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Teixeira's late homer helps Rangers avoid series sweep

Jul 16, 2007 - 12:12 AM ANAHEIM, California (Ticker) -- The Los Angeles Angels got an outstanding outing from starter Jered Weaver, but Mark Teixeira erased all as the Texas Rangers rallied for 5-4 triumph on Sunday.

With the game tied at 4-4 in the 11th inning, Teixeira hit his 13th homer against Angels reliever Justin Speier (0-1) as the Rangers avoided a three-game series sweep.

Teixeira also ended Scot Shields' scoreless streak at 25 1/3 innings when he stroked an RBI doubled to right to plate Ramon Vazquez during a two-run eighth to force extra innings.

"I was just trying to hit the ball hard somewhere and make something happen," Teixeira said. "Speier struck me out last night so it was good to see him on back to back games. I got a pitch I could handle and just got enough wood on it for it to go out."

It was Shields' first time allowing a run since May 20th.

"He's (Shields) our guy and we want him in the game when the game is on the line," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said.

Reliever C.J. Wilson (1-1) got the final out in the 10th for the victory and closer Eric Gagne shut the door in the 11th for his 13th save in 14 chances.

"Our bullpen came in and did a great job keeping them off the scoreboard, especially with the offense they have," Rangers manager Ron Washington said.

Weaver threw seven effective innings, allowing two runs and four hits with six strikeouts. The righthander retired the last 11 batters he faced.

"I felt good out there (Sunday)," Weaver said. "I did what I had to do and kept us in the game."

The Rangers got to Weaver in the third, when Michael Young grounded into a forceout. Second baseman Chone Figgins fielded the ball but threw it away, allowing Vazquez to score for a 1-0 lead.

"The ball just got away from me," Figgins said. "It was an error that cost us a very important run."

The Angels answered in bottom half, when Reggie Willits reached base and stole second base before scoring on Figgins' RBI single to center with two outs.

Figgins started the scoring in the fifth on a single to center which plated Jeff Mathis to make it a 2-2 game. Figgins had three steals in the contest to become the Angels' all-time base stealer with 187, surpassing Gary Pettis.

"It's a great accomplishment for me and to do it with Pettis in the other dugout made it more special for me," Figgins said.

Orlando Cabrera lofted a sacrifice fly to plate Willits, and Figgins advanced to third. All-Star slugger Vladimir Guerrero capped the scoring with run-scoring double to plate Figgins for a 4-2 lead.

Texas starter Brandon McCarthy pitch six innings, giving up four runs and six hits with four strikeouts and two walks.

"I was pitching good early in the game but then my control started to slip away from me," McCarthy said.