GAME THREAD: GAME THREAD: AL: LA ANGELS (51-31) at TEXAS (34-48)

AL: LA ANGELS at TEXAS

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LA ANGELS (3) AT TEXAS (8) - EVENT LOG
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La Angels Starting Lineups -- R Willits LF, C Figgins 3B, O Cabrera SS,
V Guerrero RF, G Matthews Jr CF, C Kotchman 1B, G Anderson DH, H Kendrick 2B,
J Molina C, E Santana RHP.

Texas Starting Lineups -- K Lofton CF, R Vazquez SS, M Young DH, M Byrd RF,
F Catalanotto LF, G Laird C, B Wilkerson 1B, D Relaford 2B, T Metcalf 3B,
K Millwood RHP.

Umpires -- John Hirschbeck (HP), Bill Welke (1B), Angel Campos (2B),
Laz Diaz (3B).

Gametime Weather: 78 degrees, Cloudy, wind out to center at 4 mph.


LA ANGELS 1ST: R Willits struck out looking. C Figgins grounded out to
third. O Cabrera flied out to center. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) LA ANGELS 0,
TEXAS 0.

TEXAS 1ST: K Lofton struck out looking. R Vazquez doubled to deep right.
M Young walked. M Byrd struck out swinging. F Catalanotto struck out
swinging. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) LA ANGELS 0, TEXAS 0.

LA ANGELS 2ND: V Guerrero grounded out to second. G Matthews Jr fouled out
to left. C Kotchman singled to left. G Anderson doubled to left, C Kotchman
to third. H Kendrick singled to left center, C Kotchman and G Anderson scored.
J Molina struck out looking. (2 Runs, 3 Hits, 0 Errors) LA ANGELS 2, TEXAS 0.

TEXAS 2ND: G Laird struck out swinging. B Wilkerson struck out looking.
D Relaford struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) LA ANGELS 2,
TEXAS 0.

LA ANGELS 3RD: R Willits grounded out to first. C Figgins grounded out to
second. O Cabrera struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) LA ANGELS 2,
TEXAS 0.

TEXAS 3RD: T Metcalf flied out to right. K Lofton struck out looking.
R Vazquez safe at first on error by second baseman H Kendrick. M Young struck
out swinging. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 1 Error) LA ANGELS 2, TEXAS 0.

LA ANGELS 4TH: V Guerrero grounded out to shortstop. G Matthews Jr
grounded out to second. C Kotchman lined out to left. (0 Runs, 0 Hits,
0 Errors) LA ANGELS 2, TEXAS 0.

TEXAS 4TH: M Byrd struck out swinging, M Byrd safe at first on wild pitch
by E Santana. F Catalanotto singled to right, M Byrd to second. G Laird
sacrificed to pitcher, M Byrd to third, F Catalanotto to second. B Wilkerson
homered to right, M Byrd and F Catalanotto scored. D Relaford singled to deep
right. T Metcalf struck out swinging. K Lofton walked, D Relaford to second.
R Vazquez flied out to left. (3 Runs, 3 Hits, 0 Errors) LA ANGELS 2, TEXAS 3.

LA ANGELS 5TH: G Anderson flied out to center. H Kendrick lined out to
right. J Molina struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) LA ANGELS 2,
TEXAS 3.

TEXAS 5TH: M Young singled to center. M Byrd struck out looking.
F Catalanotto grounded into fielder's choice to second, M Young out at second.
G Laird grounded out to shortstop. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) LA ANGELS 2,
TEXAS 3.

LA ANGELS 6TH: R Willits flied out to left. C Figgins flied out to center.
O Cabrera flied out to right. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) LA ANGELS 2, TEXAS 3.

TEXAS 6TH: B Wilkerson homered to right. D Relaford singled to center.
T Metcalf sacrificed to pitcher, D Relaford to second. D Oliver relieved
E Santana. K Lofton safe at first on error by shortstop O Cabrera, D Relaford to
third. D Relaford scored, K Lofton safe at second on throwing error by catcher
J Molina. R Vazquez struck out looking. C Bootcheck relieved D Oliver. M Young
struck out swinging. (2 Runs, 2 Hits, 2 Errors) LA ANGELS 2, TEXAS 5.

LA ANGELS 7TH: V Guerrero doubled to deep right. G Matthews Jr flied out
to center. C Kotchman grounded out to pitcher, V Guerrero to third.
G Anderson fouled out to catcher. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) LA ANGELS 2,
TEXAS 5.

TEXAS 7TH: M Byrd tripled to deep center. F Catalanotto hit sacrifice fly
to left, M Byrd scored. G Laird singled to left. B Wilkerson homered to
right, G Laird scored. D Relaford grounded out to pitcher. T Metcalf struck
out swinging. (3 Runs, 3 Hits, 0 Errors) LA ANGELS 2, TEXAS 8.

LA ANGELS 8TH: H Kendrick reached on infield single to shortstop.
M Izturis hit for J Molina. M Izturis grounded out to shortstop, H Kendrick to
second. H Kendrick to third on passed ball by G Laird. Texas's Coach A Howe
ejected by J Hirschbeck. R Willits popped out to shortstop. C Figgins grounded
out to first. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) LA ANGELS 2, TEXAS 8.

TEXAS 8TH: J Mathis catching. C Resop relieved C Bootcheck. K Lofton flied
out to left. R Vazquez fouled out to third. M Young grounded out to second.
(0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) LA ANGELS 2, TEXAS 8.

LA ANGELS 9TH: F Francisco relieved K Millwood. O Cabrera lined out to
left. V Guerrero walked. G Matthews Jr grounded out to pitcher, V Guerrero to
second. V Guerrero to third on wild pitch by F Francisco. V Guerrero scored on
F Francisco's wild pitch. C Kotchman popped out to shortstop. (1 Run, 0 Hits,
0 Errors) LA ANGELS 3, TEXAS 8.</div>

 

Wilkerson powers Rangers past Angels

<h3>TEXAS 8, LA ANGELS 3</h3>ARLINGTON, Texas (Ticker) -- Brad Wilkerson hit three homersand Kevin Millwood pitched eight effective innings as the TexasRangers defeated the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, 8-3, onTuesday.

Marlon Byrd scored twice and Frank Catalanotto drove in a runfor Texas, which had lost six of its previous seven vs. Anaheimthis season.

With the Angels leading, 2-0, courtesy of a Howie Kendricktwo-run single in the second inning, Wilkerson flexed hismuscles in the fourth. With men on second and third, Wilkersonbelted a 2-1 pitch from Ervin Santana over the right field wallto give the Rangers a 3-2 lead.

In the fifth, Wilkerson led off with full-count blast offSantana that hooked just inside the right field foul pole toincrease the lead by two.

In the eighth, after Catalanotto hit a sacrifice fly and GeraldLaird singled, Wilkerson smashed a pitch off reliever ChrisBootcheck into the first row of seats in right for his 13thhomer to make it 8-2.

It was the first career three-run homer game for Wilkerson, whohad also homered on Monday.

The runs were enough for Millwood (5-7), who also had hisdifficulties vs. the Angels, going 0-2 with a 9.45 ERA in twoprevious starts.

However, the 32-year-old veteran yielded only two runs and fivehits while striking out four. In winning three of his last fourgames, the 11-year veteran has allowed just 12 runs in 26innings, a significant improvement from his previous three gameswhen he was hammered for 20 runs - 16 earned - in 13 innings.

Santana (5-9) surrendered five runs - four earned - and sevenhits in 5 1/3 innings. The righthander, who struck out acareer-high 11 batters, also has been tagged for 21 homers thisseason, tying him with last year's total in 204 innings.

Kendrick had two hits for Anaheim, which has lost five of seven.

 

Wilkerson powers Rangers past Angels

<h3>TEXAS 8, LA ANGELS 3</h3>ARLINGTON, Texas (Ticker) -- Brad Wilkerson hit three homersand Kevin Millwood pitched eight effective innings as the TexasRangers defeated the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, 8-3, onTuesday.

Marlon Byrd scored twice and Frank Catalanotto drove in a runfor Texas, which had lost six of its previous seven vs. Anaheimthis season.

With the Angels leading, 2-0, courtesy of a Howie Kendricktwo-run single in the second inning, Wilkerson flexed hismuscles in the fourth. With men on second and third, Wilkersonbelted a 2-1 pitch from Ervin Santana over the right field wallto give the Rangers a 3-2 lead.

"We were dragging a little bit," said Wilkerson of his firstblast. "For me to come up with a big hit right there - whetherit be a single or a three-run home run - was just huge to let ustake the lead at that point."

In the fifth, Wilkerson led off with a full-count blast offSantana that hooked just inside the right field foul pole toincrease the lead by two.

"It was just one of those nights where I was hitting pretty mucheverything" Wilkerson said. "I got some pitches I could driveand got up into the air in right, and they turned into homeruns."

In the eighth, after Catalanotto hit a sacrifice fly and GeraldLaird singled, Wilkerson smashed a pitch off reliever ChrisBootcheck into the first row of seats in right for his 13thhomer to make it 8-2.

It was the first career three-run homer game for Wilkerson, whohad also homered on Monday.

"To hit three home runs in the big leagues, it's a great featand I'm going to go home and enjoy it," Wilkerson said.

The runs were enough for Millwood (5-7), who also had hisdifficulties vs. the Angels, going 0-2 with a 9.45 ERA in twoprevious starts.

However, the 32-year-old veteran yielded only two runs and fivehits while striking out four.

"That's the Millwood I think everyone's been looking for,"Rangers manager Ron Washington said. "I don't think he thinksabout being dominant, I just think he thinks about getting histeam through as many innings as possible and putting up as manyzeros in innings as he can. That's what great pitchers do."

In winning three of his last four games, the 11-year veteran hasallowed just 12 runs in 26 innings, a significant improvementfrom his previous three games, when he was hammered for 20 runs- 16 earned - in 13 innings.

"I definitely feel like I took another step in the rightdirection," Millwood said of his third consecutive qualitystart since coming off the disabled list. "Not everything wasgreat. The curveball wasn't working but I was able to locate myfastball nine times out of 10. That was huge."

Santana (5-9) surrendered five runs - four earned - and sevenhits in 5 1/3 innings. The righthander, who struck out acareer-high 11 batters, also has been tagged for 21 homers thisseason, tying him with last year's total in 204 innings.

"I was trying to do my best, but they did a good job tonight,"Santana said. "I made two mistakes, a changeup over the middleand a backdoor curveball. I had a good fastball, slider,breaking ball and threw a few changeups."

Kendrick had two hits for Anaheim, which has lost five of seven.

"We've been playing at a high level for so long that you'regoing to hit a few bumps in the road," said Angels manager MikeScoscia of his team's recent skid.