Angels cruise past Rangers after 6-run second
ARLINGTON -- The Angels scored six runs off of Rangers starter Anthony Ranaudo in the second inning and went on to a 10-2 victory on Wednesday afternoon. The Angels ended up taking two of three from the Rangers this week and have won 11 of their last 13 in Arlington.
Angels starter Hector Santiago earned his first win of the season by allowing just one run in seven innings. He gave up four hits and two walks while striking out five. Ranaudo was gone with two outs in the second after allowing eight of 13 batters to reach base. More >
Angels outfielder Mike Trout went 3-for-4 to give him a nine-game hitting streak and a .438 batting average to start the season. The Angels had 13 hits on the afternoon. Catcher Carlos Corporan accounted for the Rangers' only run off of Santiago with a home run in the fifth inning. Adam Rosales homered in the ninth off of Angels reliever Adam Wilk.
The Nos. 2-5 hitters in the Angels' lineup -- Trout, Albert Pujols, Matt Joyce and David Freese -- went a combined 9-for-16 to spark an offense that had been waiting to erupt.
"I think it's just something that we needed," Joyce said, "just that confidence to know that we can score a bunch of runs. That's huge for our confidence."
MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
Pulling away early: The Angels matched their season high for runs in one inning, plating six runs on five hits and two walks in the top of the second. Johnny Giavotella dumped a two-run single into left-center field, Erick Aybar brought in a run on a safety squeeze, Pujols notched an RBI single when his grounder snuck under the glove of Rangers shortstop Elvis Andrus and Joyce followed with a two-run double. Ranaudo, starting in place of the injured Derek Holland, exited after recording only five outs.
Video: LAA@TEX: Joyce hammers a double to extend the lead
Missing the pickoff: The Rangers had a chance to cut the Angels' rally short in the second. It came with the Angels leading 2-0, with one out and Collin Cowgill at second, Giavotella at first and Aybar at the plate. After Aybar swung and missed at a 1-0 pitch, the Rangers caught Cowgill too far off second. But Corporan threw too quickly to second and Cowgill bolted to third, beating the throw for a stolen base. That set up the safety squeeze, but the Angels scored three more runs after that.
"I said coming out of Spring Training there would be some inconsistency given the experience we have in some areas," Rangers manager Jeff Banister said. "It's still early. Part of this is a work in progress. Guys are still grinding and working. I feel we're trending in the right direction." More >
Video: LAA@TEX: Aybar bunts to bring home Giavotella
Santiago cruises: Santiago isn't necessarily regarded for his pitch efficiency, but given the early cushion, the 27-year-old left-hander attacked the strike zone and got through seven innings with only 103 pitches, and lowered his ERA to 2.92. More >
Video: LAA@TEX: Santiago twirls seven innings vs. Rangers
QUOTABLE
"I may just get hits all year. I like getting hits. Whatever I don't do, you guys will talk about it." -- Prince Fielder, who is hitting .400 after 10 games but is still looking for his first home run.
"The other day at home, me and Trouty were talking after we got swept by Kansas City and said, 'Man, we have to change it up.' I think Joe Smith was there, too. I was like, 'I'm going to change it up; I'm going to do something different. I'm going to do a reverse mohawk.' They're like, 'No you won't.' 'You guys must not know me.'" -- Santiago, recalling the conversation that led to him shaving a line down the middle of his head before his Wednesday start.
SOUND SMART WITH YOUR FRIENDS
Trout honored Jackie Robinson in a different way on Wednesday -- for the 42nd time in his career, the Angels' center fielder reached base four or more times in a game (not including reaching on an error).
Video: LAA@TEX: Trout gets on base four times vs. Rangers
• DeShields proud to honor Robinson's legacy
REPLAY REVIEW
Angels manager Mike Scioscia lost his challenge in the fourth inning, when umpires upheld their initial call on a foul ball for Freese. Anthony Bass' fastball grazed the third baseman's left hand, where he wears a guard, and Scioscia was hoping for a hit by pitch that would've loaded the bases. But the hand is part of the bat, so the count remained 2-2 on Freese, who ultimately grounded out to end the inning.
Video: LAA@TEX: No hit-by-pitch call stands in the 4th
WHAT'S NEXT
Angels: The Angels are off Thursday, then start a three-game weekend series against the Astros at Minute Maid Park. Jered Weaver will take the ball on Friday, opposite right-hander Roberto Hernandez, in hopes of getting back on track. The Angels ace has given up 10 runs on 15 hits in 10 1/3 innings in his first two starts against the Mariners and Royals. Game time is 5:10 p.m. PT.
Rangers: Yovani Gallardo pitches for the Rangers at 9:05 p.m. CT on Friday when they open a three-game series with the Mariners at Safeco Field. The Mariners are expected to pitch left-hander J.A. Happ. The Rangers were 10-9 against the Mariners last season, including 5-4 at Safeco.
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