Texas Rangers Extend AL West Lead with Win Over Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
The Texas Rangers are getting hot when they need to. They have now won 9 of their last 11 games and have taken a 5 game lead in their division over the LA Angels, who they beat 8-4 last night.
Alexi Ogando recovered from his last outing, where he was fortunate to earn a win after pitching on 2 2/3rd innings and giving up 6 runs. Last night, he went 7 innings on 8-hit hall. He gave up 4 runs during that time, including a two run homer from Russel Branyan before being pulled.
The Angels were hopeful to see how pitcher Garrett Richards would do on the mound in just his second major league start, but he only last an inning before being taken out after he pulled a muscle in his groin. After Richards, it was pitching by committee for the Angels who used 5 different pitchers during the night
The Rangers got on the board early, with a ground out by Elvis Andrus to score Ian Kinsler in the first inning. Things really got going for the Rangers in the 5th where they would score 6 runs including back-to-back long bombs. The bombs were a two-homer homer from Nelson Cruz, his 26th of the year, and a solo shot from Mike Naploi, his 19th. Michael Young added a two-run RBI of his own to make him 7 RBI's away from his 900th for his career.
Nelson Cruz left the game in the 7th with a tight left quad. It is not a serious injury.
With the loss, the Angels have now lost 5 of their last 6. If the Angels hope to catch up to the Rangers they need to start it now, with their nine-game homestand and four game series against the Rangers.