Big fifth inning destroys Los Angeles Angels, as Texas Rangers grab 8-4 series opener – MLB Update
The Texas Rangers’ bat played a huge fifth inning to write an 8-4 defeat for the Los Angeles Angels in the series opener at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on Monday, August 15 to take a 1-0 lead.
Having a 2-1 lead in the game, the Rangers’ batting line-up landed with new ambition and posted six runs to elevate the lead to 8-1 in the top of the fifth inning. Short-stop Elvis Andrus opened the streak with his sacrificed hit into fielder choice to pitcher
Hisanori Takahashi, who made a wrong throw allowing Mitch Moreland to score a run.
It also allowed Ian Kinsler to occupy third and Elvis Andrus to second base. With two bases loaded, Michael Young entered the plate and drove in a line drive single to left-centre, scoring Kinsler and Andrus to make the lead higher to 5-1. Young was occupying
first base, when Nelson Cruz landed and shined with his beautiful hit to left for a two-run homer. Then Mike Napoli closed the inning, hitting a crushing homer to centre and taking the lead to 8-1.
Rangers’ starter Alexi Ogando gave away a single in the second inning and then allowed an RBI single in the fifth before receiving a two-run homer by the Angels’ pinch hitter Russell Branyan in the seventh inning. Overall, he allowed four runs on eight hits
and struck-out two batters over six innings to get his 12th win of the season.
Koji Uehara took the responsibility up the middle of the seventh inning and crushed the Angels with his gritty sinkers extended up to eight. Mark Lowe tossed a scoreless ninth inning to help his club finalise their 70th win of the season.
Angels’ starter Garrett Richards tossed less than an inning in his second start of the game and the career. He allowed one run and two hits over his 19 innings long spell. Bobby Cassevah relieved him as a senior pitcher, retaliated hard but failed to prove
him scoreless as he allowed one run over three hits of two innings.
It was the nightmare game for Takahashi, who gave four run on three hits over single inning. Rich Thompson also scattered three hits and two runs in just over one inning.
Joel Pineiro was the only pitcher, who did not allowed a run over his three innings for the Angels, but it was not enough to take them back into the game.
Tags: