Top 5 Season Series to keep an eye on for the Los Angeles Angels

2. Texas Rangers – 88-74 AL West Champions

The rivalry between the Los Angeles Angels and Texas Rangers has intensified over the past couple of season.  In 2015 it was at fever pitch, especially since the two teams were battling for first place in the second half of the season.  Not to mention the Josh Hamilton debacle, which saw the Angels sign Hamilton away from the Rangers in 2013 only to suffer two underproductive season before Hamilton had a relapse in the winter of 2015.  Hamilton forced the Angels hand with his childish attitude and unwillingness to accept responsibility for his actions.  In late April of 2015 he was traded back to the Rangers for next to nothing.

When the two teams met the Hamilton situation made things that much more interesting and provided for a lot of drama at times.  However, the play of both teams became more of a focal point as the season went on.  In early October the Angels ad Rangers locked up for some epic battles that helped decide the AL West Division title as well as the Wildcard.

In a four game series in Texas the Angels lost the first game 5-2 which eliminated the Angels from the division race.  With the Rangers only needing one victory or Houston loss to clinch the AL West, the Angels proved to be a tough out.  First on the Friday night of the series the Angels rallied from a 1-0 deficit taking the in the 9th on a Mike Trout triple and then an Albert Pujols single for a 2-1 victory which was pretty dramatic, however game three of this series was one for the ages.

The COMEBACK –

The Los Angeles Angels found themselves trailing 10-6 going into the top of the 9th knowing that a loss would eliminate them from the post-season.  What happened next was nothing short of amazing.  Erick Aybar and Kole Calhoun led off the inning with back-to-back homers to cut the deficit to 10-8.  With one out Albert Pujols doubled.  David Murphy struck out for the second out, but then CJ Cron singles to score Pujols making it 10-9. David Freese and Carlos Perez followed with back-to-back singles to score pinch runner Colin Cowgill to tie the game at 10.  Johnny Giavotella then singled to center to score Freese capping the five-run rally and Joe Smith pitched a scoreless 9th to nail down the 11-10 victory.

On the final day of the season things could not have been bigger as the Angels had to win to have any hopes of catching Houston for the final wild-card spot.   The game started well as Pujols hit a 2-run homer off of Rangers ace Cole Hamels to give the Angels a 2-0 lead.  The Rangers scored one run in the bottom of the inning to cut the lead to 2-1.  It stayed that way until the the bottom of the 5th when the Rangers scored two runs off of Garrett Richards to take the lead.  In the bottom of the 7th the Rangers scored six times to put the game away and eliminate the Angels 9-2.

Overall in the season series the Angels won 12 games compared to the Rangers seven, but the final game  was all that most people will remember.  2016 should be more of the same as the to teams will be in a battle for the AL West title.