Rangers erupt after Trout's OF assist in 9th

August 24th, 2017

ANAHEIM -- denied the Rangers the go-ahead run with an incredible throw to the plate in the ninth inning, but he couldn't save the Angels in the 10th. 's tie-breaking sacrifice fly off sparked a three-run rally for the Rangers, lifting them to a 7-5 win over the Angels in the third game of their four-game series on Wednesday night at Angel Stadium.
With the game tied at 4 in the ninth, Trout ("KIIIIID" for Players Weekend) unleashed a 250-foot throw from center field to nail at the plate and force extra innings, but the Rangers quickly struck back in the 10th after loading the bases with one out. Odor ("El Tipo") put Texas ahead, 5-4, and Chirinos and added some cushion with back-to-back RBI singles.
Trout cuts down Chirinos in ninth

"Look, they don't ever give in," Rangers manager Jeff Banister said of his team. "There's a lot of greatness, we know that, in this club. They continue to grind out the entire game. They play all the way until the end -- that's their DNA. … A lot of feel-good coming out of this game."
The Rangers (63-63) are now within two games of the Twins for the second American League Wild Card spot. The loss dropped the Angels (65-62) a half-game behind Minnesota in the standings.
Wild Card standings
went 3-for-5 with two homers, while Chirinos finished 3-for-4 with two RBIs. Beltre's first home run of the night, a solo shot off Angels left-hander in the second inning, marked the 460th home run of his career and allowed him to pass for sole possession of 37th place on the all-time list.
"You want to talk about this game, big players come through in big moments and Beltre ("El Koja") came through," Banister said. "Their guy in center field came through, too, and that was about as good of a ball as you can throw to home plate."
("Mono") crushed a three-run homer off Rangers starter to briefly tie the game, 3-3, in the fourth and tallied four RBIs for the Angels. He is now batting .370 with two doubles, five home runs and 12 RBIs in his last 10 games.

Heaney yielded four runs on eight hits while walking none and striking out four over five-plus innings in his second start since coming back from Tommy John surgery. Heaney struck out the side in the first, but he then allowed three consecutive leadoff home runs between the second and fourth innings, including two to Beltre.
"Physically, I felt good," Heaney said. "I didn't make good pitches to get hitters. I think everybody knows this game is hard. When it gets tough, you don't roll over. You keep fighting. I think this team has proved that at every single step. Every single time we're faced with adversity, I think our guys have stepped up and done what it takes to win games, and I'm going to do the exact same."

MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
Chrinos' wild night: Chirinos endured a bit of an emotional rollercoaster on Wednesday, as he launched a solo home run to give the Rangers a 2-0 lead in the third before being thrown out at the plate by Trout in the ninth. Still, Chirinos ultimately redeemed himself by delivering an RBI single in the 10th to help fuel the Rangers' big three-run outburst.
"It was huge for him," Banister said. "Tough moment getting thrown out at the plate. However, he maintained his focus and that's why he stayed in the game … We want his decision-making behind the plate in games like this."

Angels threaten in the 10th: After falling behind, 7-4, the Angels mounted a last-ditch rally in the bottom of the 10th. After issued back-to-back walks to and Trout to start the inning, the Rangers brought in Tony Barnette, who induced a double play from to slow the Angels' momentum. subsequently singled to knock in Maybin ("Slim") from third, cutting the deficit to 7-5, but then flied out to end the game.
"Nothing to hang our heads about tonight," Maybin said. "Everybody came to play, came with that intensity and energy. Just a tough one to drop."

QUOTABLE
"Add it the resume, you know. It's a stat. I'm not out here chasing records or anything. I'm just here to win every single day and that's the mentality I want to carry through -- do what it takes to win today," -- Barnette on recording his first career save after debuting last season at 32 years old
SOUND SMART WITH YOUR FRIENDS
Chirinos' solo shot in the third was his 15th homer of the season, giving the Rangers nine players with at least 15 home runs. That ties a Major League record and is the second time the Rangers have reached that mark (2005). The 2012 Yankees were the last team to accomplish the feat. More >>
Right-hander , who worked two scoreless innings for the Angels, has now stranded all 16 of his inherited runners this season.

UNDER REVIEW
The Rangers were unable to tally the go-ahead run in the ninth following a two-out single from and a challenge from Banister. Chirinos was called out after Trout's throw, as the call stood, keeping the game tied at 4-4 heading into the bottom of the ninth.
"Obviously, it was a big play in the game," Trout said. "I saw him going around the bases and I knew I had a shot. Just put it right on the money."
WHAT'S NEXT
Rangers : will take the mound for the finale of the four-game series at 9:07 p.m. CT at Angel Stadium. Perez has won his last three starts but also needed 40 pitches in a five-run first inning last Saturday against the White Sox. .
Angels: Angels rookie (2-0, 3.46 ERA) will be called up from Triple-A Salt Lake to make a spot start against the Rangers in Thursday's finale at 7:07 p.m. PT at Angel Stadium. Scribner, who will fill in for the injured JC Ramirez, will make his first career start against Texas.
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