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Jul 1, 2009 - 1:28 AM
0 shoutsBy MIKE LIPKA STATS Writer
Los Angeles (42-32) at Texas (40-35), 8:05 p.m. EDT
Improved pitching has helped the Texas Rangers remain contenders in the AL West this year, but it was an older formula that enabled them to end the Los Angeles Angels' six-game winning streak on Tuesday.
One night after slugging five home runs to even their series with the division leaders, the Rangers can pull within one-half game of Los Angeles on Wednesday with another victory as the clubs decide their three-game set.
Before Tuesday's game, Texas (41-35) had dropped eight of 11 to surrender first place in the West to the Angels, who extended the Rangers' offensive slump and opened a 2 1/2-game lead by winning 5-2 in Monday's series opener.
That was the sixth time in their previous nine games that the Rangers, who led the majors in runs in 2008, had scored two or fewer runs. Their bats finally awakened Tuesday, however, with Marlon Byrd hitting two of Texas' five homers and driving in five runs in a 9-5 win.
"That's something that we needed," said Byrd, who's 5 for 9 with three homers in the series.
Nelson Cruz and Ian Kinsler each added his 19th homer of the season, and the Rangers will be getting another big bat back soon. Josh Hamilton announced Tuesday that he expects to return from the disabled list this weekend against the Tampa Bay Rays.
"Hopefully, (Tuesday's win) will create some momentum for us," said outfielder David Murphy, who had the final home run Tuesday.
They'll hope to stay hot against Jered Weaver (8-3, 2.65 ERA), who has looked increasingly vulnerable lately. The right-hander went 7-2 with a 2.08 ERA in his first 13 starts, capped by a five-hit shutout against San Diego on June 14.
Weaver, though, has allowed nine runs in 11 1-3 innings in his last two starts. He still earned a victory against Arizona on Friday, working six innings in the 12-3 win.
"Weave wasn't as crisp tonight. It was good to get him some runs and give him a margin of error," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said.
Los Angeles didn't give him any support when he started against the Rangers on May 17. He allowed three runs in eight innings, getting credit for a complete game in a 3-0 loss.
It could be difficult again for the Angels' bats against Kevin Millwood (8-5, 2.64) as two of the top six AL pitchers in ERA match up. Millwood is coming off a stellar month of June, during which he went 4-1 with a 1.30 ERA.
He has anchored a staff with a 4.38 ERA - nearly a run better than last year, when the Rangers' 5.37 team ERA ranked last in the majors.
"He's just a leader, and to go out there and lead the pitching staff like that, it takes the pressure off the offense," Murphy said of Millwood.
Millwood beat the Angels on May 15, allowing two runs in six innings of a 10-8 victory during Texas' three-game sweep.
Los Angeles (42-33) had won nine of 11 going into the May meetings, and the Angels were 13-3 in their last 16 games before Tuesday's loss snapped their six-game winning streak.
They were also 7-2 at Rangers Ballpark last year, but they haven't found that success this season, starting 1-4 there.
From the Bleachers
-
LOS ANGELES: 7
TEXAS: 9
Final
Jul 1 11:26 PM -
AL
AT TEXAS - SCORING UPDATE
TWO-RUN HOME RUN BY HANK BLALOCK (16) TO CENTER WITH 2 OUT
IN THE 9TH OFF JUSTIN SPEIER SCORED MICHAEL YOUNG.
FINAL SCORE: TEXAS 9, LA ANGELS 7
Jul 1 11:26 PM -
AL
AT TEXAS - SCORING UPDATE
THREE-RUN HOME RUN BY JUAN RIVERA (14) TO RIGHT CENTER WITH
2 OUT IN THE 9TH OFF FRANK FRANCISCO SCORED BOBBY ABREU AND TORII
HUNTER.
CURRENT SCORE: LA ANGELS 7, TEXAS 7
DUE UP FOR LA ANGELS: K MORALES (.281, 1-FOR-3, HBP)
Jul 1 11:12 PM -
AL
AT TEXAS - SCORING UPDATE
DOUBLE BY TORII HUNTER SCORED CHONE FIGGINS AND BOBBY
ABREU.
SITUATION: 3 RUNS IN, T HUNTER ON SECOND, 1 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: LA ANGELS 4
TEXAS 7 TOP, 7TH
DUE UP FOR LA ANGELS: V GUERRERO (.291, 3-FOR-3)
Jul 1 10:20 PM -
AL
AT TEXAS - SCORING UPDATE
TRIPLE BY CHONE FIGGINS SCORED ERICK AYBAR.
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, C FIGGINS ON THIRD, 1 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: LA ANGELS 2
TEXAS 7 TOP, 7TH
DUE UP FOR LA ANGELS: B ABREU (.296, 0-FOR-2, BB)
Jul 1 10:18 PM -
AL
AT TEXAS - SCORING UPDATE
SINGLE BY DAVID MURPHY SCORED OMAR VIZQUEL.
SITUATION: 5 RUNS IN, 1 LEFT ON, 3 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: LA ANGELS 1
TEXAS 7 END BOTTOM, 6TH
Jul 1 10:10 PM -
AL
AT TEXAS - SCORING UPDATE
SINGLE BY MICHAEL YOUNG SCORED JARROD SALTALAMACCHIA.
SITUATION: 4 RUNS IN, M YOUNG ON FIRST, O VIZQUEL ON SECOND, 2 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: LA ANGELS 1
TEXAS 6 BOTTOM, 6TH
DUE UP FOR TEXAS: D MURPHY (.254, 0-FOR-3)
Jul 1 10:07 PM -
AL
AT TEXAS - SCORING UPDATE
GROUND OUT BY CHRIS DAVIS SCORED JULIO BORBON.
SITUATION: 3 RUNS IN, J SALTALAMACCHIA ON SECOND, 1 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: LA ANGELS 1
TEXAS 5 BOTTOM, 6TH
DUE UP FOR TEXAS: O VIZQUEL (.292, 0-FOR-2)
Jul 1 10:00 PM -
AL
AT TEXAS - SCORING UPDATE
WILD PITCH BY JERED WEAVER ALLOWED HANK BLALOCK TO SCORE.
SITUATION: 2 RUNS IN, J SALTALAMACCHIA ON FIRST, J BORBON ON
THIRD, 0 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: LA ANGELS 1
TEXAS 4 BOTTOM, 6TH
DUE UP FOR TEXAS: C DAVIS (.205, 1-FOR-2, RBI)
Jul 1 9:59 PM -
AL
AT TEXAS - SCORING UPDATE
SINGLE BY JULIO BORBON SCORED MARLON BYRD.
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, J BORBON ON SECOND, H BLALOCK ON THIRD, 0 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: LA ANGELS 1
TEXAS 3 BOTTOM, 6TH
DUE UP FOR TEXAS: J SALTALAMACCHIA (.249, 0-FOR-1, HBP)
Jul 1 9:56 PM -
AL
AT TEXAS - SCORING UPDATE
SACRIFICE FLY BY MAICER IZTURIS SCORED VLADIMIR GUERRERO.
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, 0 LEFT ON, 3 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: LA ANGELS 1
TEXAS 2 END TOP, 6TH
Jul 1 9:48 PM -
AL
AT TEXAS - SCORING UPDATE
SINGLE BY CHRIS DAVIS SCORED NELSON CRUZ.
SITUATION: 2 RUNS IN, C DAVIS ON FIRST, 2 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: LA ANGELS 0
TEXAS 2 BOTTOM, 4TH
DUE UP FOR TEXAS: O VIZQUEL (.296, 0-FOR-1)
Jul 1 9:16 PM -
AL
AT TEXAS - SCORING UPDATE
SOLO HOME RUN BY HANK BLALOCK (15) TO RIGHT CENTER WITH 1
OUT IN THE 4TH OFF JERED WEAVER.
CURRENT SCORE: LA ANGELS 0, TEXAS 1
DUE UP FOR TEXAS: N CRUZ (.261, 0-FOR-1)
Jul 1 9:12 PM
