Last Leg of Angels’ Road Trip Begins in Arlington

Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports

What can be said about the Los Angeles Angels that hasn’t summarized how the AL West leader came to hold Major League Baseball’s top record?

Garrett Richards and Tyler Skaggs were lost to season-ending injuries, Josh Hamilton’s batting average hovers near .260, and C.J. Wilson carries a ballooned 4.64 ERA.  They sat four games back of Oakland in early August following a four-game losing streak that could have easily demoralized the team.

Yet the Angels persevered. They hold a season-high eight-game lead over the A’s less with than 20 games left in the regular season.

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Tonight’s contest in Arlington, Tex. marks the beginning of the Angels’ third-to-last road series of the season. They’re coming off dominant win in Cleveland Monday that extended their winning streak to five-in-a-row and reduced their magic number to 12 (the combination of Angels wins and A’s losses necessary to win the division.)

Texas, meanwhile, snapped an eight-game losing streak Sunday with a narrow 1-0 win over Seattle. The victory comes on the heels of manager Ron Washington’s unanticipated resignation.

It’s Los Angeles’ second trip to Globe Life Park in less than a month after taking two out of three from the Rangers Aug. 15-17.

Pitching Matchup – Hector Santiago (4-7, 3.46 ERA) vs. Colby Lewis (9-12, 5.42 ERA)

Prior to last Thursday’s start in Minnesota, Hector Santiago held a 1.19 ERA over a four-game stretch. He’s 3-0 since the All-Star break and hasn’t lost a decision since June 15. If that isn’t enough to atone for an abysmal first half, Santiago’s track record against Texas should be.

Santiago is 2-1 with a 3.38 ERA against the Rangers. He could be 3-1 were it not for Huston Street’s blown save Aug. 17. Santiago limited Texas to one run on four hits through six innings before the closer’s unwonted hiccup in the ninth.

The left-hander’s ERA has nearly dipped one full point from his 4.50 mark in mid-July.

Colby Lewis hasn’t pitched since Sept. 1 when he lost for the fourth time in five outings. Texas’ former go-to starter has allowed four runs or more in every game since Aug. 16, that being a five-run, ten-hit shellacking at Angel Stadium.

Lewis surrendered a team-record 13 runs and 13 hits over 2 1/3 innings to the Angels July 10. Then again, facing the AL West rival has never been the righty’s strong suit. He carries a 5-6 record and 5.48 ERA into his 16^th career start against the Angels with the only winning season coming in 2003.

Walk offs:

1. The Angels are 10-3 against Texas this season.
2. Hamilton will miss a fifth straight game with a stiff shoulder.
3. The Angels’ 43 comeback wins leads the Majors and is four shy of matching a club record.

TV: 5:05 p.m. PT, Fox Sports West, Fox Sports Southwest

Radio: KLAA 830, 103.3 ESPN