ARLINGTON, Texas (KNTU) Kole Calhoun and Jefry Marte hit home runs and JC Ramirez struck out nine batters to lead the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim to victory in the rubber match in a 3-game series against the Texas Rangers 5-2 on Sunday, April 30.
The loss marked a disappointing end to a 10-game home stand for the Rangers. After winning the first four games at home, the Rangers only won two of the final six games.
The Rangers struck first in the bottom of the first inning. Delino DeShields scored from second base on a Carlos Gomez single that was misplayed by the Angels’ Cameron Maybin in left field. The Rangers looked primed to do more damage, but one batter later, Gomez was thrown out at home plate by right fielder Kole Calhoun on a Rougned Odor single. Elvis Andrus flew out to right field to end the inning.
Calhoun got the Angels on the board in the third with his second home run of the season. It was the only run the Angels scored with less than two outs. It also marked the first home run that Martin Perez (1-4, 4.26 ERA) has given up to a left-handed batter in Arlington since David Ortiz in 2014.
Perez struggled through 5.2 innings, giving up four runs and walking four. Perez has now walked 19 batters in 31.2 innings this year. He entered the day with the second highest BB/9 ratio (walks per nine innings) in the American League. He continued struggling to get the ball over the plate, throwing only 61 percent of his pitches for strikes.
The Angels added two more runs in the fifth inning with Martin Maldonado leading off with a single and scoring on a double by Yunel Escobar. A two out single from Marte brought Escobar home, pushing the score to 3-1.
After retiring the first two batters in the sixth, Perez collapsed, allowing three straight batters to reach before being pulled from the game.
He was replaced by Jeremy Jeffress, who struck out Albert Pujols to end the top half of the sixth.
Ramirez, who made his fourth straight start for the Angels in place of the injured Garrett Richards, went 5.1 innings, giving up two runs and four hits. It was Ramirez’s first career win as a starter.
Sam Dyson pitched a scoreless eighth inning for the Rangers, facing the minimum number of batters. Returning for the ninth, Dyson gave up a home run to Jefry Marte, to give the Angels a 5-2 lead. Marte finished the game with 3 RBIs.
It was Dyson’s first appearance since coming off the 10-day disabled list on Friday. Dyson entered the game with an ERA approaching 21.94.
The Rangers threatened with two outs in the eighth against relief pitcher Blake Parker. After reaching on a fielder’s choice, Mazara was thrown out trying to steal second to end the inning. The Rangers challenged the play, which was overturned on review. Carlos Gomez walked on the next pitch, prompting Angels’ manager Mike Scioscia to pull Parker in favor of closer Bud Norris.
Norris struck out Rougned Odor to end the inning and pitched a scoreless ninth to earn his fifth save of the season.
The Rangers return to action Monday to open a 9-game road trip with four games in Houston against the division leading Astros. Texas is 28-10 against the Astros since the start of 2015. First pitch is scheduled for 7:10 p.m.
