Rangers vs. Angels

[BigTex]

This could get ugly - - - er.

[Bob Of Burleson]

The game's at 7:05 p.m. on Channel 21.

[BigTex]

Rangers vs. Angels and there's nobody there.

[geeiabil]

.

Rangers 4

Halos 5

Rangers in line to break San Diego record for pitchers used in a season they stand at 36, the record is 38.

[Bob Of Burleson]

One swing derails Martinez,
Texas as rally falls short
Rookie has solid outing, but Calhoun's three-run HR is big blow

By T.R. Sullivan / MLB.com

ARLINGTON -- Rangers rookie right-hander Nick Martinez handled the big bats in the middle of the Angels order with little problem on Friday night.

He just had problems with the two guys at the bottom and the leadoff hitter. That ended up costing him in a pitching duel against Angels starter Garrett Richards.

Kole Calhoun, batting in the No. 1 spot, hit a three-run home run off Martinez in the top of the fifth inning to help give the Angels a 5-4 victory over the Rangers. The Angels have now won eight straight over the Rangers.

Richards picked up the victory for the Angels by allowing two runs in 7 1/3 innings. He held the Rangers to seven hits, including three by Adrian Beltre, did not walk a batter and struck out five.

Martinez allowed six hits in six innings. Calhoun was 3-for-3 off him while Chris Iannetta, batting ninth, was 2-for-2 and No. 8 hitter David Freese was 1-for-2. The rest of the lineup -- Mike Trout, Albert Pujols, Josh Hamilton, Howie Kendrick, Erick Aybar and Brennan Boesch -- were a combined 0-for-16.

MORE

[BigTex]

They kept the game in doubt until the last pitch. At least there's that.

[Bob Of Burleson]

The games at 7:05 p.m. on Fox SW.

[geeiabil]

Double devastation in Arlington tonight.

Cowbags lose to Ravens

and the

Rangers lose once more to Lala Land Angels

[Bob Of Burleson]

Angels tied for 1st after win over Rangers

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — It took the Los Angeles Angels four months to catch the Oakland Athletics and move into first place in the American League West.

Albert Pujols and Howie Kendrick homered to give the Angels an early lead on the way to a 5-4 victory over the Texas Rangers on Saturday night.

The Angels (72-49) are alone in first place in the AL West for the first time since 2011, but they are only two percentage points ahead of the A's, who lost at Atlanta on Saturday.

"We haven't accomplished anything yet," Pujols said. "Let's not get too far ahead of ourselves. When we accomplish our goal, then we can talk about it."

With his team in fifth place, Rangers manager Ron Washington talked about the division race.

"I think it's going to come down to who continues to pitch well," he said.

The Angels finished 78-84 and in third place during an injury-plagued 2013 season.

"It definitely feels good to be on the track we hoped to be on last year," manager Mike Scioscia said.

One reason for their improvement to the best record in the major leagues is a better bullpen.

Huston Street worked a scoreless ninth inning for his 33rd save in 34 opportunities. It was the second consecutive night the Rangers rallied before losing 5-4.

Los Angeles has won nine in a row over Texas, tying the series record set during the 1985 season and matched a year later.

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[BigTex]

ARLINGTON — Angels manager Mike Scioscia expressed exasperation with the performance of former Rangers outfielder Josh Hamilton.

“Josh is not the same that we saw when we were looking at the other dugout,” Scioscia said. “He’s not in the batter’s box with the confidence we know he has. He’s not attacking the ball like he can. He’s working hard to try to find it …but we need him to do what he’s capable of doing, or close to that.”

Hamilton is 2-for-9 with seven strikeouts in the first two games of the series. He is hitting .216 with a .630 OPS for 112 plate appearances since the All-Star break.

Scioscia said he is not prepared to remove Hamilton from the cleanup position. Doing that would require a significant shuffling of the lineup.

[BigTex]

Los Angeles Angels manager Mike Scioscia held slumping outfielder Josh Hamilton out of the lineup for Sunday’s game against the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Park.

Scioscia said he made the move to give Hamilton, the former Ranger, a day to clear his head and relax. Hamilton was 2-for-9 with seven strikeouts in the first two games of the series. He is hitting .216 with a .630 OPS for 112 plate appearances since the All-Star break.

[Bob Of Burleson]

VIDEO of Rangers' walk-off win.