Rangers 7, Angels 4
ARLINGTON, Texas, May 16 — The Texas Rangers‘ bats came to life on Monday, as they beat the Los Angeles Angels by a final score of 7–4. Rangers’ catcher Jonah Heim homered to help lead them to the win. On a night when the Angels jumped out to an early 3–0 lead in the top of the first inning, it was good for the fans to see their team win the opener in a three-game series against their division rival. The second game in this set is on Tuesday night at 7:05 PM Central. Lefty Reid Detmers (2–1, 3.77 ERA) will start for the Angels, while Taylor Hearn (2–2, 5.26 ERA) will toe the slab for the Rangers.
Batting Around
The Rangers’ bats played a huge role on Monday night. They batted around in the bottom of the first inning. Three of the men that they sent to the plate in the first eventually crossed the plate. It started with an RBI single by shortstop Corey Seager. This allowed Eli White to score, and it moved Marcus Semien to third base. The score was now 3–1 Angels. It immediately became 3–2 on a double to center field that brought home Semien from third.
A sacrifice fly to center field by Kole Calhoun brought home Seager, thus tying the game at three apiece. Moments later, a fielding error by Angels’ first baseman Jared Walsh scored Garcia. It didn’t stop there, however. An RBI single by White drove in Heim and Sam Huff, who was the DH on this night. Their seventh and final run came compliments of a Jonah Heim solo shot to center field. The Rangers’ bats definitely got the job done on Monday evening.
Angels’ Offense
The Angels scored three of their four runs in the top of the first inning. Shohei Ohtani doubled on a sharp line drive to center that brought in Taylor Ward. It also advanced Mike Trout to third base. Next came a double by Brandon Marsh that drove in both Trout and Ohtani. Their fourth and final run came in the fourth inning. Andrew Velazquez hit a sharp single to center field that allowed Walsh to score. It also moved Ward to third base, but he would go no further, and neither would the Angels. They were no match for the Rangers’ bats.
Rangers Pitching Notes
Right-hander Jon Gray made his fifth start for the Rangers on Monday. He pitched 5 2/3 innings. Gray surrendered four earned runs on eight hits. He also walked one, struck out eight, and got the winning decision. His record for 2022 is now 1–1, and he has an ERA of 5.73. Lefty Brock Burke relieved Gray in the sixth inning. Burke pitched 1 1/3 innings. He gave up one hit, and struck out one.
John King was the next arm that the Rangers would use in this game. King tossed a perfect inning, and along with Burke earned a hold. It was his fourth of the year, and the second of the year for Burke. Joe Barlow came in to close it in the ninth inning. In the inning that he pitched, he walked one, struck out one, and earned his seventh save of the season.
Righty Noah Syndergaard took the loss for the Angels. He only pitched two-thirds of an inning. Of the six runs that he allowed, four were earned. He also walked two, and struck out one. His record for the 2022 campaign is now 3–2, and he has an ERA of 3.60.
Main Photo:
Embed from Getty Images
Players Mentioned:
Jonah Heim, Reid Detmers, Taylor Hearn, Corey Seager, Eli White, Marcus Semien, Kole Calhoun, Jared Walsh, Sam Huff, Shohei Ohtani, Taylor Ward, Mike Trout, Brandon Marsh, Andrew Velazquez, Jon Gray, Brock Burke, John King, Joe Barlow, Noah Syndergaard
