, while not exceptional, demonstrated his hard work and adaptability.

Gustavo Campero’s return to the major leagues in 2025 highlights his dedication. After refining his skills in Triple-A Salt Lake, he was called up when Jorge Soler was placed on the 10-day injured list. Campero performed well, hitting .322 with 2 home runs and 17 RBIs in 32 games, which garnered attention and resulted in his recall.

Jo Adell, who had been playing center field, moved to right field to take Campero’s spot in the eighth inning. Adell’s versatility made the switch easy, and the Angels’ defense held strong for the rest of the game. The Angels not only beat the Dodgers, but one of their hitters set a franchise record.

Angels secure freeway series win despite Gustavo Campero’s injury scare

The Los Angeles Angels beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 7–4 in the first game of the Freeway Series on Monday night, even though right fielder Gustavo Campero was injured.

Zach Neto, the shortstop, was in command. He hit three home runs, scored three runs, and drove in two runs. His first-inning leadoff home shot broke the record for most leadoff home runs in a season for the team, beating Brian Downing’s 1987 record. Neto’s play was a big part of the Angels’ offensive surge, which gave them a 7–0 lead by the sixth inning.

The Angels’ pitchers also did a great job. Jose Soriano, the starting pitcher, pitched six scoreless innings, giving up only two hits and striking out six. Kenley Jansen then finished out the game with a spotless ninth inning, giving him his 22nd save of the season. Even when the Dodgers made a late-game push, this strong pitching kept them at bay.

In the post-game, Neto was happy that it was a complete team effort. He said, “It’s a pretty special win. It’s definitely more of an edge when we play another team that we know we have to play our best game against. And it showed up today.” 

The team was proud of how they played and won in tough situations. But Campero’s injury is still a question mark.