Marte homer helps Angels top Rangers
ANAHEIM, Calif. -- Jefry Marte's three-run home run in the first inning jumpstarted the Los Angeles Angels, who beat the Texas Rangers 7-4 for their season-best sixth win in a row Wednesday night at Angel Stadium.
Angels starter Hector Santiago (8-4) gave up three runs on five hits and three walks, but it took him 100 pitches to get through five innings, requiring the support of the Angels bullpen.
J.C. Ramirez, Joe Smith, Jose Alvarez and Huston Street combined to hold the Rangers to one run over the final four innings to finish up the sweep of the American League West leaders.
The Angels scored all of their runs early, getting four in the first and single runs in the second, third and fourth, all seven runs coming against Rangers starter Martin Perez (7-7) who lasted six innings.
The Angels spread out their 12 hits, getting two hits from Yunel Escobar, Albert Pujols, Andrelton Simmons and Todd Cunningham.
Ian Desmond had three hits for the Rangers, including a home run off Street with two out in the ninth. Mitch Moreland homered and Adrian Beltre had a double and triple.
The win allowed the Angels to get out of last place in the A.L. West for the first time since June 23. For the Rangers, their lead in the division shrunk to 3 1/2 games over Houston, their smallest lead since they were up by three games on June 8.
The Rangers had a season-best 10-game lead on June 28, but have lost 14 of 18 since.
The Angels jumped out to a lead against Perez in the first inning. Albert Pujols drove in the first run of the inning with a single, and Jefry Marte followed with a three-run home run for a 4-0 advantage.
The Rangers threatened to get some of the runs back in the top of the second after Santiago lost the strike zone. Santiago walked the bases loaded, including the last two with two outs. However, thanks to a running catch at the wall by left fielder Todd Cunningham, Santiago and the Angels escaped.
The Angels increased their lead to 5-0 in the second when they manufactured a run, getting a walk from Johnny Giavotella, a sacrifice bunt from Cunningham and an RBI single from Yunel Escobar.
The Rangers got to Santiago for two runs in the third inning, as Adrian Beltre hit an RBI triple and Ryan Rua added a sacrifice fly. Texas ended Santiago's streak of 24 consecutive innings without allowing an earned run.
The Angels added single runs in the third and fourth innings, but the Rangers got a solo homer from Mitch Moreland in the fourth, cutting the deficit to 7-3.
NOTES: Rangers 1B/DH Prince Fielder was placed on the disabled list and could miss the rest of the season because of a herniated disk in his neck. He had an MRI on Tuesday that revealed the herniation. Surgery was recommended, but he will seek a second opinion later this week. ... Rangers OF Shin-Soo Choo was placed on the DL with an inflamed lower back. He had an anti-inflammatory injection and is expected to rejoin the roster when he's eligible to return on Aug. 4. ... The Rangers called up OF Delino DeShields and INF Hanser Alberto from Triple-A Round Rock. ... Angels LHP Tyler Skaggs threw 5 2/3 scoreless innings Wednesday in a rehab start for Triple-A Salt Lake. He is expected to join the Angels' rotation sometime next week. Skaggs last pitched in the majors on July 31, 2014, before having Tommy John surgery. ... Los Angeles DH Albert Pujols, one day after hitting two home runs and getting hit in the face by a pitch, was back in the lineup.