Angels @ Rangers (July 3rd-5th)

[Molina00]

Game 1 Recap
I have two words to describe this game, Brad Wilkerson. Coming off of a June where Wilkerson hit .179, and having not hit more than 3 homeruns in a month this season, Brad teed off against the Angels pitching slamming a whopping 3 homeruns and driving in 6 of the Rangers 8 runs in the game. He has not hit more homeruns this month (4) than in any other single month this season.

The Angels took an early 2-0 lead against Kevin Millwood in the 2nd inning, but Kevin stepped it up and dominted the Angels over the next 6 innings and finished having allowed just those 2 runs on only 5 hits over 8 innings of work to lower his ERA to 6.54.

The Rangers got the rally going in the 4th against Ervin Santana thanks to a 3-run homerun from Brad Wilkerson, his first of 3, to give Texas a 3-2 lead. Wilkerson then homered again in the 6th, also against Santana, to put the Rangers up 5-2. His 3rd blast of the game came in the 7th inning off reliever Chris Bootcheck. The Rangers scored 3 runs in the inning taking an 8-2 lead. The Angels only managed to score 1 more run, that coming in the 9th inning off of Frankie Francisco, and the Rangers went on to win the series opener 8-3.

Tonight will be another huge battle for the Rangers as they will face off against Jered Weaver. The Rangers have Jamey Wright going for them and well he just hasn't been doing very well. Although his past two starts weren't too awful. He just rarely gets past the 5th inning.

[Molina00]

Game 2 Recap
A little late, but better late than never.

The Rangers took a 2-0 series lead over the Angels in their July 4th matchup against Jered Weaver, winning the game 4-2 with good pitching and timely hitting.

Jamey Wright started for Texas, and for the 3rd straight start he did not allow more than 2 runs. Wright went 6 innings allowing 2 runs on 5 hits and picking up his 2nd win of the year. C.J. Wilson and Joaquin Benoit struck out a combined 5 batters over 2 perfect innings and Gagne pitched a 1-2-3 9th for his 11th save of the year.

Frank Catalanotto and Marlon Byrd were the main offensive suppliers. Cat had 3 hits and scored 2 runs while Byrd also had a 3 hit game and ripped his 8th double of the season. Byrd's 3 hit performance raised his batting average to .383 on the season.

[Molina00]

Game 3 Recap
The Rangers sent a struggling Robinson Tejeda to the mound to try and finish off the Angels in the series finale. Tejeda came into the game having allowed 47 earned runs on 66 hits in 50 innings pitched over his last 11 starts. It was more of the same as the Angels hit Tejeda for 4 runs on 6 hits over 5.1 innings and dealt the Rangers a 5-2 loss.

The Rangers couldn't get anything going against Angels starter Kelvim Escobar, who pitched 7 innings allowing just 1 run on 3 hits and striking out 8 Ranger batters.

For the 2nd straight game, the offensive highlight was Marlon Byrd. He went 1 for 1 with 3 walks and drove in 1 of the Rangers 2 runs in the game.

The Rangers finished with a 2-1 series win and 16 games behind the Angels for first in the AL West.