Corey Seager connected on a two-run home run in the eighth inning that lifted the Texas Rangers to a 5-3 victory over the Los Angeles Angels on Thursday afternoon in Arlington, Texas.
Home run No. 32 for Seager came off left-hander Jose Quijada and completed the comeback victory. Marcus Semien walked to open the eighth inning, and Seager followed with his drive to left-center.
The Rangers (65-84) took two of three in the series and jumped ahead of the Angels (65-85) into third place in the American League West.
Jose Leclerc picked up his seventh save, stranding Shohei Ohtani, who had a pinch-hit double, by striking out Mike Trout to end it.
Matt Moore (5-2) won it in relief, and Quijada (0-5) took the loss.
The Rangers’ Martin Perez gave up three runs and five hits in six innings in a no-decision.
The Angels’ Michael Lorenzen allowed three runs and two hits in five-plus innings.
The Angels broke through on Perez with three runs in the third inning. A single by Luis Rengifo advanced Magneuris Sierra to third. With runners on the corners, Trout laced a two-run double to left. Taylor Ward’s run-scoring single made it 3-0.
Texas answered with a run in the third. Josh H. Smith walked and stole second. With two outs, Semien lined an RBI double to left.
In the sixth inning, the Rangers rallied for two runs, making it 3-3.
Leody Taveras walked and Semien singled, marking the end of the afternoon for Lorenzen, who was replaced by left-hander Aaron Loup.
Nathaniel Lowe slapped an RBI single to left field, and Adolis Garcia flared a run-scoring single to right. A chance to add a third run in the inning was cut down by the Angels’ defense. Jonah Heim singled, and left fielder Jo Adell threw Lowe out at the plate, keeping the score at 3-3.
The Angels threatened in the eighth inning. Mike Ford doubled with one out and was replaced by pinch-runner Mickey Moniak. But Moore struck out Adell and retired Kurt Suzuki on a pop out to Semien at second.
–Field Level Media
