GAME THREAD: GAME THREAD: AL: LA ANGELS (51-32) at TEXAS (35-48)

AL: LA ANGELS at TEXAS

<div class="pre">** CONFIRMED **
AL
LA ANGELS 2
TEXAS 4 FINAL</div>

 

AL: LA ANGELS at TEXAS

<div class="pre">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
LA ANGELS (2) AT TEXAS (4) - HOW THEY SCORED
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TEXAS 2ND: F Catalanotto flied out to left. M Byrd doubled to left.
B Wilkerson doubled to deep right center, M Byrd scored. G Laird struck out
swinging. R Vazquez flied out to center. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) LA ANGELS 0,
TEXAS 1.

LA ANGELS 4TH: C Figgins reached on infield single to second. O Cabrera
singled to left, C Figgins to third. V Guerrero singled to left, C Figgins
scored, O Cabrera to second. G Matthews Jr singled to left, O Cabrera to
third, V Guerrero to second. C Kotchman grounded into double play, second to
shortstop to first, O Cabrera scored, G Matthews Jr out at second, V Guerrero
to third. G Anderson grounded out to pitcher. (2 Runs, 4 Hits, 0 Errors)
LA ANGELS 2, TEXAS 1.

TEXAS 4TH: F Catalanotto singled to center. M Byrd walked, F Catalanotto
to second. B Wilkerson flied out to center, F Catalanotto to third. G Laird
hit sacrifice fly to center, F Catalanotto scored. R Vazquez grounded out to
second. (1 Run, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) LA ANGELS 2, TEXAS 2.

TEXAS 6TH: S Sosa singled to center. F Catalanotto singled to left, S Sosa
to third. M Byrd singled to center, S Sosa scored, F Catalanotto to second.
D Oliver relieved J Weaver. B Wilkerson struck out swinging. G Laird popped out
to second. R Vazquez grounded out to second. (1 Run, 3 Hits, 0 Errors)
LA ANGELS 2, TEXAS 3.

TEXAS 8TH: J Molina catching. F Catalanotto singled to center. M Byrd
singled to center, F Catalanotto to third. B Wilkerson struck out swinging.
G Laird hit sacrifice fly to left, F Catalanotto scored. R Vazquez singled to
right center, M Byrd to third. K Lofton grounded out to second. (1 Run,
3 Hits, 0 Errors) LA ANGELS 2, TEXAS 4.</div>

 

AL: LA ANGELS at TEXAS

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LA ANGELS (2) AT TEXAS (4) - 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 Mathis C, J Weaver RHP.

Texas Starting Lineups -- K Lofton CF, J Hairston Jr 2B, M Young SS, S Sosa DH,
F Catalanotto LF, M Byrd RF, B Wilkerson 1B, G Laird C, R Vazquez 3B,
J Wright RHP.

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

Gametime Weather: 81 degrees, Cloudy, wind in from left at 10 mph.


LA ANGELS 1ST: R Willits walked. C Figgins grounded into fielder's choice
to second, R Willits out at second. O Cabrera popped out to third. V Guerrero
struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) LA ANGELS 0, TEXAS 0.

TEXAS 1ST: K Lofton popped out to third. J Hairston Jr struck out
swinging. M Young walked. S Sosa popped out to second. (0 Runs, 0 Hits,
0 Errors) LA ANGELS 0, TEXAS 0.

LA ANGELS 2ND: G Matthews Jr walked. C Kotchman struck out swinging.
G Anderson grounded into double play, second to shortstop to first, G Matthews Jr
out at second.(0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) LA ANGELS 0, TEXAS 0.

TEXAS 2ND: F Catalanotto flied out to left. M Byrd doubled to left.
B Wilkerson doubled to deep right center, M Byrd scored. G Laird struck out
swinging. R Vazquez flied out to center. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) LA ANGELS 0,
TEXAS 1.

LA ANGELS 3RD: H Kendrick grounded out to shortstop. J Mathis flied out to
center. R Willits grounded out to second. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors)
LA ANGELS 0, TEXAS 1.

TEXAS 3RD: K Lofton popped out to first. J Hairston Jr popped out to
shortstop. M Young singled to left. S Sosa grounded out to shortstop.
(0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) LA ANGELS 0, TEXAS 1.

LA ANGELS 4TH: C Figgins reached on infield single to second. O Cabrera
singled to left, C Figgins to third. V Guerrero singled to left, C Figgins
scored, O Cabrera to second. G Matthews Jr singled to left, O Cabrera to
third, V Guerrero to second. C Kotchman grounded into double play, second to
shortstop to first, O Cabrera scored, G Matthews Jr out at second, V Guerrero
to third. G Anderson grounded out to pitcher. (2 Runs, 4 Hits, 0 Errors)
LA ANGELS 2, TEXAS 1.

TEXAS 4TH: F Catalanotto singled to center. M Byrd walked, F Catalanotto
to second. B Wilkerson flied out to center, F Catalanotto to third. G Laird
hit sacrifice fly to center, F Catalanotto scored. R Vazquez grounded out to
second. (1 Run, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) LA ANGELS 2, TEXAS 2.

LA ANGELS 5TH: H Kendrick grounded out to shortstop. J Mathis grounded out
to third. R Willits grounded out to pitcher. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors)
LA ANGELS 2, TEXAS 2.

TEXAS 5TH: K Lofton grounded out to second. J Hairston Jr flied out to
right. M Young grounded out to third. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) LA ANGELS 2,
TEXAS 2.

LA ANGELS 6TH: C Figgins singled to center. O Cabrera lined into double
play, pitcher to first, C Figgins out at first. V Guerrero grounded out to
second. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) LA ANGELS 2, TEXAS 2.

TEXAS 6TH: S Sosa singled to center. F Catalanotto singled to left, S Sosa
to third. M Byrd singled to center, S Sosa scored, F Catalanotto to second.
D Oliver relieved J Weaver. B Wilkerson struck out swinging. G Laird popped out
to second. R Vazquez grounded out to second. (1 Run, 3 Hits, 0 Errors)
LA ANGELS 2, TEXAS 3.

LA ANGELS 7TH: C Wilson relieved J Wright. G Matthews Jr struck out
swinging. C Kotchman grounded out to first. G Anderson struck out looking.
(0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) LA ANGELS 2, TEXAS 3.

TEXAS 7TH: K Lofton singled to center. C Resop relieved D Oliver.
J Hairston Jr sacrificed to third, K Lofton to second. M Young flied out to
center. S Sosa struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) LA ANGELS 2,
TEXAS 3.

LA ANGELS 8TH: J Benoit relieved C Wilson. H Kendrick struck out swinging.
M Izturis hit for J Mathis. M Izturis struck out swinging. R Willits struck
out swinging. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) LA ANGELS 2, TEXAS 3.

TEXAS 8TH: J Molina catching. F Catalanotto singled to center. M Byrd
singled to center, F Catalanotto to third. B Wilkerson struck out swinging.
G Laird hit sacrifice fly to left, F Catalanotto scored. R Vazquez singled to
right center, M Byrd to third. K Lofton grounded out to second. (1 Run,
3 Hits, 0 Errors) LA ANGELS 2, TEXAS 4.

LA ANGELS 9TH: E Gagne relieved J Benoit. D Relaford at second base.
J Hairston Jr in center field. C Figgins grounded out to second. O Cabrera
grounded out to third. V Guerrero flied out to right. (0 Runs, 0 Hits,
0 Errors) LA ANGELS 2, TEXAS 4.</div>

 

Resurgent Rangers squeeze past Angels

<h3>TEXAS 4, LA ANGELS 2</h3>ARLINGTON, Texas (Ticker) -- Marlon Byrd and the resurgentTexas Rangers continued to roll Wednesday night, defeating theLos Angeles Angels of Anaheim, 4-2.

Texas has lost only one of its last eight series and guaranteedwinning the set against the American League West-leading Angels,who are just 2-6 over their last eight contests.

Byrd snapped a 2-2 tie in the sixth with an RBI single tocenter. The 29-year-old outfielder is off to a torrid startsince being recalled from Class AAA Oklahoma on May 26.

Byrd has spent parts of each of the last six seasons in themajor leagues with modest success, but this season has beenquite different.

After tearing up the Pacific Coast League with a .358 average in44 games, he has picked up right where he left off in theminors, notching 16 multi-hit games - including Wednesday's3-for-3 performance to push his average to .383 (53-for-136).

The Rangers got a solid performance from starter Jamey Wright(2-2), who lasted six innings, yielding five hits and two runs.It was the longest outing of the season for the journeymanrighthander.

Wright ran into his only trouble in the top of the fourth whenhe was touched for four straight singles. Chone Figgins scoredon Vladimir Guerrero's single to left and, with the basesloaded, Orlando Cabrera scored when first baseman Casey Kotchmanhit into a double play.

Wright's victory continued a run of successful appearances forTexas starters. Over the last 19 games, the starting staff hasgone 10-4, giving up four or fewer earned runs 17 times.

Byrd started the scoring for the Rangers in the second inningwith a double to left field. Brad Wilkerson followed up histhree-homer night on Tuesday by scoring Byrd with a double offthe right-center field wall.

Catcher Gerald Laird tied the game for Texas in the bottom ofthe fourth with a sacrifice fly, scoring Frank Catalanotto, whohad singled to start the inning.

Three straight singles in the bottom of the sixth put theRangers ahead to stay. Sammy Sosa and Catalanotto opened theinning with base hits and Byrd notched his 23rd RBI of the year,scoring Sosa on a line single to center.

Clinging to a 3-2 lead, Texas' bullpen stepped up with threehitless innings. C.J. Wilson and Joaquin Benoit pitched aninning apiece before handing the ball to closer Eric Gagne, whoconverted his 11th save in as many opportunities.

Jered Weaver (6-5) took the loss for the Angels, giving up threeruns on seven hits over five innings.

 

Resurgent Rangers squeeze past Angels

<h3>TEXAS 4, LA ANGELS 2</h3>ARLINGTON, Texas (Ticker) -- Marlon Byrd and the resurgentTexas Rangers continued to roll Wednesday night, defeating theLos Angeles Angels of Anaheim, 4-2.

Texas has lost only one of its last eight series and guaranteedwinning the set against the American League West-leading Angels,who are just 2-6 over their last eight contests.

Byrd snapped a 2-2 tie in the sixth with an RBI single tocenter. The 29-year-old outfielder is off to a torrid startsince being recalled from Class AAA Oklahoma on May 26.

Byrd has spent parts of each of the last six seasons in themajor leagues with modest success, but this season has beenquite different.

"I really feel like I can swing away with confidence now," Byrdsaid. "Tonight I thought (Angels starter Jered) Weaver wouldcome in on me but I was able to go with the pitches he threwthat were away most of the night."

After tearing up the Pacific Coast League with a .358 average in44 games, he has picked up right where he left off in theminors, notching 16 multi-hit games - including Wednesday's3-for-3 performance to push his average to .383 (53-for-136).

The Rangers got a solid performance from starter Jamey Wright(2-2), who lasted six innings, yielding five hits and two runs.It was the longest outing of the season for the journeymanrighthander.

"I feel like I'm getting a better sense of what I'm doing outthere," Wright said. "I was really trying to pound the strikezone and get quick outs."

Wright ran into his only trouble in the top of the fourth whenhe was touched for four straight singles. Chone Figgins scoredon Vladimir Guerrero's single to left and, with the basesloaded, Orlando Cabrera scored when first baseman Casey Kotchmanhit into a double play.

"With the bases loaded and no outs, I was happy to get out ofthe inning with only two runs," Wright said. "I left a coupleof balls over the plate and then just tried to minimize thedamage."

Wright's victory continued a run of successful appearances forTexas starters. Over the last 19 games, the starting staff hasgone 10-4, giving up four or fewer earned runs 17 times.

"I've said all along that it's a matter of pitching and pitchingmakes everything better," Rangers manager Ron Washington said."That's the reason we're on the roll we're on ... because of ourstarting pitching."

Byrd started the scoring for the Rangers in the second inningwith a double to left field. Brad Wilkerson followed up histhree-homer night on Tuesday by scoring Byrd with a double offthe right-center field wall.

Catcher Gerald Laird tied the game for Texas in the bottom ofthe fourth with a sacrifice fly, scoring Frank Catalanotto, whohad singled to start the inning.

"We've been playing good baseball for a couple of weeks now,"Laird said. "We know what this team has been capable of andwe're starting to live up to that."

Three straight singles in the bottom of the sixth put theRangers ahead to stay. Sammy Sosa and Catalanotto opened theinning with base hits and Byrd notched his 23rd RBI of the year,scoring Sosa on a line single to center.

Clinging to a 3-2 lead, Texas' bullpen stepped up with threehitless innings. C.J. Wilson and Joaquin Benoit pitched aninning apiece before handing the ball to closer Eric Gagne, whoconverted his 11th save in as many opportunities.

Weaver (6-5) took the loss for the Angels, giving up three runson seven hits over five innings.

"Things aren't going as smoothly as they were," Weaver said. "Iwas just trying to keep us in the game and for the most part Idid. A few seeing-eye hits got through to beat us but it's justa matter of time before we get out of this funk."