Old-School Loss - 9-7

Texas squanders a 5-0 lead as Juan Rivera (above) and the Angels took the first game of the series, bullying Rangers' pitching for two big innings. Rivera went 2 for 4 in the game, knocking in four of the Angels nine runs and scoring two more. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)

After scoring a combined total of 14 runs in the first three games of the four-game set between these two teams last week, the Texas Rangers (60-43) and Los Angeles Angels (53-52) put up more runs (15) through the first four innings of Friday night's shootout. Rangers' starter Tommy Hunter lasted only three innings, and Texas lost it's first game to open a series since the All-Star break.

"I certainly wasn't expecting three innings out of him tonight," manager Ron Washington said. "He just left too many pitches in the middle of the plate. And they didn't miss. I thought we played well enough to win that ballgame. We put up seven runs in four innings, but we just couldn't stop them."

"When we put up seven runs, we expect to win."

Texas jumped out to a 5-0 lead going into the bottom of the second and, with the way Hunter (L, 8-1) had pitched so far this season, the game looked all-but-over. The Angels refused to go quietly, however, scoring four runs in the bottom of the inning thanks to a three-run homer from outfielder Juan Rivera and a solo-shot from shortstop Erick Aybar.

The Rangers battled back over the next two innings, scoring a run each in both the third and fourth innings, but then came another big inning from the Angels. L.A. scored four more runs in the fourth, all charged to Hunter, which really took the win out of the Rangers' sails.

Hunter's final line: three innings pitched, eight runs, eight hits and two home runs allowed. Maybe having him pitch on four days rest wasn't the greatest idea in the world? The loss increased Hunter's ERA a full run, from 2.31 to 3.31.

While all pitchers have games like this where almost nothing goes right, there is a disturbing trend in Hunter's recent starts. In his last five outings (26 innings), Hunter has served up eight of the nine home runs he's allowed all season - two in four of the five starts.

"It's not a concern. He gives up home runs," Washington said. "He threw a breaking ball to Rivera and I thought it was down in the middle of the plate, but that guy went down and got it and hammered it. The one by Aybar was up. It just wasn't his night. I think you could say that if he had his breaking ball and his changeup and could have hit his spots a little better, maybe one of those four-run innings that he had wouldn't have happened."

Angels starter Ervin Santana (W, 10-7) had almost as horrible of a line on the night, , but was able to regain his composure after a rocky start. After allowing seven runs (four earned) on 10 hits through the fourth, Santana didn't allow a hit over the last two innings pitched, saving a beleaguered Angels' bullpen from early action. Texas didn't score again after the fourth.

It's the first time since May 14, a 16-10 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays, that Texas has allowed nine or more runs in a game. Games like this are going to happen, I understand that. The fact that it's been such a rarity this season is certainly a good sign, but I'm sure Rangers' fans wish the pitching staff didn't pull this against the division-rival Angels.

These two teams go at it again Saturday night, this time with an 8:05 p.m. start time. Rich Harden (3-3, 5.68 ERA) will make his first start for the Rangers since June 11, while newly acquired Dan Haren (5-7, 4.57) will take the mound for the Angels for the second time this season.

News and Notes:

• After going 4 for 4 the night before against the A's, Micheal Young had an 0 for 5 night Friday, although he did score a run in the first inning.
• Josh Hamilton went 1 for 3 with an RBI and a run, but had to leave the game in the seventh due to patella tendinitis - something he has had to deal with the majority of the season. Hamilton is expected to start the Rangers next game.
• Jorge Cantu made his first appearance in a Rangers uniform, popping out in the ninth innings to end the game.

(Portions of this article were taken from The Associated Press)