Matt Duffy had three hits, including a two-run home run, and Taylor Ward drove in a run, scored twice and had two hits as the Los Angeles Angels defeated the Texas Rangers 5-2 on Tuesday in Arlington, Texas.
The Angels (65-83) broke a 2-2 tie with a three-run sixth inning. However, it was the Rangers (63-84) who had the highlight play of the night, turning a triple play in the same frame.
Los Angeles left-hander Patrick Sandoval (6-9) gave up two runs on three hits with seven strikeouts and four walks in five innings. Jimmy Herget worked the ninth for his sixth save.
Rangers starter Cole Ragans worked 4 2/3 innings, giving up two runs on seven hits and no walks with five strikeouts. The southpaw was lifted after 84 pitches, replaced by Dennis Santana, who took the loss.
Santana (3-8) recorded just one out and gave up three runs on three hits.
The Rangers cashed in on a leadoff walk by Marcus Semien in the first inning, taking a 1-0 lead on Corey Seager’s RBI double.
The Angels quickly countered in the second inning. Ward singled and Duffy connected on a two-run shot.
The speed of Bubba Thompson enabled the Rangers to tie the game at 2 in the fifth inning. Thompson reached on a two-out bunt single and scored from first on Semien’s double to center.
Los Angeles regained the lead in the sixth inning. Shohei Ohtani hit a leadoff single and scored on Ward’s double to left. Duffy’s single to center put runners at the corners and knocked out Santana.
Left-hander John King entered for the Rangers and allowed left-handed-hitting Mike Ford to chop an RBI single to right. Jo Adell’s run-scoring single to left made it 5-2.
Texas avoided further damage by recording its second triple play of the season, a first in franchise history.
With Ford at second and pinch runner Magneuris Sierra at first, Max Stassi bounced to rookie third baseman Josh Jung, who stepped on third, then threw to Semien at second. Semien completed the trifecta by throwing to Nathaniel Lowe at first, going around the horn.
–Field Level Media
