Streaking Rangers overpower Angels

Field Level Media|published: Sun 8th September, 17:33 2024

MLB: Los Angeles Angels at Texas Rangers

Sep 8, 2024; Arlington, Texas, USA; Texas Rangers first base Nathaniel Lowe (30) rounds the bases after hitting a two run home run against the Los Angeles Angels in the first inning at Globe Life Field. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-Imagn Images

Marcus Semien, Nathaniel Lowe and Ezequiel Duran homered to help the Texas Rangers to a 7-4 win against the Los Angeles Angels in the finale of their four-game series on Sunday afternoon.

Travis Jankowski had two hits and an RBI for the Rangers (70-74), who have won five of six.

Rangers starter Andrew Heaney (5-13) won his first start since July 21, allowing four runs (three earned) and three hits in six innings, striking out eight and walking one.

Kirby Yates worked the ninth for his 29th save.

Charles Leblanc hit a three-run homer for Los Angeles (59-84), which dropped three of four in the series.

Caden Dana (1-1) struggled in his second major league start for the Angels.

The 20-year-old right-hander did not record an out in the second inning and was tagged for five runs and seven hits. He struck out one and walked one.

Semien greeted Dana with a leadoff home run to give the Rangers a 1-0 lead.

After Josh Smith doubled inside the first base line, Dana got the next two batters out, but Lowe pulled a 2-1 slider over the fence in right for a two-run homer and a 3-0 lead.

Duran homered to lead off the second and make it 4-0.

Texas followed with back-to-back singles, followed by a check-swing RBI single by Semien that made it 5-0.

Heaney retired the first nine batters before walking Taylor Ward to start the fourth. Zach Neto doubled into the left field corner to put runners on second and third. Leblanc pulled a three-run homer down the left field line to cut the lead to 5-3.

Angels catcher Matt Thaiss reached on a two-base error in the seventh inning when left fielder Wyatt Langford was unable to catch his fly ball down the line. The ball went off his glove and landed in foul territory, but video review showed the ball hit Langford's glove in fair territory.

Heaney then departed and Thaiss moved to third on a fly ball before scoring on a groundout to cut it to 5-4.

The Rangers tacked on a pair of unearned runs in the eighth to extend the lead to 7-4.

--Field Level Media