Rangers' Youngsters Key In 4-1 Victory Over Angels
ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Martin Perez finally got a win after another strong May start and rookie Nomar Mazara homered in his home park for the first time, leading the Texas Rangers to a 4-1 victory over the Los Angeles Angels on Tuesday night.
Perez (2-4) was winless for the month despite a 2.59 ERA in four starts coming in, and the left-hander dropped that number to 2.08 with six strikeouts in six shutout innings.
Mazara pulled his seventh homer into the upper deck in right field off Jhoulys Chacin (0-1) in the sixth inning. Mazara had three hits and reached base all four times.
The 21-year-old's two-run shot put Texas ahead 3-0 after Perez escaped the top of the sixth by getting through the middle of the order after putting runners at first and third with no outs.
After Shane Robinson was thrown out at home trying to score on a hard grounder to Mitch Moreland at first base, Perez struck out Mike Trout and walked Albert Pujols to load the bases.
The 25-year-old Perez gestured empathically after finishing the 31-pitch inning with a strikeout of Johnny Giavotella, who had a 12-game hitting streak snapped.
The Rangers lost the shutout bid when 30-year-old rookie reliever Matt Bush gave up his first run in his sixth outing on a run-scoring groundout by Pujols in the eighth.
Sam Dyson struck out two in a perfect ninth for his third save in three chances since becoming the closer and fifth overall this season.
Rougned Odor went 0 for 4 in the leadoff spot for Texas on the day his appeal was heard in New York for an eight-game suspension for punching Toronto slugger Jose Bautista during a brawl on May 15.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Angels: LHP C.J. Wilson (left shoulder inflammation) and 2B Cliff Pennington (strained left hamstring) will start rehab assignments with Class A Inland Empire on Wednesday. Wilson hasn't pitched this season, and Pennington has been on the disabled list since May 13.
Rangers: Pitching coach Doug Brocail anticipates RHP Yu Darvish having a pitch limit around 90 for his first major league start Saturday since elbow surgery last year. That limit is similar to his final rehab appearance. Darvish last pitched in the majors on Aug. 9, 2014.
UP NEXT
Angels: LHP Hector Santiago (3-2, 3.93 ERA) makes his first start since getting ejected in the third inning of a 9-4 loss to Baltimore on Friday for gesturing toward plate umpire John Tumpane. Santiago, who was upset over balls and strikes, had already given up three home runs.
Rangers: RHP Colby Lewis (3-0, 2.75) has allowed four earned runs in 21 innings (1.71 ERA) over his last three starts with 17 strikeouts and one walk. He got his 100th career win in the majors and Japan combined with a 2-1 victory over Houston on Friday. He has pitched at least seven innings in a career-high five straight starts.
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