Choo’s 3B helps Rangers finish sweep of Angels with 5-4 win
ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Shin-Soo Choo delivered a tiebreaking two-run triple while reaching base his first three times from the leadoff spot, and the Texas Rangers finished a three-game sweep of the Los Angeles Angels with a 5-4 victory Wednesday night.
Texas closer Jose Leclerc earned his fifth save in six chances despite loading the bases with no outs in the ninth, capped by hitting Mike Trout with a pitch.
The right-hander got a called third strike on Justin Bour that led to Bour’s ejection before an RBI groundout by Andrelton Simmons. Brian Goodwin was called out on a check swing strikeout to end the game.
Lance Lynn (2-1) won his second straight decision in the right-hander’s first season with Texas, allowing 10 baserunners (seven hits, three walks) but just two runs in 5 2/3 innings.
The Rangers swept the Angels in a series of at least three games for the first time since 2013 after LA won the last three of four in Anaheim two weekends ago. Texas has its first four-game winning streak since last July.
Choo’s go-ahead liner into the right field corner ended Matt Harvey’s night with one out in the fifth after the right-hander had allowed one unearned run on one hit through four innings.
Both losses for Harvey (0-2) in his first season with the Angels are against the Rangers. The former New York Mets star gave up five runs, four earned, and five hits in 4 1/3 innings after tying his career high by allowing eight runs in an 11-4 loss to Texas in his second LA start.
Trout walked and singled and has reached base in all 15 games he has played, extending the longest season-opening streak of his career. The two-time AL MVP was the designated hitter for a third straight game, staying out of center field after missing three games with a left groin strain.
Simmons, Brian Goodwin and Jonathan Lucroy had three straight singles for a 1-0 LA lead in the second before Trout scored on Simmons’ double in the third.
After Choo scored on La Stella’s two-out error in the fourth, the Rangers got even in the fifth on consecutive singles from Asdrubal Cabrera, Logan Forsythe and Isiah Kiner-Falefa before Choo’s second triple of the season.
Tommy La Stella hit his fourth homer , a solo shot in the eighth, to get the Angels within two.
UP NEXT
Angels: RHP Chris Stratton (0-1, 5.54 ERA) is set to open a four-game series at home against Seattle and Felix Hernandez on Thursday. Stratton’s only decision was a 6-3 loss to the Mariners in his first start of the season.
Rangers: Already the second series at home the season against rival Houston starts Friday. LHP Drew Smyly (0-1, 7.15) made his Texas debut against the Astros on April 1, giving up a run on four hits in three innings in a no-decision.
