Rangers put it all together in win over Angels
ANAHEIM, Calif. -- A.J. Griffin allowed just four hits over six innings and was supported by three home runs from the offense as the Texas Rangers beat the Los Angeles Angels 8-3 on Wednesday night at Angel Stadium.
Mike Napoli, Elvis Andrus and Carlos Gomez all went deep for Texas, which won for just the third time in eight games. The Rangers also got big hits from Joey Gallo (a two-run triple in the fifth) and Rougned Odor (a two-run triple in the ninth).
Griffin allowed a couple of sacrifice flies in the second inning and a solo home run to Mike Trout in the third, but otherwise he held the previously hot Angels offense in check. Griffin (1-0) struck out four and walked one.
Just as noteworthy as Griffin and the home runs for the Rangers was the performance of their bullpen, which has staggered out of the gate. The Rangers had lost three games after leading through seven innings -- all in the opposing team's final at-bat.
This time, however, three relievers were up to the task after Griffin was done, limiting the Angels to two hits over the final three innings.
Jeremy Jeffress retired all four batters in the seventh and one batter in the eighth. After Alex Claudio gave up a double to Kole Calhoun, Jose Leclerc struck out Trout on three pitches and retired Albert Pujols on a first-pitch flyout to finish the eighth. Leclerc finished it off in the ninth.
Angels starter Jesse Chavez (1-1) gave up five runs on five hits and two walks in 4 1/3 innings.
The Rangers took a 2-0 lead against Chavez and the Angels in the second inning, getting solo homers from Napoli and Andrus.
But the Angels got the runs back in their half of the second inning. Andrelton Simmons led off with a walk and went to third on a double by Ben Revere. Cron followed with a sacrifice fly, scoring Simmons from third. The ball was hit deep enough to left-center field that Revere tagged and went to third. That allowed him to score when the next hitter, Danny Espinosa, flied out to right.
The Angels took their first lead one inning later when Trout homered with two outs, his team-leading third of the season.
Chavez seemed to settle in after giving up the homers in the second inning, retiring seven Rangers hitters going into the fifth. But in the fifth, the first four batters reached base. A two-run triple by Gallo and an RBI single by Jurickson Profar gave the Rangers a 5-3 lead.
NOTES: The Rangers optioned INF/OF Drew Robinson to Triple-A Round Rock to make room for RHP Nick Martinez, an effort to bolster the Rangers' beleaguered bullpen. Martinez, though, is a candidate to start Saturday in Seattle if he isn't used out of the bullpen in the next couple of days. ... Rangers RHP Matt Bush was sent home to Texas to have his ailing right shoulder examined. He is expected to rejoin the club in Seattle, provided there is nothing wrong with his shoulder. ... Angels RHP Andrew Bailey was placed on the 10-day disabled list with an inflamed right shoulder. Bailey was off to a good start, throwing three perfect innings over three games and earning two victories. Taking Bailey's spot is RHP Daniel Wright, who gave up nine runs in 3 1/3 innings of his start for Triple-A Salt Lake.