The Angels scored four runs with two-outs in the sixth inning, three runs came in after Bobby Abreu (above) hit a double with the bases loaded, and it was too much for these Rangers to come back from. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)With the Texas Rangers (46-30) having won the only other two games against the Los Angeles Angels (44-35) by a total of two runs so far this season, you knew this was going to be a competitive series.
That certainly held true Tuesday night as former Angels' outfielder Vladimir Guerrero paced the Rangers with a homer and three RBI, but it wasn't enough thanks to some clutch hitting from L.A. and the Angels followed the trend of one-run victories between these teams this season.
With Texas holding a 3-2 lead in the bottom of the sixth, Rangers starter Scott Feldman (L, 5-7) got two quick outs to starts the inning - a groundout from Angels OF Juan Rivera and a flyout from first-baseman Mike Napoli - before the implosion began. Feldman gave up three straight singles and threw a wild pitch in-between, allowing L.A. to tie the game and leaving runners on first and second before being pulled.
Another former Angels player, Darren Oliver, was called on to replace Feldman and responded with a four-pitch walk to load the bases. Bobby Abreu then crushed a 3-2 pitch down the right field line, narrowly avoiding the foul line, that put the Angels up 6-3. Oliver, who is having arguably the best season of his career, allowed two walks (only his eighth and ninth in 35 2-3 innings this season) and an earned run in 1-3 of an inning. But the 16-year veteran didn't seem overly fazed after the ballgame.
"I threw a curveball 3-2, but I hung it a little bit, and he did what he was supposed to do with it," said Oliver, who allowed his first run since May 30 on the pitch. "But we've got a lot of season left, so I'm sure there are going to be other matchups between me and him. Sometimes I'm going to get him, and sometimes he's going to get me. That's what makes this game so much fun."
Texas battled back in the top of the seventh, after Micheal Young beat out a slow grounder to the short stop for an infield single, Ian Kinsler popped out on a bunt (a disturbing trend as of late as this team has trouble getting a bunt on the ground) and Guerrero came up to the plate. Guerrero had knocked in a run earlier in the game, a sac fly that scored Andrus and made it 2-1 Rangers, and had another chance to show the Angels what they were missing. He didn't disappoint, crushing a two-strike pitch deep to center and putting Texas back in the game, down by only a run at 6-5.
The Rangers loaded the bases in the eighth with Micheal Young coming to the plate, but Young's weakly hit ground ball ended the threat. The ninth inning saw Angels reliever Brian Fuentes (S, 14)strike out both Kinsler and Guerrero back-to-back and Fuentes induced a ground-ball to short on the very first pitch to Josh Hamilton to end the game.
Despite the loss, Texas still proved it's grit and effort coming back from down 6-3. The Rangers valiant effort and strong play wasn't lost on the division rival Angels.
"Offensively, defensively, pitching-wise, these guys are the real deal, and we see that," said Torrie Hunter, who went 2 for 2 at the plate and also saved what would have been a two-run double off the bat of Julio Borbon in the eighth inning with an outstanding sprinting catch in the right-center field gap.
"This is a tough ballclub," said Angels starter Joel Piniero (W, 8-6). "They're swinging the bats well. It's a mental grind against these guys. I didn't have my best stuff, and it was a battle from the first pitch."
While the kudos from L.A. is nice, it would be a whole lot more satisfying to take the next two games against the Angels, who are now only 3.5 games back in the American League West.
Texas gets another crack at L.A. late Wednesday night with a 9:05 p.m. start time. Omar Beltre will make the first start of his career for the Rangers, while Scott Kazmir (7-6, 5.42 ERA) takes the hill for the Angels.
News and Notes:
- Josh Hamilton went 1 for 5 for the game, extending his career-long hitting streak to 22 games - six away from the all-time franchise record. His 48 hits and 31 RBI in the month of June are both Rangers records
(Portions of this article were taken from The Associated Press)
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