Final
Rangers shoot for 12th straight win in series opener vs. Angels
Jul 19, 2011 - 3:00 PM (Sports Network) - The Texas Rangers go after a 12th straight win this evening when they open a three-game series against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim at Angel Stadium.The Rangers continued to roll on Sunday, as Mitch Moreland hit a three-run home run and Matt Harrison pitched into the eighth inning to help Texas to a 3-1 win over the punchless Seattle Mariners.
Harrison (8-7) won his second straight start as he was charged with just one run on five hits with a walk and four strikeouts while Mike Napoli went 2- for-3 with a run scored for the Rangers, who last won 11 straight from June 12-24, 2010 and are three wins shy of tying the team record set from May 12-27, 1991.
During the streak - longest in the league this year - the Rangers' pitchers own a 2.09 ERA, they have held opponents to a .194 batting average and posted 86 strikeouts against just 23 walks over 99 innings.
"These guys in the rotation that didn't realize their potential are realizing it now and understanding what they are capable of doing," said second baseman Ian Kinsler.
Texas, which has stretched its lead atop the AL West standings to four games over the Angels, will pin its hopes tonight on All-Star right-hander Alexi Ogando, who had a marvelous first half going 9-3 with a 2.92 earned run average. Ogando won his final two starts before the break and beat Baltimore on July 6, holding them to three runs and four hits in seven innings. He also struck out five and has fanned 13 over his last two starts.
"I expect to see the same thing we have been seeing," Texas manager Ron Washington said. "I didn't see any fatigue in the All-Star Game. We had a chance to give him extra rest, so we did it. We expect him to pitch like he always has."
Ogando beat the Angels earlier in the year in his only other start against them, as he limited them to a run and five hits in 6 1/3 frames.
The Angels, meanwhile, have dropped two in a row after losing three of four to the Oakland Athletics over the weekend, including a 9-1 setback in Sunday's finale.
Joel Pineiro (5-4) recorded just one out in his start, giving up eight runs -- seven earned -- on four hits, while walking four.
"He had a little problem with his grip," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said of his starter's rough outing. "He had good movement on his pitches, but he really couldn't get it in the zone and keep it in the zone and consequently, you saw what happened."
The Angels had won 14 of 17 before the All-Star break.
Rookie Tyler Chatwood will try to get the Halos back on the right track tonight, as he takes the ball for the first time in the second half. Chatwood hasn't pitched since July 6 when he did not get a decision against Detroit, as he allowed two unearned runs and four hits in 5 1/3 innings of his team's 5-4 loss.
He did make a minor league start over the break, but was hit for two runs and four hits and walked five batters over just three innings for Triple-A Salt Lake.
Chatwood, who has never faced the Rangers, is 5-5 on the year with a 3.62 ERA.
The Angels and Rangers have split their six matchups this season.
- TEXAS: 7
LOS ANGELES: 0
Final
Jul 20 1:30 AM - Adrian Beltre Home Run (20) to center. Michael Young due up.
Rangers 7, Angels 0 Top 9, 0 OutsJul 20 1:16 AM - Josh Hamilton lead-off Home Run (13) to center. Adrian Beltre due up.
Rangers 6, Angels 0 Top 9, 0 OutsJul 20 1:12 AM - Endy Chavez two-out, two-run Home Run (4) to right scored Mike Napoli. Ian Kinsler due up.
Rangers 5, Angels 0 Top 8, 2 OutsJul 20 12:57 AM - Michael Young singled to right scored Elvis Andrus with two out. Runner on first and Nelson Cruz due up.
Rangers 3, Angels 0 Top 5, 2 OutsJul 20 12:03 AM - Ian Kinsler singled to right scored Mike Napoli with two out. On the play, Endy Chavez advances to third. Runners on first and third with Elvis Andrus due up.
Rangers 2, Angels 0 Top 4, 2 OutsJul 19 11:45 PM - Adrian Beltre doubled to left scored Josh Hamilton with two out. Runner on second and Michael Young due up.
Rangers 1, Angels 0 Top 1, 2 OutsJul 19 10:34 PM - TEXAS: 0
LOS ANGELES: 0
Top 1, 0 Outs
Jul 19 10:27 PM
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