Texas has struggled all the season in one-run losses, especially in July, but one surefire way to avoid that type of loss is to allow no runs, and that is precisely what the Rangers’ pitching staff did on Thursday night against the Angels in a 2-0 victory in Anaheim.
Spencer Howard – celebrating his 26th birthday on the day – tossed five scoreless innings, allowed just three hits and no walks, and fanned five on the way to the win, running his mark on the season to 2-2.
“It’s a good birthday,” Howard told MLB.com. “It felt good, though. I felt pretty under control. … I was more happy with the execution of the pitches than the results because results come and go, right? That’s cliché as all get out, but it’s true.”
Brock Burke, Matt Bush, and Matt Moore combined to pitch the contest’s final four frames, allowing only two hits, walking none, and striking out five. Burke and Bush each earned a hold in the game (numbers five and nine, respectively) and Moore picked up save number two of the season.
2021 AL MVP Shohei Ohtani was on the mound for the Angels and though outdueled by Howard, would not go away quietly and struck out 11 Rangers and lowered his ERA to 2.81 on the season, though his record drops to 9-6 on the year.
The Rangers would net all the runs needed to secure the victory as Nathanial Lowe smacked his 15th home run of the season to centerfield on an 86.1 mph Ohtani 1-1 slider in the top of the fourth.
In the following inning, Corey Seager hit his 12th double of the season to score Josh H. Smith, who singled his way onboard. Seager’s RBI was No.54, second best on the team behind Adolis Garcia, who has knocked in 61 (sixth best in the American League).
The Texas win snaps a three-game losing streak.
Game two of three for the Rangers against the ‘Halos’ is set for 8:38 p.m. CDT on Friday with probable starters Martin Perez (8-2, 2.59) on the hill for Texas and Patrick Sandoval (3-6, 3.64) getting the nod for Los Angeles.
The Dallas Express Ranger to Watch: Nick Solak is batting .400 lifetime against Sandoval in five at-bats with an RBI.