15-27 - Rangers continue to have Angels’ number, beat LA 7-3

The Texas Rangers scored seven runs and the Anaheim Angels scored three runs.

The Rangers have not lost to the Fightin’ Trouts this season in five tries now. This particular pair of victories to begin this series is made all the more baffling when you consider that Anaheim came to Arlington fresh off a four-game sweep of Houston while the Rangers were the worst team in baseball licking their wounds after getting swept in Seattle.

The Rangers actually trailed 2-0 tonight and it looked like the Angels were on their way to their first win against Texas before Nick Solak brought the Rangers to within a run with an RBI single in the bottom of the fourth.

An inning later, the Rangers exploded for five runs in a very poorly pitched inning by Anaheim which saw Texas draw three walks, collect three hits, and score on a HBP while batting around.

Were you a petty person like I am you might have imagined Mike Trout out in center field during that half inning remembering that he’s signed on to play for the Angels until basically halfway through this century.

As it stands, exactly a third of Texas’ victories in 2020 have come against these Angels (5 of 15).

P.S. Leody Taveras stole home for the seventh and final run.

Player of the Game: Eli White got that first big league hit! But also, Isiah Kiner-Falefa led the way with a 4-for-4 night where he doubled, stole a base, and scored two runs. IKF is batting .322 — which is fourth best in the American League — and he’s basically Michael Young now.

Up Next: The Rangers close out this series looking for a sweep with Kyle Gibson getting the call against RHP Dylan Bundy for the Angels. Thursday’s first pitch from The Shed is scheduled for 3:10 pm CT.