The Texas Rangers were 3 outs away from a 4 game sweep, a shutout, and a 8 game lead in the AL West but fell short to the Los Angles Angels in the 9th inning, 2-1.
The game was primarily dominated by great pitching from Colby Lewis(11-8) and Jared Weaver(14-6) expect for two homeruns.
Mark Trumbo took the swing off the game in the 9th inning off of Texas’ righty Mike Adams(1-2) for a walk-off 2-run blast to left field for the win.
Adams came into the 9th because of Texas’ normal closer Neftali Feliz pitching in the last two games. Adams led the inning off by allowing Torii Hunter to hit a lead off single before Trumbo’s homer.
Both teams came close to scoring throughout the game but no one capitalized until Mike Napoli took Weaver deep in the 7th inning.
Napoli led the inning off with a solo blast to left center field after a full count 7 pitch at-bat with Weaver for what the Rangers hoped was going to be the winning run.
Weaver got out of trouble early in the game as the Rangers put runners on the corners in the 1st inning.
Elvis Andrus got the Rangers’ first hit with a single to center field and Michael Young reached on a infield single with 2 outs. Nelson Cruz ended the inning after striking out after a 8 pitch battle with Weaver.
Andrus continued to hit Weaver well as Andrus opened the game up going 3 for 3 with a double and each at-bat going into a full count. Andrus was 3 of the Rangers’ 7 hits.
Colby Lewis had one of his best outing tonight as Lewis went 7 spectacular innings shutting out the Angels. Lewis only allowed 4 hits while striking out 7 and only walking 2.
Colby opened the game by sitting down the Angels’ batters in order and did it again in the 3rd inning and followed the 3rd by striking out the side in the 4th.
Peter Bourjos ended Lewis’ streak of 8 consecutive Angels retired with a bunt single in the 5th inning. Lewis then got into trouble as Bourjos reached third base when first baseman Mike Napoli lost the pick off pitch in the dirt with 1 out. Lewis came back to strikeout Eric Aybar and Jeff Mathis swinging.
Booby Abreu just missed a homerun to center field in the 6th inning as he double off the very top of the wall with 2 outs. Lewis answered again by getting Hunter to popup to Napoli at first.
Los Angeles gave Lewis one last final challenge in the 7th with two on and 2 outs. Aybar earned a full count walk off Lewis with Bourjos already on second. Lewis got Alberto Callaspo to popup to short with his 112th pitch of the game.
Mark Lowe came in for Texas in the 8th inning and had 1-2-3 shut down inning to set up Adams in the 9th.
Extra Extra : Elvis Andrus stole his 32nd base in the 1st inning…Craig Gentry remains uncaught as he stole his 14th base in the 9th…Mitch Moreland was in tonight’s lineup but was scratched before it started because of a tight right hamstring.