AL: LA ANGELS at TEXAS <div class="pre">LA ANGELS (5) VS TEXAS (1) - MID 8TH - IN PROGRESS LA ANGELS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg R Willits lf 3 0 0 1 0 1 0 .321 C Figgins 3b 3 0 0 0 1 0 0 .317 O Cabrera ss 3 1 0 0 1 2 2 .329 V Guerrero rf 4 0 2 1 0 0 0 .329 G Matthews Jr cf 3 0 2 0 1 0 0 .282 C Kotchman 1b 3 1 0 0 1 1 3 .298 G Anderson dh 4 2 2 0 0 0 1 .266 M Izturis 2b 3 1 2 2 0 0 0 .253 J Molina c 3 0 1 1 0 2 1 .233 Totals 29 5 9 5 4 6 7 BATTING: 2B - G Matthews Jr (14, R Tejeda); M Izturis (5, R Tejeda). 3B - M Izturis (1, R Mahay). SF - R Willits. RBI - V Guerrero (75), J Molina (6), R Willits (25), M Izturis 2 (16). 2-out RBI - V Guerrero, M Izturis 2. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - G Anderson 1, O Cabrera 1, J Molina 1, C Kotchman 2. GIDP - C Kotchman. Team LOB - 5. BASERUNNING: SB - O Cabrera (10, 2nd base off R Tejeda/G Laird). CS - C Figgins (5, 2nd base by R Mahay/G Laird), G Matthews Jr (4, 3rd base by R Mahay/G Laird). FIELDING: DP: 1 (C Figgins-M Izturis-C Kotchman). TEXAS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg J Hairston Jr cf 3 1 1 0 0 0 0 .235 R Vazquez 3b 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 .252 M Young ss 3 0 1 1 0 1 1 .292 S Sosa dh 3 0 0 0 0 0 1 .248 F Catalanotto lf 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 .218 M Byrd rf 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 .383 B Wilkerson 1b 3 0 0 0 0 3 3 .231 G Laird c 2 0 0 0 0 2 1 .228 D Relaford 2b 2 0 0 0 0 2 0 .222 Totals 21 1 3 1 3 8 6 BATTING: 2B - J Hairston Jr (6, K Escobar). 3B - R Vazquez (1, K Escobar). S - R Vazquez. RBI - M Young (49). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - M Young 1. GIDP - S Sosa. Team LOB - 3. BASERUNNING: CS - M Byrd (3, 2nd base by K Escobar/J Molina). FIELDING: E - G Laird (7, throw). DP: 2 (D Relaford-M Young-B Wilkerson, G Laird-D Relaford). ---------------------------------------------------- LA ANGELS - 100 022 00 -- 5 TEXAS - 100 000 0 -- 1 ---------------------------------------------------- LA ANGELS ip h r er bb so hr era K Escobar 7 3 1 1 3 8 0 3.19 TEXAS ip h r er bb so hr era R Tejeda 5 1/3 6 4 4 3 4 0 6.70 R Mahay 2 2/3 3 1 1 1 2 0 2.43 WP - R Tejeda. Pitches-strikes: K Escobar 104-63; R Tejeda 102-63; R Mahay 39-25. Ground balls-fly balls: K Escobar 9-3; R Tejeda 8-4; R Mahay 3-1. Batters faced: K Escobar 25; R Tejeda 24; R Mahay 10. UMPIRES: HP--Angel Campos. 1B--Laz Diaz. 2B--John Hirschbeck. 3B--Bill Welke. Weather: 77 degrees, cloudy. Wind: 9 mph, left to right.</div>
AL: LA ANGELS at TEXAS <div class="pre">AL AT TEXAS - PITCHING CHANGE LAA: SCOT SHIELDS (2-2, 1.85) STARTING THE 8TH CURRENT SCORE: LA ANGELS 5, TEXAS 1 DUE UP FOR TEXAS: G LAIRD (.228, 0-FOR-2)</div>
AL: LA ANGELS at TEXAS <div class="pre">AL AT TEXAS - MID INNING UPDATE PLAY: S Shields relieved K Escobar. SITUATION: 0 RUNS IN, NONE ON, 0 OUTS CURRENT SCORE: LA ANGELS 5 TEXAS 1 BOTTOM, 8TH DUE UP FOR TEXAS: G Laird (.228, 0-FOR-2)</div>
AL: LA ANGELS at TEXAS <div class="pre">AL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - LA ANGELS 1 0 0 0 2 2 0 0 5 9 0 TEXAS 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 4 1 (TOP 9) CURRENT PITCHERS: LAA - SCOT SHIELDS TEX - RON MAHAY DUE UP FOR LA ANGELS: M IZTURIS (.253, 2-FOR-3, 2 RBI) J MOLINA (.233, 1-FOR-3, RBI) R WILLITS (.321, 0-FOR-3, SF, RBI)</div>
AL: LA ANGELS at TEXAS <div class="pre">LA ANGELS (5) VS TEXAS (1) - END 8TH - IN PROGRESS LA ANGELS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg R Willits lf 3 0 0 1 0 1 0 .321 C Figgins 3b 3 0 0 0 1 0 0 .317 O Cabrera ss 3 1 0 0 1 2 2 .329 V Guerrero rf 4 0 2 1 0 0 0 .329 G Matthews Jr cf 3 0 2 0 1 0 0 .282 C Kotchman 1b 3 1 0 0 1 1 3 .298 G Anderson dh 4 2 2 0 0 0 1 .266 M Izturis 2b 3 1 2 2 0 0 0 .253 J Molina c 3 0 1 1 0 2 1 .233 Totals 29 5 9 5 4 6 7 BATTING: 2B - G Matthews Jr (14, R Tejeda); M Izturis (5, R Tejeda). 3B - M Izturis (1, R Mahay). SF - R Willits. RBI - V Guerrero (75), J Molina (6), R Willits (25), M Izturis 2 (16). 2-out RBI - V Guerrero, M Izturis 2. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - G Anderson 1, O Cabrera 1, J Molina 1, C Kotchman 2. GIDP - C Kotchman. Team LOB - 5. BASERUNNING: SB - O Cabrera (10, 2nd base off R Tejeda/G Laird). CS - C Figgins (5, 2nd base by R Mahay/G Laird), G Matthews Jr (4, 3rd base by R Mahay/G Laird). FIELDING: DP: 1 (C Figgins-M Izturis-C Kotchman). TEXAS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg J Hairston Jr cf 4 1 1 0 0 0 0 .232 R Vazquez 3b 3 0 1 0 0 1 1 .250 M Young ss 3 0 1 1 0 1 1 .292 S Sosa dh 3 0 0 0 0 0 1 .248 F Catalanotto lf 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 .218 M Byrd rf 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 .383 B Wilkerson 1b 3 0 0 0 0 3 3 .231 G Laird c 3 0 1 0 0 2 1 .231 D Relaford 2b 3 0 0 0 0 2 1 .200 Totals 25 1 4 1 3 9 8 BATTING: 2B - J Hairston Jr (6, K Escobar). 3B - R Vazquez (1, K Escobar). S - R Vazquez. RBI - M Young (49). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - R Vazquez 1, M Young 1. GIDP - S Sosa. Team LOB - 4. BASERUNNING: CS - M Byrd (3, 2nd base by K Escobar/J Molina). FIELDING: E - G Laird (7, throw). DP: 2 (D Relaford-M Young-B Wilkerson, G Laird-D Relaford). ---------------------------------------------------- LA ANGELS - 100 022 00 -- 5 TEXAS - 100 000 00 -- 1 ---------------------------------------------------- LA ANGELS ip h r er bb so hr era K Escobar 7 3 1 1 3 8 0 3.19 S Shields 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 1.81 TEXAS ip h r er bb so hr era R Tejeda 5 1/3 6 4 4 3 4 0 6.70 R Mahay 2 2/3 3 1 1 1 2 0 2.43 WP - R Tejeda. Pitches-strikes: K Escobar 104-63; S Shields 15-11; R Tejeda 102-63; R Mahay 39-25. Ground balls-fly balls: K Escobar 9-3; S Shields 1-1; R Tejeda 8-4; R Mahay 3-1. Batters faced: K Escobar 25; S Shields 4; R Tejeda 24; R Mahay 10. UMPIRES: HP--Angel Campos. 1B--Laz Diaz. 2B--John Hirschbeck. 3B--Bill Welke. Weather: 77 degrees, cloudy. Wind: 9 mph, left to right.</div>
AL: LA ANGELS at TEXAS <div class="pre">AL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - LA ANGELS 1 0 0 0 2 2 0 0 0 5 10 0 TEXAS 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 4 1 (BOT 9) CURRENT PITCHERS: LAA - SCOT SHIELDS TEX - RON MAHAY DUE UP FOR TEXAS: M YOUNG (.292, 1-FOR-3, RBI) S SOSA (.248, 0-FOR-3) F CATALANOTTO (.218, 0-FOR-3)</div>
AL: LA ANGELS at TEXAS <div class="pre">LA ANGELS (5) VS TEXAS (1) - MID 9TH - IN PROGRESS LA ANGELS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg R Willits lf 4 0 1 1 0 1 0 .324 C Figgins 3b 4 0 0 0 1 0 1 .316 O Cabrera ss 3 1 0 0 1 2 2 .329 V Guerrero rf 4 0 2 1 0 0 0 .329 G Matthews Jr cf 3 0 2 0 1 0 0 .282 C Kotchman 1b 3 1 0 0 1 1 3 .298 G Anderson dh 4 2 2 0 0 0 1 .266 M Izturis 2b 4 1 2 2 0 0 0 .250 J Molina c 4 0 1 1 0 2 1 .231 Totals 33 5 10 5 4 6 8 BATTING: 2B - G Matthews Jr (14, R Tejeda); M Izturis (5, R Tejeda). 3B - M Izturis (1, R Mahay). SF - R Willits. RBI - V Guerrero (75), J Molina (6), R Willits (25), M Izturis 2 (16). 2-out RBI - V Guerrero, M Izturis 2. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - G Anderson 1, O Cabrera 1, J Molina 1, C Kotchman 2. GIDP - C Kotchman. Team LOB - 6. BASERUNNING: SB - O Cabrera (10, 2nd base off R Tejeda/G Laird). CS - C Figgins (5, 2nd base by R Mahay/G Laird), G Matthews Jr (4, 3rd base by R Mahay/G Laird). FIELDING: DP: 1 (C Figgins-M Izturis-C Kotchman). TEXAS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg J Hairston Jr cf 4 1 1 0 0 0 0 .232 R Vazquez 3b 3 0 1 0 0 1 1 .250 M Young ss 3 0 1 1 0 1 1 .292 S Sosa dh 3 0 0 0 0 0 1 .248 F Catalanotto lf 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 .218 M Byrd rf 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 .383 B Wilkerson 1b 3 0 0 0 0 3 3 .231 G Laird c 3 0 1 0 0 2 1 .231 D Relaford 2b 3 0 0 0 0 2 1 .200 Totals 25 1 4 1 3 9 8 BATTING: 2B - J Hairston Jr (6, K Escobar). 3B - R Vazquez (1, K Escobar). S - R Vazquez. RBI - M Young (49). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - R Vazquez 1, M Young 1. GIDP - S Sosa. Team LOB - 4. BASERUNNING: CS - M Byrd (3, 2nd base by K Escobar/J Molina). FIELDING: E - G Laird (7, throw). DP: 2 (D Relaford-M Young-B Wilkerson, G Laird-D Relaford). ---------------------------------------------------- LA ANGELS - 100 022 000 -- 5 TEXAS - 100 000 00 -- 1 ---------------------------------------------------- LA ANGELS ip h r er bb so hr era K Escobar 7 3 1 1 3 8 0 3.19 S Shields 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 1.81 TEXAS ip h r er bb so hr era R Tejeda 5 1/3 6 4 4 3 4 0 6.70 R Mahay 3 2/3 4 1 1 1 2 0 2.35 WP - R Tejeda. Pitches-strikes: K Escobar 104-63; S Shields 15-11; R Tejeda 102-63; R Mahay 52-33. Ground balls-fly balls: K Escobar 9-3; S Shields 1-1; R Tejeda 8-4; R Mahay 6-1. Batters faced: K Escobar 25; S Shields 4; R Tejeda 24; R Mahay 14. UMPIRES: HP--Angel Campos. 1B--Laz Diaz. 2B--John Hirschbeck. 3B--Bill Welke. Weather: 77 degrees, cloudy. Wind: 9 mph, left to right.</div>
AL: LA ANGELS at TEXAS <div class="pre">AL AT TEXAS - PITCHING CHANGE LAA: FRANCISCO RODRIGUEZ (1-2, 2.27) STARTING THE 9TH CURRENT SCORE: LA ANGELS 5, TEXAS 1 DUE UP FOR TEXAS: M YOUNG (.292, 1-FOR-3, RBI)</div>
AL: LA ANGELS at TEXAS <div class="pre">AL AT TEXAS - MID INNING UPDATE PLAY: F Rodriguez relieved S Shields. SITUATION: 0 RUNS IN, NONE ON, 0 OUTS CURRENT SCORE: LA ANGELS 5 TEXAS 1 BOTTOM, 9TH DUE UP FOR TEXAS: M Young (.292, 1-FOR-3, RBI)</div>
AL: LA ANGELS at TEXAS <div class="pre">AL AT TEXAS - SCORING UPDATE SINGLE BY MARLON BYRD SCORED FRANK CATALANOTTO. SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, M BYRD ON FIRST, 2 OUT CURRENT SCORE: LA ANGELS 5 TEXAS 2 BOTTOM, 9TH DUE UP FOR TEXAS: B WILKERSON (.231, 0-FOR-3)</div>
AL: LA ANGELS at TEXAS <div class="pre">AL FINAL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - LA ANGELS 1 0 0 0 2 2 0 0 0 5 10 0 TEXAS 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 2 6 1 (FINAL) BATTERIES: LAA - KELVIM ESCOBAR, SCOT SHIELDS (8TH), FRANCISCO RODRIGUEZ (9TH) AND JOSE MOLINA TEX - ROBINSON TEJEDA, RON MAHAY (6TH) AND GERALD LAIRD HOME RUNS: LAA - NONE TEX - NONE</div>
AL: LA ANGELS at TEXAS <div class="pre">AL FINAL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - LA ANGELS 1 0 0 0 2 2 0 0 0 5 10 0 TEXAS 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 2 6 1 (FINAL) BATTERIES: LAA - KELVIM ESCOBAR, SCOT SHIELDS (8TH), FRANCISCO RODRIGUEZ (9TH) AND JOSE MOLINA TEX - ROBINSON TEJEDA, RON MAHAY (6TH) AND GERALD LAIRD WP - KELVIM ESCOBAR (10-3) LP - ROBINSON TEJEDA (5-8) SAVE - NONE HOME RUNS: LAA - NONE TEX - NONE TIME: 2:53 ATT: 22,062 PROBABLES: BAL - JEREMY GUTHRIE (4-2, 2.63) TEX - KAMERON LOE (5-6, 5.72) PROBABLES: LAA - BARTOLO COLON (6-4, 5.79) NYY - ANDY PETTITTE (4-6, 3.77)</div>
AL: LA ANGELS at TEXAS <div class="pre">LA ANGELS (5) VS TEXAS (2) - FINAL LA ANGELS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg R Willits lf 4 0 1 1 0 1 0 .324 C Figgins 3b 4 0 0 0 1 0 1 .316 O Cabrera ss 3 1 0 0 1 2 2 .329 V Guerrero rf 4 0 2 1 0 0 0 .329 G Matthews Jr cf 3 0 2 0 1 0 0 .282 C Kotchman 1b 3 1 0 0 1 1 3 .298 G Anderson dh 4 2 2 0 0 0 1 .266 M Izturis 2b 4 1 2 2 0 0 0 .250 J Molina c 4 0 1 1 0 2 1 .231 Totals 33 5 10 5 4 6 8 BATTING: 2B - G Matthews Jr (14, R Tejeda); M Izturis (5, R Tejeda). 3B - M Izturis (1, R Mahay). SF - R Willits. RBI - V Guerrero (75), J Molina (6), R Willits (25), M Izturis 2 (16). 2-out RBI - V Guerrero, M Izturis 2. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - G Anderson 1, O Cabrera 1, J Molina 1, C Kotchman 2. GIDP - C Kotchman. Team LOB - 6. BASERUNNING: SB - O Cabrera (10, 2nd base off R Tejeda/G Laird). CS - C Figgins (5, 2nd base by R Mahay/G Laird), G Matthews Jr (4, 3rd base by R Mahay/G Laird). FIELDING: DP: 1 (C Figgins-M Izturis-C Kotchman). TEXAS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg J Hairston Jr cf 4 1 1 0 0 0 0 .232 R Vazquez 3b 3 0 1 0 0 1 1 .250 M Young ss 4 0 1 1 0 1 1 .291 S Sosa dh 4 0 0 0 0 0 1 .247 F Catalanotto lf 4 1 1 0 0 0 0 .223 M Byrd rf 1 0 1 1 3 0 0 .388 B Wilkerson 1b 4 0 0 0 0 4 4 .230 G Laird c 3 0 1 0 0 2 1 .231 D Relaford 2b 3 0 0 0 0 2 1 .200 Totals 30 2 6 2 3 10 9 BATTING: 2B - J Hairston Jr (6, K Escobar). 3B - R Vazquez (1, K Escobar). S - R Vazquez. RBI - M Young (49), M Byrd (24). 2-out RBI - M Byrd. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - B Wilkerson 1, R Vazquez 1, M Young 1. GIDP - S Sosa. Team LOB - 5. BASERUNNING: CS - M Byrd (3, 2nd base by K Escobar/J Molina). FIELDING: E - G Laird (7, throw). DP: 2 (D Relaford-M Young-B Wilkerson, G Laird-D Relaford). ---------------------------------------------------- LA ANGELS - 100 022 000 -- 5 TEXAS - 100 000 001 -- 2 ---------------------------------------------------- LA ANGELS ip h r er bb so hr era K Escobar (W, 10-3) 7 3 1 1 3 8 0 3.19 S Shields 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 1.81 F Rodriguez 1 2 1 1 0 1 0 2.45 TEXAS ip h r er bb so hr era R Tejeda (L, 5-8) 5 1/3 6 4 4 3 4 0 6.70 R Mahay 3 2/3 4 1 1 1 2 0 2.35 WP - R Tejeda. Pitches-strikes: K Escobar 104-63; S Shields 15-11; F Rodriguez 22-16; R Tejeda 102-63; R Mahay 52-33. Ground balls-fly balls: K Escobar 9-3; S Shields 1-1; F Rodriguez 2-0; R Tejeda 8-4; R Mahay 6-1. Batters faced: K Escobar 25; S Shields 4; F Rodriguez 5; R Tejeda 24; R Mahay 14. UMPIRES: HP--Angel Campos. 1B--Laz Diaz. 2B--John Hirschbeck. 3B--Bill Welke. T--2:53. Att--22,062. Weather: 77 degrees, cloudy. Wind: 9 mph, left to right.</div>
Escobar wins 10th as Angels top Rangers <h3>LA ANGELS 5, TEXAS 2</h3>ARLINGTON, Texas (Ticker) -- Kelvim Escobar might not be goingto next week's All-Star Game, but he has been providing the LosAngeles Angels of Anaheim with All-Star-caliber pitching. Escobar pitched seven strong innings Thursday, allowing just onerun and three hits while striking out eight to notch his 10thwin of the season and lead the Angels to a 5-2 victory over theTexas Rangers. The Angels, who occupy first place in the American League WestDivision, won for just the third time in their last nine gamesand avoided being swept of a series by the Rangers for the firsttime since September 2001. Texas posted triumphs behind KevinMillwood and Jamey Wright in the first two games of thethree-game set. Left off the AL All-Star team, Escobar (10-3) surrendered onerun and two hits in the first inning but did not allow anotherhit until the sixth, when Ramon Vazquez hit a ball that skippedpast right fielder Vladimir Guerrero's glove and rolled to thewall for a triple. Escobar walked three in winning his fourth consecutive decisionand improving to 4-8 lifetime against Texas. Robinson Tejeda (5-8) took the loss, giving up four runs and sixhits in 5 1/3 innings, which actually was an improvement overhis recent outings. Tejeda was 1-4 with a 9.51 ERA, including29 walks and nine home runs allowed, in his previous eightstarts. Maicer Izturis had two hits and two RBI for Anaheim, whileGarret Anderson, Gary Matthews Jr. and Guerrero also collectedtwo hits. Tejeda had allowed just one hit after the first inning beforerunning into trouble in the fifth. Anderson led off with abloop single into shallow left field and Izturis lined a shotinto left-center, just out of the reach of leaping shortstopMichael Young. With runners at second and third and none out, Jose Molinasingled to right to score Anderson. Reggie Willits followedwith a sacrifice fly to center that plated Izturis for a 3-1lead. The Angels added a pair of runs an inning later. With one out,Tejeda walked both Matthews and Casey Kotchman before beingreplaced by Ron Mahay. After Matthews was thrown out trying to steal third, Andersonblooped another single into shallow left and Izturis drilled ashot down the first base line for a two-run triple. The Angels opened the scoring in the first inning, when a linedrive up the middle by Rangers nemesis Guerrero scored OrlandoCabrera, who reached on a two-out walk, stole second and movedto third on catcher Gerald Laird's throwing error. Matthews followed with a double off the right field wall, butTejeda struck out Kotchman to end the inning, limiting thedamage. Texas, which lost for just the fifth time in its last 15 games,responded in the bottom of the inning. Jerry Hairston Jr. ledoff with a double to left, advanced to third on a sacrifice byVazquez and scored on Young's single up the middle.
AL: LA ANGELS at TEXAS <div class="pre">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ LA ANGELS (5) AT TEXAS (2) - HOW THEY SCORED ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ LA ANGELS 1ST: R Willits struck out swinging. C Figgins grounded out to shortstop. O Cabrera walked. O Cabrera stole second, O Cabrera safe at third on throwing error by catcher G Laird. V Guerrero singled to center, O Cabrera scored. G Matthews Jr doubled to deep right, V Guerrero to third. C Kotchman struck out swinging. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 1 Error) LA ANGELS 1, TEXAS 0. TEXAS 1ST: J Hairston Jr doubled to left. R Vazquez sacrificed to third, J Hairston Jr to third. M Young singled to center, J Hairston Jr scored. S Sosa grounded into double play, third to second to first, M Young out at second. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) LA ANGELS 1, TEXAS 1. LA ANGELS 5TH: G Anderson reached on infield single to shortstop. M Izturis doubled to deep left center, G Anderson to third. J Molina singled to right, G Anderson scored, M Izturis to third. R Willits hit sacrifice fly to center, M Izturis scored, J Molina to second. C Figgins grounded out to shortstop, J Molina to third. O Cabrera popped out to second. (2 Runs, 3 Hits, 0 Errors) LA ANGELS 3, TEXAS 1. LA ANGELS 6TH: V Guerrero grounded out to pitcher. G Matthews Jr walked. G Matthews Jr to second on wild pitch by R Tejeda. C Kotchman walked. R Mahay relieved R Tejeda. G Matthews Jr caught stealing third, catcher to shortstop to third. G Anderson singled to shallow left, C Kotchman to second. M Izturis tripled to right, C Kotchman and G Anderson scored. J Molina struck out swinging. (2 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) LA ANGELS 5, TEXAS 1. TEXAS 9TH: F Rodriguez relieved S Shields. M Young grounded out to second. S Sosa grounded out to shortstop. F Catalanotto singled to center. F Catalanotto to second on fielder's indifference. M Byrd singled to left, F Catalanotto scored. M Byrd to second on fielder's indifference. B Wilkerson struck out looking. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) LA ANGELS 5, TEXAS 2.</div>
AL: LA ANGELS at TEXAS <div class="pre">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ LA ANGELS (5) AT TEXAS (2) - EVENT LOG ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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, M Izturis 2B, J Molina C, K Escobar RHP. Texas Starting Lineups -- J Hairston Jr CF, R Vazquez 3B, M Young SS, S Sosa DH, F Catalanotto LF, M Byrd RF, B Wilkerson 1B, G Laird C, D Relaford 2B, R Tejeda RHP. Umpires -- Angel Campos (HP), Laz Diaz (1B), John Hirschbeck (2B), Bill Welke (3B). Gametime Weather: 77 degrees, Cloudy, wind left to right at 9 mph. LA ANGELS 1ST: R Willits struck out swinging. C Figgins grounded out to shortstop. O Cabrera walked. O Cabrera stole second, O Cabrera safe at third on throwing error by catcher G Laird. V Guerrero singled to center, O Cabrera scored. G Matthews Jr doubled to deep right, V Guerrero to third. C Kotchman struck out swinging. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 1 Error) LA ANGELS 1, TEXAS 0. TEXAS 1ST: J Hairston Jr doubled to left. R Vazquez sacrificed to third, J Hairston Jr to third. M Young singled to center, J Hairston Jr scored. S Sosa grounded into double play, third to second to first, M Young out at second. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) LA ANGELS 1, TEXAS 1. LA ANGELS 2ND: G Anderson grounded out to second. M Izturis flied out to center. J Molina struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) LA ANGELS 1, TEXAS 1. TEXAS 2ND: F Catalanotto grounded out to pitcher. M Byrd walked. B Wilkerson struck out swinging. G Laird struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) LA ANGELS 1, TEXAS 1. LA ANGELS 3RD: R Willits popped out to catcher. C Figgins grounded out to second. O Cabrera struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) LA ANGELS 1, TEXAS 1. TEXAS 3RD: D Relaford struck out swinging. J Hairston Jr flied out to left. R Vazquez grounded out to first. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) LA ANGELS 1, TEXAS 1. LA ANGELS 4TH: V Guerrero grounded out to pitcher. G Matthews Jr reached on infield single to second. C Kotchman grounded into double play, second to shortstop to first, G Matthews Jr out at second.(0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) LA ANGELS 1, TEXAS 1. TEXAS 4TH: M Young struck out swinging. S Sosa grounded out to second. F Catalanotto flied out to left. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) LA ANGELS 1, TEXAS 1. LA ANGELS 5TH: G Anderson reached on infield single to shortstop. M Izturis doubled to deep left center, G Anderson to third. J Molina singled to right, G Anderson scored, M Izturis to third. R Willits hit sacrifice fly to center, M Izturis scored, J Molina to second. C Figgins grounded out to shortstop, J Molina to third. O Cabrera popped out to second. (2 Runs, 3 Hits, 0 Errors) LA ANGELS 3, TEXAS 1. TEXAS 5TH: M Byrd walked. M Byrd caught stealing second, catcher to shortstop. B Wilkerson struck out swinging. G Laird struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) LA ANGELS 3, TEXAS 1. LA ANGELS 6TH: V Guerrero grounded out to pitcher. G Matthews Jr walked. G Matthews Jr to second on wild pitch by R Tejeda. C Kotchman walked. R Mahay relieved R Tejeda. G Matthews Jr caught stealing third, catcher to shortstop to third. G Anderson singled to shallow left, C Kotchman to second. M Izturis tripled to right, C Kotchman and G Anderson scored. J Molina struck out swinging. (2 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) LA ANGELS 5, TEXAS 1. TEXAS 6TH: D Relaford struck out looking. J Hairston Jr popped out to shortstop. R Vazquez tripled to deep right. M Young grounded out to pitcher. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) LA ANGELS 5, TEXAS 1. LA ANGELS 7TH: R Willits grounded out to pitcher. C Figgins walked. O Cabrera struck out looking. C Figgins caught stealing second, catcher to second.(0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) LA ANGELS 5, TEXAS 1. TEXAS 7TH: S Sosa grounded out to shortstop. F Catalanotto grounded out to shortstop. M Byrd walked. B Wilkerson struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) LA ANGELS 5, TEXAS 1. LA ANGELS 8TH: V Guerrero singled to shallow center. G Matthews Jr grounded out to third, V Guerrero to second. C Kotchman grounded out to third, V Guerrero to third. G Anderson flied out to center. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) LA ANGELS 5, TEXAS 1. TEXAS 8TH: S Shields relieved K Escobar. G Laird singled to center. D Relaford popped out to shortstop. J Hairston Jr grounded out to third, G Laird to second. R Vazquez struck out looking. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) LA ANGELS 5, TEXAS 1. LA ANGELS 9TH: M Izturis grounded out to shortstop. J Molina grounded out to third. R Willits singled to right. C Figgins grounded out to first. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) LA ANGELS 5, TEXAS 1. TEXAS 9TH: F Rodriguez relieved S Shields. M Young grounded out to second. S Sosa grounded out to shortstop. F Catalanotto singled to center. F Catalanotto to second on fielder's indifference. M Byrd singled to left, F Catalanotto scored. M Byrd to second on fielder's indifference. B Wilkerson struck out looking. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) LA ANGELS 5, TEXAS 2.</div>
Escobar wins 10th as Angels top Rangers <h3>LA ANGELS 5, TEXAS 2</h3>ARLINGTON, Texas (Ticker) -- Kelvim Escobar might not be goingto next week's All-Star Game, but he has been providing the LosAngeles Angels of Anaheim with All-Star-caliber pitching. Escobar pitched seven strong innings Thursday, allowing just onerun and three hits while striking out eight to notch his 10thwin of the season and lead the Angels to a 5-2 victory over theTexas Rangers. The Angels, who occupy first place in the American League WestDivision, won for just the third time in their last nine gamesand avoided being swept of a series by the Rangers for the firsttime since September 2001. Texas posted triumphs behind KevinMillwood and Jamey Wright in the first two games of thethree-game set. Left off the AL All-Star team, Escobar (10-3) surrendered onerun and two hits in the first inning but did not allow anotherhit until the sixth, when Ramon Vazquez hit a ball that skippedpast right fielder Vladimir Guerrero's glove and rolled to thewall for a triple. "I never worry about things out of my hands. I went out thereand pitched good because we need this game after losing twogames," Escobar said, insisting he had no extra motivationdespite believing he should have been selected. Escobar did point out that he already has decided he will not goto the All-Star Game if chosen as an injury replacement. "No, I don't think I'm going, I have plans," he said. "If theycall me to go, I'm not going, they will have to find somebodyelse, no offense (to them if asked), I made a good case. I'mnot disappointed. Take a look, the guys that compete with mefor the last spot, I think I had a better ERA, a lot of inningspitched, I had good numbers. I'm not disappointed, fans werethe ones to choose the last player. I did what I could control,the rest I can't do anything about." Escobar walked three in winning his fourth consecutive decisionand improving to 4-8 lifetime against Texas. "I had a good fastball tonight, especially with my command,"Escobar said. "So I was able to get ahead, and when I fellbehind, I was able to change the speed. That always makes ittough on the hitters, and I feel that was the key. I threw alot of fastballs and I was able to get batters with one or twopitches. I felt great tonight." "He did a great job of getting into some good counts early,"Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. "I think after the firstinning, his command really improved, used his fastball veryeffectively and put guys away. Outside of a couple of pitches,which I think early he was kind of searching for, he pitched aterrific ballgame and shut down a lineup that has been scoring alot of runs." Robinson Tejeda (5-8) took the loss, giving up four runs and sixhits in 5 1/3 innings, which actually was an improvement overhis recent outings. Tejeda was 1-4 with a 9.51 ERA, including29 walks and nine home runs allowed, in his previous eightstarts. "Tonight, I felt more confident on the mound," said Tejeda, whowalked three to raise his season total to 49 - third in the AL."I was attacking early and hit the strike zone and also workingwith my breaking pitch. My changeup was working very welltonight, also my slider and I got pretty good control of myfastball, too. I feel much better and if I continue pitchinglike that, I think I can win more games." "I thought Robbie battled well, he hung in there," Rangersmanager Ron Washington said. "We just didn't score enough runsto keep up." Maicer Izturis had two hits and two RBI for Anaheim, whileGarret Anderson, Gary Matthews Jr. and Guerrero also collectedtwo hits. Tejeda had allowed just one hit after the first inning beforerunning into trouble in the fifth. Anderson led off with abloop single into shallow left field and Izturis lined a shotinto left-center, just out of the reach of leaping shortstopMichael Young. With runners at second and third and none out, Jose Molinasingled to right to score Anderson. Reggie Willits followedwith a sacrifice fly to center that plated Izturis for a 3-1lead. The Angels added a pair of runs an inning later. With one out,Tejeda walked both Matthews and Casey Kotchman before beingreplaced by Ron Mahay. "I thought he was doing a pretty good job," Washington said ofTejeda, who still leads Texas in wins with five. "He was facinga pretty good guy over there, too. He had to match his zeros,and up until the sixth inning, when he had those back-to-backwalks, I thought he was doing a pretty good job. It's veryencouraging. He was throwing the ball in the strike zone, hewas keeping the ball in play. He's turned the corner, as far asI'm concerned. He kept us in the game, that's all you can askfor." After Matthews was thrown out trying to steal third, Andersonblooped another single into shallow left and Izturis drilled ashot down the first base line for a two-run triple. Scioscia was happy to get such production from the bottom of hisbatting order. "We have to have a lineup that is full to be able to pressureclubs every inning," Scioscia said. "The top of our lineup wasdoing it for a long time, middle was doing their part, and evendown below, we had that chemistry tonight. The bottom of thelinupe really came through." The Angels opened the scoring in the first inning, when a linedrive up the middle by Rangers nemesis Guerrero scored OrlandoCabrera, who reached on a two-out walk, stole second and movedto third on catcher Gerald Laird's throwing error. Matthews followed with a double off the right field wall, butTejeda struck out Kotchman to end the inning, limiting thedamage. Texas, which lost for just the fifth time in its last 15 games,responded in the bottom of the inning. Jerry Hairston Jr. ledoff with a double to left, advanced to third on a sacrifice byVazquez and scored on Young's single up the middle. "With Escobar, he's learning that less is more," Hairston said."Normally, he throws 97-98 (miles per hour) if he wants to, butnow he's throwing 93-94 with movement. And obviously, hemixing all his pitches. He's definitely one of the top three orfour pitchers in baseball. He was on his stuff."
