The Texas Rangers continued their impressive winning streak, notching their sixth consecutive victory with a convincing 5-1 triumph over the Los Angeles Angels in Anaheim, California, on Monday night.
Adolis Garcia, Mitch Garver, and Nathaniel Lowe stole the spotlight by hitting back-to-back-to-back home runs, showcasing the Rangers’ offensive firepower. Meanwhile, starting pitcher Jon Gray delivered an exceptional performance, limiting the Angels to just one run over six solid innings.
Texas (88-68) remains firmly in control of the American League West, holding a 2 1/2-game lead over the Houston Astros with only six games remaining in the regular season. The Rangers’ recent surge has been fueled by a barrage of home runs, amassing 17 during their remarkable six-game winning streak. In the process, they claimed the AL home run lead, now totaling 227 on the season.
Jon Gray (9-8) secured his first win since August 11, effectively shutting down the Angels’ offense by allowing just five hits while striking out seven batters. Gray’s performance was especially impressive considering his recent struggles, as he hadn’t completed more than four innings in his previous three starts. Unfortunately, he had to exit the game due to right wrist tightness while preparing for the seventh inning. The Rangers’ bullpen took over seamlessly, with Jonathan Hernandez and Andrew Heaney combining to throw three scoreless innings of relief.
On the opposing side, Logan O’Hoppe led the way for the Angels (70-87), going 2-for-4 with a home run, his 13th of the season. Michael Stefanic contributed with three hits, but it was not enough to halt the Angels’ recent skid, as they have now lost 10 of their last 12 games.
Jimmy Herget (2-4) suffered the loss for the Angels, yielding three runs in just one inning of work. The Angels’ starter, Patrick Sandoval, left the game due to right oblique tightness after three-plus innings, despite a strong outing that saw him allow no runs on two hits and five walks while striking out two.
The Angels initially took a 1-0 lead in the second inning when O’Hoppe launched a 397-foot home run to center field. However, the Rangers responded emphatically in the sixth inning, with Garcia, Garver, and Lowe all smashing home runs in succession to take a 3-1 lead.
Marcus Semien added to the Rangers’ lead with a solo home run in the seventh inning, making it 4-1. They further extended their advantage in the eighth when Jonah Heim scored on a wild pitch after walking and advancing to third on a single by Leody Taveras.
The Texas Rangers’ remarkable surge continues as they inch closer to securing their postseason berth, while the Los Angeles Angels seek to regroup and finish the season on a positive note.
