Texas @ Los Angeles preview
Angel Stadium
Last Meeting ( Sep 21, 2010 ) Texas 0, LA Angels 2
The Texas Rangers’ offense could use a lift going into their three-game series finale against the Los Angeles Angels on Wednesday night.
With Josh Hamilton sidelined, the Rangers, quite simply, haven’t been able to score runs. That’s the main reason they have lost four of their last five games, managing only six runs in those four losses.
The lowlight came on Tuesday, when the Rangers were shut out by Angels right-hander Ervin Santana in a 2-0 loss. Texas managed only five hits and finished 0-for-6 with runners in scoring position.
Now, Texas will face Los Angeles right-hander Dan Haren in the series finale. C.J. Wilson will take the hill for the Rangers, whose magic number has remained at six for three days.
As the offense has struggled, the Rangers did receive some good news on Hamilton. He was diagnosed with two broken ribs but should be able to rejoin the team before any potential postseason play.
Hamilton is hoping to play the final four or five games of the regular season and then be back in full stride for the playoffs.
David Murphy has filled in nicely for Hamilton in the three-hole, hitting safely in 16 of his last 18 games. But Murphy does not have the same type of presence as Hamilton does in the lineup.
The bigger issue for the Rangers has been hitting with runners in scoring position. In the sixth inning Tuesday, they had runners at first and second with one out. That didn’t lead to any runs, though, as Michael Young struck out and Murphy grounded out.
Because of their offensive woes, the Rangers are hoping Wilson can deliver yet again. In his last start against Seattle and Felix Hernandez on Friday, Wilson went eight innings, allowing two runs on six hits with three walks and six strikeouts in a 2-1 loss.
Lifetime against the Angels, Wilson is 2-3 with a 4.44 ERA and five saves in 31 games, including four starts. This season against the Angels, Wilson is 1-1 with a 4.50 ERA in three starts.
The Angels, meanwhile, will look to Haren to keep the Rangers’ offense silent for another night.
Since joining the Angels, Haren is 3-4 with a 3.12 ERA.
Haren is 3-6 with a 4.00 ERA in 11 starts against Texas. When he faced the Rangers on July 31, Haren took the loss despite going the distance, allowing two runs on five hits with two walks and six strikeouts.
Offensively, the Angels didn’t have a great game Tuesday but did enough with Santana on the mound. Los Angeles scored two runs on RBI groundouts, which proved to be enough.