Angels Get Swept by Rangers, Again

This series was not for those with a weak stomach. It wasn’t for those who have stomach’s made of forged steel. This series was B-R-U-T-A-L. Silver lining though, the Rangers were not able to walk off on the Angels at all this series. It’s called keeping a positive frame-of-mind, people.

It didn’t take long for the Rangers to touch up Angels starter Tommy Hanson, and get on the board. It may have only been a sacrifice fly, but Mitch Moreland got the Rangers on the board in the first, giving Texas a quick 1-0 cushion. But the Angels had a birthday boy size trick up their sleeve, as Mike Trout went deep for the 20th time this season in his first at bat. That makes two birthday home runs for the Troutstanding one. Which is a tradition I would like to see continue.

But that was the last time there was any joy in Anaheim on this night. The Rangers rallied for three runs in the third on RBI singles by Moreland and Ian Kinsler with an RBI groundout off the bat of Adrian Beltre sandwiched in between. Jurickson Profar notched an RBI single in the fifth inning. Beltre added his 25th home run of the season in the sixth. A Leonys Martin sacrifice fly in the seventh made it 8-2. Or, as sme would like to call it, a laugher.

It was a moral victory of sorts when Kole Calhoun hit an RBI double in the bottom of the seventh to drive in Hank Conger, but it was a short-lived victory as David Murphy doubled home a pair in the eighth. If you have been keeping track, that’s six innings where the Rangers scored a run. Six. Or, the same amount as the number of walks issued by Angels pitching tonight.

In a season that has allowed fans very little to cheer about, it didn’t help anybody to have see the Angels get walked all over by their division rivals in their own yard. The Angels got outscored 23-8 during this three-game set. Only Trout, Calhoun and Mark Trumbo showed up to play this series. The rest of the team seems to be ready for November.

Mercifully, the Angels have an off day tomorrow, allowing fans to take a step back and not let another game ruin their evening. But they will be back at it on Friday when Jered Weaver takes the mound against former teammate, Scott Kazmir. Game time is 4:05 PM PST. Light up the fail-o, light it up nice and bright.