Recap: Texas vs. LA Angels
Sports Network | September 21, 2008
Arlington, TX (Sports Network) - John Lackey hurled six brilliant innings, and Sean Rodriguez and Mark Teixeira both homered as the LA Angels of Anaheim finished a three-game sweep of Texas with a 7-3 win.
Lackey (12-4) allowed just two hits while walking three and fanning a career- high 12 for the AL West champion Angels, who have won four straight games and nine of their last 11 contests. Rodriguez had a three-run homer while Teixeira added a two-run shot for Los Angeles.
Lackey, who didn't allow a hit over the first 4 1/3 innings of the game until Hank Blalock doubled, had lost his previous two decisions and had a 6.75 ERA in his last three starts.
Blalock's three-run homer in the ninth was the Rangers' only offense on the day.
Scott Feldman (5-8) surrendered six runs on eight hits in six innings en route to the loss.
The Angels jumped in front with a pair of runs in the first after Garret Anderson got on with a one-out single and Teixeira followed by depositing his 32nd homer over the wall in left.
Los Angeles added a run in the fifth thanks to Anderson's two-out, run-scoring single.
The Angels then put things away with a three-spot in the sixth. Gary Matthews Jr. and Mike Napoli slapped consecutive one-out singles and, after Brandon Wood flied out, Rodriguez blasted a three-run homer run over the fence in center.
LA kept pulling away with another run in the seventh off Brian Gordon. Chone Figgins led off the frame with a single to center and eventually came around on Vladimir Guerrero's two-out double.
Blalock's three-run homer off Jason Bulger in the ninth accounted for the final margin.
The Angels have won 11 of their 16 matchups with the Rangers this season...Figgins returned after missing 11 games with a right elbow injury and went 1-for-4...Lackey's previous high for strikeouts was 11 on two occasions.
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