ANAHEIM -- After a 1-6 start, the Angels have roared back above .500, winning six straight, including a three-game sweep of the Brewers, capped by [a 4-2 victory](https://www.mlb.com/angels/gameday/564740) on Wednesday night at Angel Stadium.\n\nThe Angels used a four-run third inning to their advantage after loading the bases with nobody out against right-hander Brandon Woodruff.
**1\\.** **The offense has awakened**\n\nThe Angels averaged 2.5 runs per game through their first seven games. During their six-game winning streak, they’ve averaged 5.8. Mike Trout was responsible for much of that offense in their consecutive wins over the Rangers, but others off to slow starts have been swinging the bat much better.\n\nSimmons struggled offensively early, but he homered on Monday, racked up three hits on Tuesday and sparked the four-run rally on Wednesday with his RBI single in the second. He’s an important part of the lineup, especially with Justin Upton (left turf toe) and Shohei Ohtani (Tommy John surgery) on the injured list.\n\nBour has also bounced back from a rough start. He connected on a key two-run homer on Monday, reached base safely three times on Tuesday and came through with a two-run single in the series finale.\n\n\"It's all the same in the book,” Bour said. “It's a process. The guys in front of me did a great job getting on. It's hard to single out one person. It's been a real group effort.\"\n\n**2\\. The bullpen has been a strength**\n\nThe Angels believed they had a strong bullpen to open the year, with several power arms on the roster. But many of their relievers are inexperienced. The bullpen, though, has been even better than expected and held down the fort in the three-game sweep of the Brewers.
Barria, recalled from Triple-A Salt Lake on Wednesday, gave them much-needed length, as Pena has had trouble pitching deep into games. Barria had served as a starter in his previous 96 games in the Minors and Majors, but he adapted to the role well on Wednesday. He's not likely to remain a reliever and was optioned back to Salt Lake after the game. Still, he turned in a much-needed performance.\n\n“He did a real good job mixing his pitches,” Ausmus said. “The slider was his best pitch tonight. A lot of times, his changeup is. But tonight, the slider was.”\n\nFellow relievers
**3\\. The defense has made big plays**\n\nTrout and Simmons both came up huge defensively on Monday. Trout robbed a homer from Christian Yelich, and Simmons made an incredible play on a ball hit up the middle with the bases loaded to an end an inning with Yelich set to come up at the plate.\n\nOn Wednesday, it was