ARLINGTON -- Bartolo Colon returned to the Rangers rotation Wednesday night but it was hardly a triumphant return. Instead, it reinforced the reality that his time may be running out.
Colon lasted just four innings and allowed five runs in a 9-3 loss to the Angels at Globe Life Park. Shohei Ohtani put on a show for the Angels, going 4-for-4 with two home runs, four runs scored and three RBIs.

Colon was making his first start since Aug. 20 after missing time because of stiffness in his back and a stomach virus. The layoff had an impact on his command.
"Health-wise, I feel good," Colon said. "I feel fine. But this is the Major Leagues. I was missing my spots. If you do that in the Major Leagues, you are going to pay."
Colon is now 7-12 with a 5.55 ERA over 24 starts and two relief appearances. With the Rangers out of the postseason chase, they have to decide if they want to keep giving starts to Colon, who is 45 and will be a free agent after the season, or if they want to look at others in that spot.
"He is on our team," manager Jeff Banister said. "He is going to continue to pitch. I'm not making any decisions just after the game has ended."
Banister admitted it was tough to watch Colon struggle like he did Wednesday night.

"Obviously, this is a decorated pitcher that has done significant things in this game," Banister said. "When a guy's not as sharp, it doesn't matter who they are, it becomes a bit of a challenge. Obviously, when it becomes challenging for him, like anybody else, you want for things to go better. He's going to continue to compete. I know that that's who he is. He's not going to ask for anything other than the opportunity."
Colon has already reached his goal this season of setting the record for most wins by a pitcher from Latin America. But that doesn't mean he is ready to retire.

"I feel good," Colon said. "I want to come back. But I want to make sure how I feel in the Dominican in the winter before I make a decision. If it is here, that's great. That would be better than anything. I like it here. You never know."
Colon fell behind right away, giving up a leadoff single to Kole Calhoun and a run-scoring double to David Fletcher in the top of the first. A two-out single by Taylor Ward gave the Angels a 2-0 lead. Colon retired the side in order in the second, but Andrelton Simmons hit a two-run home run off him in the third. A leadoff single to Jabari Blash led to an unearned run in the fourth.

"He was getting behind a lot of the hitters, I think that was something different from Bartolo tonight," catcher Robinson Chirinos said. "Normally, he's pounding the strike zone, and tonight, he was getting behind, and when we were trying to get back to the zone, he was getting hit. He battled, but it was a tough game for him, and for everybody."
Colon was out-pitched by Angels right-hander Jaime Barria, 22, who was born in 1996; he wasn't even nine months old when Colon made his Major League debut the following season.

This is the second time they have been matched up against each other this season and Barria has won both. He earned this win with five scoreless innings, allowing two hits and three walks while striking out five. He pitched six scoreless in a 6-0 victory over Colon on June 1 and is 3-0 with an 0.86 ERA in four starts against the Rangers this season.
MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
Left-hander C.D. Pelham made his Major League debut for the Rangers and allowed four of the five batters he faced to reach base in the seventh. But he allowed just one run with the help of an outstanding double play started by shortstop Elvis Andrus on Jose Fernandez's grounder up the middle.

"I can tell you just sitting out there in the bullpen, and every time that phone rung, my heart just dropped," Pelham said. "My guys told me I was probably about to get ready to go in, so I got up and just stretched, and finally got called to warm up. Start warming up, and the nerves kinda went away for a little bit ... I felt like I belong here, but running out to the field and all, I just looked around, and that's when it really hit me, like 'Wow, I'm a big leaguer now."
YOU GOTTA SEE THIS
Adrian Beltre hit a two-run home run in the sixth, his 10th of the season and the 472nd of his career. That puts him one behind Carlos Delgado for 32nd place all-time. He also has 47 career home runs against the Angels, his most against any opponent. It is the third most against the Angels for any hitter, trailing Alex Rodriguez (70) and Rafael Palmeiro (49).
HE SAID IT
"He just keeps going. He loves to play. There's obviously disappointment with the news today, [but] he wants to play baseball. Had a great game tonight, couldn't ask for much more -- stolen base, couple home runs. Great game from Shohei." -- Angels manager Mike Scioscia, on Ohtani
MITEL REPLAY OF THE DAY
Ohtani beat out an infield single on a grounder in the third that deflected off Colon. The Rangers challenged the call at first, but it was upheld. Ohtani showed outstanding 29.4 feet per second speed on the play and made it to first in 4.05 seconds.

UP NEXT
The Rangers will open a three-game series against the A's on Friday at 9:05 p.m. CT at the Coliseum. Right-hander Yovani Gallardo (8-3, 5.97 ERA) will start the opener. Gallardo is 5-2 with a 4.07 ERA in his last eight starts and will be facing the A's for the first time this season. Oakland is expected to counter with righty Chris Bassitt (2-3, 3.19).