Rangers stay hot at home, sweep Angels

Leody Taveras had a two-run single and Adolis Garcia and Corey Seager hit solo home runs as the Texas Rangers downed the slumping Los Angeles Angels 5-3 on Thursday to finish a three-game sweep in Arlington, Texas.

The Rangers won their ninth straight at home and set a franchise record with their eighth consecutive victory over the Angels. Texas is an AL-best 9-1 at home.

Kumar Rocker (1-2) allowed three runs on five hits over seven innings for Texas. He struck out eight and did not issue a walk while throwing just 78 pitches. Chris Martin struck out two in a 1-2-3 eighth before Robert Garcia pitched a perfect ninth for his first career save.

Texas outhit the Angels 11-5 with Seager, Dustin Harris and Kyle Higashioka each recording two hits.

Jack Kochanowicz (1-2), the first of four Los Angeles pitchers, lasted 4 2/3 innings, giving up four runs on eight hits with one strikeout and a walk. No Angels player had more than one hit as Los Angeles dropped its fourth straight.

Los Angeles took its first lead of the series in the first inning when Jorge Soler’s two-out single drove in Taylor Ward, who had opened the game with a ground-rule double. The Rangers answered in the bottom of the frame as Garcia’s one-out sacrifice fly allowed Marcus Semien to trot home from third base.

Texas jumped in front for good in the second. Taveras doubled to right field with the bases loaded, plating Harris and Jake Burger, who reached on a single and a hit-by-pitch, respectively. Garcia added to the lead with a home run to open the third, stoking the lead to 4-1.

The Angels cut their deficit to one run in the fifth as Luis Rengifo hit a two-out, bases-loaded single to left to score Nolan Schanuel and Tim Anderson. Rocker then struck out Mike Trout with two on to end the threat.

Texas got a key insurance run in the seventh on Corey Seager’s solo shot.

–Field Level Media