The Angels’ Nolan Schanuel is congratulated in the dugout after hitting a solo home run during the first inning of their game against the St. Louis Cardinals on Wednesday night at Angel Stadium. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images)
Angels starting pitcher Griffin Canning throws to the plate during the first inning of their game against the St. Louis Cardinals on Wednesday night at Angel Stadium. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Lance Lynn throws to the plate during the first inning of a game against the Angels on Wednesday, May 15, 2024, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
The Angels’ Nolan Schanuel, right, hits a solo home run as St. Louis Cardinals catcher Ivan Herrera watches during the first inning of a baseball game Wednesday, May 15, 2024, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
The Angels’ Nolan Schanuel, center, celebrates as he heads to second after hitting a solo home run as St. Louis Cardinals first baseman Paul Goldschmidt, left, looks on during the first inning of a baseball game Wednesday, May 15, 2024, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
The Angels’ Nolan Schanuel, left, gestures as he scores after hitting a solo home run as St. Louis Cardinals catcher Ivan Herrera stands by during the first inning of a baseball game Wednesday, May 15, 2024, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
The Angels’ Nolan Schanuel is congratulated in the dugout after a solo home run in the first inning against the St. Louis Cardinals at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on May 15, 2024 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images)
St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Lance Lynn throws to the plate during the first inning of a game against the Angels on Wednesday, May 15, 2024, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
The Angels’ Kevin Pillar, right, scores on a wild pitch by St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Lance Lynn as catcher Ivan Herrera, left, takes a late throw while Mickey Moniak watches during the first inning of a baseball game Wednesday, May 15, 2024, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
The Angels’ Kevin Pillar, right, scores on a wild pitch by St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Lance Lynn, left, during the first inning of a baseball game Wednesday, May 15, 2024, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Injured Angels star Mike Trout yawns in the dugout during the first inning of a game against the St. Louis Cardinals on Wednesday, May 15, 2024, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Lance Lynn throws to the plate during the first inning of their game against the Angels at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on May 15, 2024 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images)
The Angels’ Willie Calhoun hits an RBI double in the first inning against the St. Louis Cardinals at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on May 15, 2024 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images)
The Angels’ Luis Guillorme, below, scores as St. Louis Cardinals catcher Ivan Herrera is unable to reach a high throw after a double by Willie Calhoun during the first inning of a baseball game Wednesday, May 15, 2024, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
The Angels’ Luis Guillorme is greeted in the dugout after scoring on a double by Willie Calhoun (not pictured) in the first inning against the St. Louis Cardinals at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on May 15, 2024 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images)
St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Lance Lynn, center, checks the ball as he waits with catcher Ivan Herrera, right, on the mound for pitching coach Dusty Blake after giving up four runs in the first inning against the Angels at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on May 15, 2024 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images)
Angels starting pitcher Griffin Canning throws to the plate during the first inning of their game against the St. Louis Cardinals on Wednesday night at Angel Stadium. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images)
Angels left fielder Taylor Ward makes a running catch on a ball hit by Lars Nootbaar of the St. Louis Cardinals in the third inning at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on May 15, 2024 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images)
St. Louis Cardinals first baseman Paul Goldschmidt fields a ground ball hit by the Angels’ Willie Calhoun during the third inning of a game Wednesday, May 15, 2024, in Anaheim, Calif. Calhoun was thrown out at first on the play. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
St. Louis Cardinals left fielder Alec Burleson makes a catch on a ball hit by the Angels’ Mickey Moniak during the third inning of a baseball game Wednesday, May 15, 2024, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Angels starting pitcher Griffin Canning throws to the plate during the first inning of their game against the St. Louis Cardinals on Wednesday night at Angel Stadium. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images)
Angels second baseman Kyren Paris catches a ball in foul territory during the fourth inning of their game against the St. Louis Cardinals at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on May 15, 2024 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images)
The St. Louis Cardinals’ Masyn Winn beats the tag by Angels first baseman Nolan Schanuel as he touches first base in the fifth inning at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on May 15, 2024 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images)
Angels starting pitcher Griffin Canning, right, throws out the St. Louis Cardinals’ Michael Siani, left, at first during the fifth inning of a baseball game Wednesday, May 15, 2024, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
St. Louis Cardinals center fielder Michael Siani makes a catch on a ball hit by the Angels’ Taylor Ward during the fifth inning of a baseball game Wednesday, May 15, 2024, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
St. Louis Cardinals center fielder Michael Siani makes a running catch of a ball hit by the Angels’ Taylor Ward (not pictured) in the fifth inning at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on May 15, 2024 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images)
The St. Louis Cardinals’ Paul Goldschmidt is congratulated in the dugout after hitting a solo home run in the sixth inning against the Angels at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on May 15, 2024 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images)
Angels center fielder Mickey Moniak makes a sliding catch of a ball hit by the St. Louis Cardinals’ Nolan Arenado in the sixth inning at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on May 15, 2024 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images)
The Angels’ Zach Neto hits a solo home run during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the St. Louis Cardinals Wednesday, May 15, 2024, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
The Angels’ Zach Neto, right, drops his bat after hitting a solo home run as St. Louis Cardinals catcher Ivan Herrera, left, and home plate umpire Larry Vanover watch during the sixth inning of a baseball game Wednesday, May 15, 2024, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
The Angels’ Zach Neto gestures as he heads to second after hitting a solo home run during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the St. Louis Cardinals Wednesday, May 15, 2024, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
The Angels’ Taylor Ward heads to first after hitting a solo home run during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the St. Louis Cardinals Wednesday, May 15, 2024, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
The Angels’ Zach Neto, right, places an illuminated halo on Taylor Ward after Ward hit a solo home run during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the St. Louis Cardinals Wednesday, May 15, 2024, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Angels relief pitcher Carlos Estevez throws to the plate during the ninth inning of a baseball game against the St. Louis Cardinals Wednesday, May 15, 2024, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Angels relief pitcher Carlos Estevez gestures after the Angels defeated the St. Louis Cardinals 7-2 in a baseball game Wednesday, May 15, 2024, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Angels outfielders Taylor Ward, left, Mickey Moniak, center, and Kevin Pillar celebrate after the final out of their victory over the St. Louis Cardinals at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on May 15, 2024 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images)
A C-17 flies over as members of the Angels, left, and members of the military watch during Military Appreciation Night prior to a game between the Angels and the St. Louis Cardinals on Wednesday, May 15, 2024, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Angels starting pitcher Griffin Canning takes the field before their game against the St. Louis Cardinals on Wednesday night at Angel Stadium. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images)
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ANAHEIM — Griffin Canning continued his early-season turnaround on a night when the Angels finally put everything together.
Canning pitched six strong innings in the Angels’ 7-2 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals on Wednesday, a game that included home runs from Nolan Schanuel, Zach Neto and Taylor Ward.
The Angels (16-28) snapped their three-game losing streak with one of their best all-around performances of the season.
“That’s what we’re all about,” Neto said. “That’s what we were all about in spring training and early in the year. Play the game right and the game will reward you. If you do the little things right, big things will happen.”
It began with Canning, who gave up one run to improve his ERA to 1.53 over his last three starts.He has dropped his season ERA from 7.45 to 5.12.
“He’s getting ahead of hitters, commanding his fastball, being able to land his off speed stuff behind in the count, using it early to get ahead,” Manager Ron Washington said. “He’s really pitching right now.”
Canning said one of the improvements he’s made recently has been focusing on simply winning the competition against the hitter, as opposed to thinking about what mechanics can produce the perfect pitch.
“Just just trying to focus on being on the attack,” Canning said. “Just me vs. the hitter, just trying to force contact and not shy away from it.”
Sure enough, Canning faced a few big moments in which the game required him to win a key confrontation.
In the first inning, Lars Nootbaar doubled with one out, but Canning then struck out Paul Goldschmidt and got Nolan Arenado on a grounder.
Canning got left-handed hitting Brendan Donovan on a fly ball in the fourth, stranding two runners. The Cardinals had a runner at second with one and the top of the order due in the fifth, but he retired Matt Carpenter and Nootbaar to escape.
Canning ended his night by striking out Donovan on a changeup, his fifth strikeout of the night.
Relievers Matt Moore and Luis Garcia, who were two of the pitchers who participated in the eight-run nightmare inning that cost the Angels in Monday’s game, got through the seventh and eighth. Garcia gave up one run.
Even though the Angels had a five-run lead, closer Carlos Estévez pitched the ninth because he had not pitched in the previous four days and the Angels are off on Thursday.
Canning and the relievers had a cushion because the Angels jumped on Cardinals right-hander Lance Lynn early.
Schanuel led off the game with his fourth homer.
Luis Guillorme, who was criticized by Washington for his failure to execute a suicide squeeze the previous night, dumped a single into left field. It was the first of his two hits, to go along with two walks.
An out later, Willie Calhoun drove him in with a double, which was the first of his three hits. Calhoun is hitting .319 in his first 12 games with the Angels.
Calhoun scored on Kevin Pillar’s infield hit. Pillar then scored on a wild pitch, giving the Angels a 4-0 lead.
Neto hit his fourth homer of the season in the sixth inning, putting the Angels up 5-1. An inning later Ward hit his eighth homer to pad the lead.
“It started with Schanuel,” Washington said. “We strung some hits together. We didn’t waver from the first inning till the end. It was a nice win for everyone.”
