First-place Rangers looking to extend lead over Angels

The Texas Rangers look to increase their hold on the top spot in the division when they host the Los Angeles Angels on Wednesday in the middle game of a three-game American League West set in Arlington, Texas.

The Angels will send right-hander Jose Soriano (2-1, 2.70 ERA) to the mound opposite Texas left-hander Patrick Corbin (0-0, 6.75 ERA).

Marcus Semien and Kyle Higashioka had runs batted in to back the shutout pitching of Tyler Mahle and four relievers as the Rangers won the first game of the series on Tuesday and leapfrogged Los Angeles for the top spot in the West.

Mahle (3-0) went six scoreless innings on Tuesday while allowing just three hits, striking out nine, walking two and allowing just one runner to reach third base in his stint. Mahle's ERA dropped from 1.32 to. 0.92 in four starts.

Robert Garcia and Jacob Webb followed Mahle to the mound. Then Luke Jackson pitched the ninth inning for the Rangers, allowing one and striking out one to earn his sixth save of the year.

Texas snapped a three-game losing streak while the Angels lost for the second straight outing and the third time in their past four contests.

Los Angeles starter Yusei Kikuchi (0-3) all but matched Mahle for six innings, surrendering one run on three hits while fanning six and walking two. The Angels were shut out for the first time this season.

Soriano's most recent outing was last Thursday's 11-1 win in Tampa against the Rays in which he allowed a run on five hits over 7 2/3 innings while striking out four and walking three. It was a great bounce back after surrendering five runs on five hits (two of them home runs) in 5 1/3 innings in an 8-6 loss at home to Cleveland.

"Right now, my main focus is not to be the best in the league," Soriano said. "My goal is to be consistent and to be able to have that type of presence on the mound. To be able to stay healthy and be a help to my team."

Soriano has faced the Rangers three times in his career, forging a 1-0 record with a 0.93 ERA in 9 2/3 innings pitched in three starts.

Corbin returns to the mound on seven days' rest after giving up three runs on five hits over four innings in the bitter cold in a game the Rangers lost 10-6 to the Cubs in Chicago on April 8. It was Corbin's first game with Texas after he was called up from Triple-A Round Rock and after signing with the Rangers during spring training.

Corbin has never lost to the Angels, going 1-0 with a 6.00 ERA in three appearances (all starts) totaling 15 innings.

Two-time Cy Young Award winner Jacob deGrom will not pitch for Texas in this series, as his spot in the rotation was pushed back a day to put him on the mound for Friday's series opener at home against the Los Angeles Dodgers, the reigning World Series champions.

DeGrom will be on six days' rest for the start Friday.

"We had a couple days off," Rangers manager Bruce Bochy said. "We could manipulate it how we want it and could still get the extra day off."

--Field Level Media