Texas @ Los Angeles preview
Angel Stadium
Last Meeting ( Aug 28, 2011 ) LA Angels 5, Texas 9
THE STORY: The Los Angeles Angels have to defeat the Texas Rangers the next three nights and hope for help to have any shot at the American League wild-card berth. The Angels are three games behind the Boston Red Sox and two behind the Tampa Bay Rays entering Monday’s game after squandering a three-run lead in the ninth inning against the Oakland Athletics. Closer Jordan Walden blew the save and made a costly throwing error as Los Angeles’ playoff hopes suffered a severe blow. Texas has won 11 of 13 games and is one game ahead of the Detroit Tigers in the race for second-best record in the American League.
TV: 10:05 p.m. ET, FSH (Texas), FSW (Los Angeles).
PITCHING MATCHUP: Rangers LH C.J. Wilson (16-7, 2.97 ERA) vs. Angels RH Dan Haren (16-9, 3.16 ERA)
Wilson will make an abbreviated start as he tunes up for Friday’s postseason start. He has 27 strikeouts in 20 1/3 innings over his last three starts. Wilson received a no-decision against Oakland in his last outing when he gave up two runs and five hits in six innings. He had a blister on a finger afterward, but Wilson felt fine when throwing a bullpen session two days later. Wilson is 2-2 with a 2.81 ERA in five starts against the Angels this season. Howie Kendrick is batting .333 in 36 career at-bats against Wilson.
Haren can achieve a new high for victories by beating Texas. He has won three of his past four decisions and defeated Toronto in his last outing when he gave up one run and four hits in eight innings. Haren avoided injury when he was hit by a liner on his left arm. Haren is 0-1 with a 7.71 ERA in three starts against Texas this season. He has given up 26 hits in 16 1/3 innings. Adrian Beltre is hitting .469 with two homers in 49 career at-bats against Haren.
ABOUT THE RANGERS (93-66): Texas swept Seattle over the weekend to finish the home slate with 52 wins to match the franchise record. Yorvit Torrealba had two homers - including a grand slam - and five RBIs and Adrian Beltre and Ian Kinsler also went deep in Sunday’s victory. Beltre’s blast gave him his second-career 30-homer campaign and was his 10th blast in his last 13 games. Kinsler matched a career-best with his 31st homer and also stole two bases. He is just one steal shy of his second career 30-30 campaign. He was thrown out trying for steal No. 30 to end his team-record streak of 28 consecutive thefts. The Rangers set a franchise attendance record (2,946,949) this season.
ABOUT THE ANGELS (86-73): Los Angeles lost two of three to Oakland with Sunday’s contest being extraordinary painful. The Angels led by two runs when Adam Rosales hit a possible game-ending double-play comebacker to Walden, but the rookie closer’s throw was off the mark and Oakland ended up with four runs in the inning. The blown save was Walden’s 10th in 42 chances. Vernon Wells belted his 25th homer and Bobby Abreu also went deep. Rookie first baseman Mark Trumbo left after six innings due to an ankle injury. Trumbo has 29 homers, two behind Tim Salmon’s club record for rookies. Reliever Scott Downs allowed his first run of the season at home in 28 appearances.
FINAL PITCH: “It was me. The ball was bit back to me so hard, so quick. I hesitated a second and the ball just sailed on me. I’ve got to get ready for (Monday) to redeem myself.” – Walden