Tyler Skaggs gave up four hits over six scoreless innings and got just enough offensive support to lead the Los Angeles Angels to a 3-1 win over the Texas Rangers Sunday afternoon at Angel Stadium.
The Angels had only four hits themselves, but one of them was a two-run double by Luis Valbuena and another was a solo homer by Justin Upton, helping Los Angeles win the rubber game of the series.
Skaggs allowed two doubles to Shin-Soo Choo and also walked three batters, but was able to make pitches when the Rangers threatened to score. Texas was 0-for-6 with runners in scoring position when Skaggs was in the game.
Except for a couple mistakes, Rangers starter Doug Fister nearly matched Skaggs. Fister (1-6) gave up three runs on four hits in six innings. He struck out just one but didn't walk a batter.
The Angels got all the offense they would need in the second inning when Shohei Ohtani singled and went to second on a single by Zack Cozart with one out. Valbuena followed and immediately fell behind in the count 0-2.
But he worked the count full, fouled off a couple pitches, then hit a changeup from Fister on the eighth pitch of the at-bat into the right field corner to score both baserunners for a 2-0 lead.
Upton homered off Fister with two out in the sixth, his 12th of the season, for a 3-0 lead.
Skaggs (4-4) was finished after six innings and 107 pitches, striking out six.
Three Angels relievers - Jim Johnson (seventh inning), Noe Ramirez (eighth) and Justin Anderson (ninth, second save) - pitched the final three innings in relief of Skaggs.
The Rangers did threaten against Anderson in the ninth, getting three walks with two out before Isiah Kiner-Falefa flied to right to end it.
The Rangers scored their run on a solo homer by Nomar Mazara in the eighth inning off Ramirez.
--Field Level Media