Recap: LA Angels vs. Texas
Sports Network | August 30, 2008
Anaheim, CA (Sports Network) - Torii Hunter finished 2-for-4 and drove in the tying run, and Juan Rivera provided the go-ahead score, as the Los Angeles Angels edged Texas, 4-3, in the third of four games with the Rangers. Brandon Wood had two hits and an RBI, while Mike Napoli also plated a run for the Angels, who have won all three contests in this series so far, and four of five overall. Jered Weaver gave up three runs on five hits and two walks in five-plus innings, and struck out six, but did not factor into the decision. Jose Arredondo (7-1) picked up the win after tossing two scoreless relief innings, while Francisco Rodriguez nailed down save No. 53 with a perfect ninth. The Angels moved to 18 games ahead of the second-place Rangers atop the AL West. Scott Feldman (5-6) took the loss after surrendering all four runs on eight hits and a walk in six innings while striking out two. Milton Bradley and Hank Blalock each chipped in a pair of hits, while Gerald Laird drove in two. Rangers outfielder Josh Hamilton left the game with pain associated with root canal work he had done earlier this week and was replaced in the lineup by Brandon Boggs. Trailing by a run in the bottom of the sixth, the Angels took the lead for good. Mark Teixeira began with a single, Vladimir Guerrero doubled to put both runners in scoring position, and Hunter hit an RBI groundout to second to tie the game. Rivera lofted a sacrifice fly to center to score Guerrero for a one-run Angels edge. Scot Shields threw a scoreless eighth despite walking two batters, and Rodriguez struck out two in the ninth. Texas loaded the bases in the fourth inning on a walk by Bradley and singles from Blalock and Nelson Cruz. Laird's sacrifice fly to left gave the Rangers a 1-0 lead. In the home fifth, Hunter led off with a single and went to second on an error by Feldman. Napoli's base hit plated Hunter, and Wood brought in Napoli with another hit. But the Rangers went back in front in the sixth. Texas filled the bases again, after Bradley singled and Blalock doubled. That chased Weaver, as Arredondo came on. Marlon Byrd walked before Cruz struck out. Laird, though, singled in a run, then Chris Davis plated another by grounding into a fielder's choice. Game Notes LA's Chone Figgins extended his hitting streak to 10 games...On Saturday, the Rangers placed pitcher Vicente Padilla on the 15-day disabled list with a strained left hamstring, and recalled pitcher Kameron Loe from Triple-A Oklahoma...Texas left 11 runners on base. Game Notes LA's Chone Figgins extended his hitting streak to 10 games...On Saturday, the Rangers placed pitcher Vicente Padilla on the 15-day disabled list with a strained left hamstring, and recalled pitcher Kameron Loe from Triple-A Oklahoma...Texas left 11 runners on base.
