Texas Rangers vs Los Angeles Angels Box Score on Sep 17, 2017

The Sports Xchange
Sep 17, 2017

ANAHEIM, Calif. -- Adrian Beltre delivered a two-run double and Joey Gallo hit the third-longest home run in the majors this season to lift the Texas Rangers to a 4-2 victory over the Los Angeles Angels on Sunday afternoon.

The loss dropped the Angels two games behind the Minnesota Twins for the second American League wild-card spot with 13 games remaining. The Rangers remain five games back.

Texas starter Miguel Gonzalez (8-11) pitched past the third inning for the first time in three starts since he was acquired from the Chicago White Sox on Aug. 31. He went three innings in his first start with Texas on Sept. 6, and 2 1/3 innings in his previous start on Tuesday, allowing seven runs and seven hits against the Seattle Mariners.

Gonzalez lasted five innings against the Angels, giving up one run and two hits, striking out two and walking five.

Yohander Mendez, Keone Kela, Matt Bush and Jake Diekman combined to limit the Angels to one run over the final four innings, a solo home run by Mike Trout in the eighth. Diekman earned his first save of the season in his eighth appearance.

Gonzalez walked the first two batters in the first, the leadoff batter in the third and the leadoff batter in the fifth. The Angels followed the fifth-inning walk with their first base hit of the game when C.J. Cron lined a single to left. Kaleb Cowart then loaded the bases with a one-out single and Trout's sacrifice fly cut the deficit to 3-1.

Angels starter Garrett Richards (0-2) was trying to build off his past two starts since coming off a five-month absence due to biceps nerve irritation in his throwing arm.

He went five innings for the second consecutive start, raising his pitch count from 63 in his last outing to 74 on Sunday. Richards allowed three runs and two hits against the Rangers, struck out seven and walked one.

Richards, who has posted better results against the Rangers than any team in his career, coming in with a 9-3 mark and 3.13 ERA, walked leadoff batter Delino DeShields to open the game. Two batters later, Elvis Andrus reached on a throwing error by third baseman Luis Valbuena, and both runners came home on a double to deep center by Beltre.

Gallo led off the second inning with a 490-foot home run to center to stretch the lead to 3-0.

Richards then retired the next 11 batters in a row, but his offense was unable to make up the deficit.

The Rangers stretched the lead to 4-1 off the bullpen in the eighth. DeShields walked to lead off the inning and scored his second run of the game on a sacrifice fly to center by Andrus.

NOTES: Texas DH Adrian Beltre has five home runs and 14 RBIs in 10 games against the Angels this season, and owns more doubles (52), home runs (45) and RBI (161) in his career against the Angels than any other player. ... The 490-foot home run by 1B Joey Gallo against the Angels was his 59th extra-base hit among 87 hits overall this season. ... Angels 2B Brandon Phillips missed his second straight game with tightness in his lower back.