JOSE SOLER homered but was later ejected (Angels photo).

By Pete Zarustica
Orange County Tribune

It ’s only April, but it sure felt good.

The Los Angeles Angels, who seem to have a permanent lease on last place in the American League West basement, briefly popped up into a tie for first place in the division and then slid into a tie for second the very next day.

After a stirring 6-2 win on Monday, the Halos blew an early lead on Tuesday night in Anaheim, losing 7-2 to the Atlanta Braves and squaring their record at 6-6, tied with the Houston Astros.

The Angels jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first inning when Jose Soler hit his second home run of the new season for a 2-0 lead but the Halo slugger took himself out of the game with his temper.

In his second at-bat in the fifth inning, Soler was by a pitch thrown by Reynaldo Lopez. Assuming it was a payback for his home run, Soler charged the mound and threw some pitches of his own.

The benches cleared and both the pitcher and hitter were ejected.

“I asked him if everything was OK, and the answer he gave me, I didn’t like it. That’s why I went out there,” said Soler.

With Soler gone, so was the Halo offense.

The Braves scored one in the second inning and added three in the fourth and two more in the ninth to pull away with the win and dropping the Angels into second in the ALW.

Jo Adell, who put on a defensive show on Saturday with three spectacular catches that saved home runs, was the offensive star with a 2-for-4 night that pushed his average to .283.

The Angels will try to get untracked on Wednesday with a 1:07 p.m. game against the Braves in the third game of the series.