Category — Angels

The Rangers lost their 4th in a row today, getting blanked by the O’s, 5-0. Texas players say its just a temporary funk and they’ll eventually shake it.
The O’s might beg to differ. They’ve had their way with the Rangers, winning their 5th straight over Texas. They also are playing their best ball of the season, winning 11 of their last 17 since Buck Showalter took over as manager.
Dallas Morning News
Angels 7, Red Sox 2: The Angels cut the Rangers’ lead to 7 games in the AL West after finally finding an answer for the Red Sox, who had beaten them 9 straight times. Ervin Santana turned in another strong outing for the Angels, who held a players-only meeting before the game to clear the air. It worked wonders. At least for a game.
MLB.com

Nelson Cruz hit the 1st pitch he saw from knuckleballer Tim Wakefield and the result was a 10-9 walk-off victory by the Rangers over the Red Sox in 11 innings. Cruz delivered the win, but Josh Hamilton put on a show, helping to rally the Rangers from a 6-run deficit as they continue their march toward the AL West title. They lead the Angels by 8 1/2 games.
MLB.com
Blue Jays 3, Angels 0: How sweet it was for Marc Rzepczynski. Rzepczynski, a former prep star in Orange County, returned home to shut down the Angels with a 2-hitter in 7 innings. He struck out 6.

The Rangers and Yankees engaged in another dandy tonight in the heat and heart of Texas.
Fortunately for Angel fans, the Yankees wiped out a 6-1 deficit and prevailed in a 7-6 victory, allowing them to split the 2 games between the clubs.
In Anaheim today, the Angels got a walk-off homer by Bobby Abreu for a 2-1 victory over the Royals in 10 innings. Jered Weaver and Zack Greinke had a classic duel, but neither figured in the decision.
The victory pulled the Angels to within 7 1/2 games of the Rangers.
MLB.com

At this rate, the Angels’ season could be toast before the end of the month.
With hope renewed after they took 2 of 3 from the division-leading Rangers last weekend, the Angels fell face 1st in Baltimore, where they stumbled and got swept by the O’s.
The latest setback was a 5-4 decision Thursday, when light-hitting Cesar Izturis drilled a single up the middle to score Corey Patterson for the game-winner in the 9th inning, keeping Manager Buck Showalter, vacationing again from his ESPN gig, undefeated in his new line of work.
Dan Haren, winless as an Angel, got tagged for 4 runs, but didn’t figure in the decision.
Torii Hunter provided one of the few highlights from the Orange County crew, delivering a 3-run homer in the 8th to tie the score at 4.

Jered Weaver’s 4-hitter allowed the Angels to take 2 of 3 in their series against the AL West-leading Rangers in a 4-1 win today in Anaheim. Still, it left them 8 games back.
O.C. Register

The Padres made one of the biggest statements today by fleecing the Cardinals for Ryan Ludwick, particularly if they happen to face off in the playoffs. The Yankees? Well, it’s the Yankees. They can buy whatever they need. As Dick Enberg told me recently, the Padres shop at Wal-Mart and the Yankees at Nordstrom.
Still, a few teams got some bargains. The Rangers were another one of them, meaning the Angels, despite grabbing Dan Haren, might be caught short. The Dodgers? Do we really have to go there again?
ESPN.com

Vladimir Guerrero has been a nightmare for the Angels. He has hit 5 of his 21 homers against his former mates and the one tonight cost them in a 2-1 victory by the Rangers.
O.C. Register

The AL West-leading Rangers are in town for another 3-game series with the Angels. This one is crucial for the Anaheim crew since it trails Texas by 9 games. A sweep by the Rangers, who added Jorge Cantu’s nice bat, would bury the Angels and put them in critical condition.
Dallas Morning News

First baseman Derrek Lee says he would rather remain with the punk-ass Cubs instead of accepting a trade to the Angels. Apparently, he doesn’t want to jump from one sinking ship to another one.
This might be a good thing for the Angels. Lee has struggled this season, managing only 11 home runs and 44 RBIs.
A former batting champ, Lee is hitting only .241.
ESPN Chicago

It didn’t help either that they got beat by former ace and noted red neck John Lackey. The Angels are reeling in a major way after dropping a 4-2 decision Tuesday night to the Red Sox, losing 6 of their last 7 and fell 8 1/2 games back of the 1st-place Rangers.
Keep this up and that Dan Haren trade won’t even matter this season. Though the bullpen failed them again tonight, the Angels biggest problem is generating offense. Maybe a big back before the trade deadline? Adam Dunn?
O.C. Register
Rangers 3, A’s 1 (10 innings): Another superb outing by Cliff Lee helped the Rangers overcome the A’s. But it was Nelson Cruz who delivered a walk-off homer to lift the Rangers to their 9th win in 12 games since the All-Star break.
Lee struck out 13 on a 5-hitter in 9 innings.
MLB.com