The Los Angeles Angels got seven scoreless innings from their bullpen and made four first-inning runs stand up in a 4-3 victory over the Texas Rangers on Wednesday night in Arlington, Texas.
Anthony Rendon and Jose Iglesias each had a two-run single in the first inning off Rangers starter Dane Dunning and didn’t score again. But it would be enough thanks to four Angels relievers who combined to allow just two hits and a walk after starter Alex Cobb went just two innings.
The first of those relievers, Chris Rodriguez (2-0), got the win with 3 1/3 scoreless innings, allowing just one hit and one walk, and left-hander Tony Watson did not allow a baserunner in 1 2/3 innings, getting the Angels to the eighth inning.
Mike Mayers threw a scoreless eighth, getting out of a jam after hitting a batter and giving up a bloop single. Raisel Iglesias then pitched a 1-2-3 ninth for his fourth save in six chances.
The Angels started fast against Dunning, loading the bases with one out on singles by David Fletcher and Mike Trout and a walk to Jared Walsh.
Rendon followed with a two-run single, his first hit since April 10. After missing 11 games with a strained groin, Rendon was 0 for 8 in his first two games back.
Iglesias added a two-out, two-run single to put Los Angeles up 4-0 before the Rangers even came to bat against Cobb.
The Rangers, though, chipped away at the Angels’ lead, getting an RBI infield single by Nate Lowe in the bottom of the first, and then bunching four hits in the second inning that resulted in two more runs to cut their deficit to 4-3.
That was it for Cobb, yanked by Angels manager Joe Maddon after giving up the three runs on six hits.
Dunning (1-1) settled in after the first inning, allowing no runs on two hits over the next four innings and calling it a night after five. He allowed the four runs on six hits and one walk while striking out six.
Nick Solak and Lowe each had two hits of Texas’ eight hits.
–Field Level Media