Following an opening week that included six of seven games decided by one run, the Texas Rangers (3-5) fell Tuesday to the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim – and they fell hard.
Dallas native Chris Young (0-1, 9.82 ERA) became the first starting pitcher this season to not give the Rangers a solid performance as the Angels put three runs on the board in the first inning.
Young lasted just 3 1/3 innings before being relieved by recently acquired left-hander Matt Riley. In his brief outing, Young surrendered seven runs on seven hits while walking four batters.
Texas tried to match the Angels’ offense early on with a run in the second and two in the third off Los Angeles starter John Lackey (1-0, 6.52). After three full innings, the Angels’ lead was cut to 4-3.
The Rangers’ bullpen, however – minus hard-throwers Frankie Francisco and Carlos Almanzar, both of whom are expected to return later this week – once again failed to hold the opposing offense in check. Riley and R.A. Dickey combined to give up six runs on seven hits over 5 1/3 frames.
Dickey was forced to leave the game with two outs and a full count on outfielder Garret Anderson in the top of the ninth. He fell from the mound while grimacing and clutching the back of his right shoulder before walking to the dugout next to trainer Jamie Reed.
Lefty Brian Shouse came on to strike out Anderson on a called strike three.
After third baseman Hank Blalock doubled home a run and scored in the seventh, Texas tried to mount another late-inning rally – something that has become familiar through the first week of games – sparked by an Adrian Gonzalez home run in the eighth.
Two more runs came home in the inning, the second of which coming when Angels’ catcher Bengie Molina could not hold on to a wild pitch that allowed Alfonso Soriano to trot home from third.
The Rangers have already scored four runs via Los Angeles wild pitches on the young season.
Catcher Rod Barajas, who homered in the Texas home opener Monday, had a rough night defensively with two errors that led to a pair of Angel runs. He did, however, score two of the eight Ranger runs.
The team will try to improve upon its 1-4 record against the Angels this year when Chan Ho Park (0-0, 4.76) takes the mound this evening against Paul Byrd (0-1, 5.14). The first pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. at Ameriquest Field in Arlington.
