Texas Rangers vs Los Angeles Angels Match Player Stats On Sep 16, 2017

The Sports Xchange
Sep 17, 2017

ANAHEIM, Calif. -- Parker Bridwell threw six shutout innings and Justin Upton homered twice to lead the Los Angeles Angels to a 2-0 victory against the Texas Rangers on Saturday night.

The victory pulled the Angels back within a game of the Minnesota Twins for the second American League wild-card spot.

Upton, acquired from the Detroit Tigers on Aug. 31, homered to deep left in the first inning off Cole Hamels and off the top of the wall in center in the eighth. In between, the Texas left-hander limited the Angels to no runs and two hits. Hamels (10-4) was lifted after the second home run by Upton.

Bridwell (8-2) allowed three hits, struck out seven and walked two. He was removed after walking Joey Gallo to start the seventh with his 90th pitch.

Keynan Middleton came on in relief and struck out Robinson Chirinos and Rougned Odor before Gallo was thrown out trying to steal in between by catcher Martin Maldonado, who had thrown out 40 percent of base stealers coming in, second-best in the AL.

Cam Bedrosian pitched a 1-2-3 eighth and Yusmeiro Petit did the same in the ninth for his fourth save.

The Angels' bullpen came in fourth in the AL in ERA (3.76) and sixth in opponent batting average (.238).

Bridwell didn't pitch like someone seeking his first win in his past six outings. He struck out five straight batters in the second and third innings, including all three in the third, and did not allow a base runner until Gallo hit a line drive that nicked off the glove of first baseman C.J. Cron and went into the corner for a one-out double in the fifth.

Chirinos followed with a walk to reach base for the 29th straight game, the longest active streak in the majors, but Bridwell got Odor to pop out to short and fanned Willie Calhoun for his seventh strikeout in five innings. He also stranded two runners in the sixth after getting Adrian Beltre to ground out weakly to third.

The Angels learned the Twins lost to the Toronto Blue Jays while they were batting in the fourth and holding a 1-0 lead.

Los Angeles scored the run in the first inning on the 30th home run by Upton, who also tied his career high with his 102nd RBI. It was Upton's second home run since he was acquired by the Angels on Aug. 31, and second in 49 career at-bats off Hamels. The other came on Opening Day in 2013, when Upton was with the Atlanta Braves and Hamels was pitching for the Philadelphia Phillies.

Hamels, who came in 4-1 in his career against the Angels with a 2.87 ERA, including 2-0 in four starts this season with a 2.36 mark, gave up a single and two walks to load the bases in the third inning, but got Cron to ground out to short to end the inning. He faced the minimum number of hitters in the second, fourth and fifth innings.

NOTES: Angels 2B Brandon Phillips was not in the starting lineup because of tightness in his lower back. Phillips appeared uncomfortable after striking out in the seventh inning against the Rangers on Friday and was replaced at second base by Kaleb Cowart. ... Angels CF Mike Trout filled Phillips' spot in the leadoff spot, the first time the two-time AL MVP batted leadoff since June 13, 2013. He went 0-for-3 with a walk. ... Texas C Robinson Chirinos walked in the fifth inning to reach base for the 29th consecutive game, the longest streak in the majors and three short of the club record set by Elvis Andrus early in the 2012 season.