• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Rodriguez ends wild affair as Angels hold off Rangers

Jul 11, 2008 - 6:24 AM ARLINGTON, Texas (Ticker) -- All-Star Francisco Rodriguez's uncharacteristically wild performance was a fitting end for a wild game.

Rodriguez struggled, but made pinch hitter Maicer Izturis' 11th-inning single stand up as the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim avoided a huge collapse with an 11-10 victory over the Texas Rangers on Thursday.

Howie Kendrick recorded his first career multi-home run game for Anaheim, which squandered a six-run lead. Kendrick's second blast of the game made it 10-4 in the fifth before the Rangers began to chip away.

"I think when we got to the fifth, going past the sixth, nobody thought we were in that game, but we fought back," said Rangers manager Ron Washington, who was ejected in the seventh for arguing an umpire's call. "We got back in it."

Marlon Byrd homered, Michael Young had an RBI single and Chris Davis added a run-scoring double in four-run seventh, which was capped by rookie Max Ramirez's game-tying, two-run homer to left field.

"It was amazing, it was big to hit the home run," Ramirez said. "He tried to throw me a fastball in and the game was tied right there. It seemed like we were going to win, but it didn't happen."

It did not happen because the Angels got to Jamey Wright (5-4) in the 11th. Garret Anderson led off with a single and was sacrificed to second by Reggie Willits. Two batters later, Izturis blooped a single to shallow center field that brought home Anderson.

Rodriguez, who blew the save on Wednesday, struggled again. The major league saves leader walked leadoff hitter Brandon Boggs, then had a bunt by Ramirez sail over his head before rushing and throwing the ball into center field, allowing the tying run to reach second base.

"I missed it. I saw the ball pop up and came in hard," Rodriguez said. "I overran it. When I looked up, it was over my head. If I had made a good throw to second, that was a double play."

However, Ian Kinsler popped up a bunt and Rodriguez struck out Ramon Vazquez before getting Young to ground out to secure his 36th save in 39 chances.

Rodriguez was happy he was able to bounce back after allowing a walk-off home run by Josh Hamilton on Wednesday.

"It was nice to win this game. Otherwise, it would have been a tough loss after (Wednesday) night," Rodriguez said. "I wanted to go after them. They have the tying and go-ahead run on base. I wanted to be aggressive. If I was going to get beat, I was going to get beat with my pitch."

Justin Speier (1-4) allowed one hit in the 10th to pick up the win.

Anaheim had a chance to take the lead in the ninth, when Torii Hunter tried to score from second on Juan Rivera's single to left. But Boggs threw a strike to Ramirez at home, and the catcher survived a huge collision with Hunter to preserve the 10-10 tie.

There were plenty of offensive fireworks early.

Hamilton's second home run in as many games and 21st of the season - a two-run shot in the third - gave Texas a 4-3 lead. Angels ace John Lackey was roughed up for six runs and a franchise record-tying 15 hits in 5 2/3 innings.

"I didn't have my best stuff," Lackey said. "They're swinging the bats great. They're a tough team here."

Anaheim surged ahead with a five-run fourth that made it 9-4. Kendrick's fifth-inning blast made it a six-run bulge before Texas responded.

"We had a bunch of clutch hits, obviously not at the end, but it was 10-4 and we were able to battle our way back and tie the game up, play 11 innings," said Kinsler, who extended his career-high hitting streak to 22 games. "We didn't come out on top tonight, but we battled our butts off and played some good baseball."