I will have my commentary on this game posted shortly, but wasn’t that a great win to start the season? Complete game shutout by Kevin Milwood. A Grand Slam from each side of the plate for Mark Teixeira. Great start to the season! Here we come, AL West title!
(For those of you who don’t regularly read my site and seeing this on an RSS feed or something, I’m working up a new publishing template for the 2006 season for my site, and needed a placeholder, – this is of course a fictional update.)
Here is the remainder of my coverage for this game:
G1: Apr 3, 2006 vs. Red Sox (W: 15-0)
1-0 (1.000) – 1st – 1Up – Streak W1
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News Coverage
Dallas Morning News Coverage: #1 | #2 | #3
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Texas Rangers/MLB.Com News Coverage: #1
Photos
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Game Recap
ARLINGTON, Texas (Ticker) — Garret Anderson may be finding his stroke at the right time.
Anderson homered for the second straight game as the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim jumped out to an early lead and held on for a 7-6 victory over the Texas Rangers .
With the win, the Angels kept alive their hopes for home-field advantage in the American League Division Series. Anaheim needs a win Sunday coupled with a loss by New York to clinch the AL’s second seed.
“It’s significant, but it’s not the end all,” Angels manager Mike Scioscia said of earning home-field advantage in the first round. “In 2002, we went through the first two series without home-field, lost the first game of both series and ended up winning the World Series. There’s no magic formula that says you have to have home- field.”
Anderson, bothered by knee problems during the second half and a sore back for the past month, entered Friday’s contest in a 1-for-19 tailspin but hit a three-run homer in the 7-1 triumph.
“In his last four or five at-bats he’s looked very, very comfortable,” Scioscia said. “That’s something we hope will keep going.”
The lefthanded hitter drilled his 17th homer Saturday, a two-run shot during a four-run first, doubled and scored in the fourth and singled in the sixth.
Anderson said he’s concentrating on good at-bats — not just getting hits.
“If you’re going to measure me by getting hits, then yeah,” he said about finding his groove. “But I’ve got to continue to take good swings. It doesn’t really matter what the production is. I don’t analyze everything I do.”
The Angels jumped to a commanding 6-1 lead through four innings, but the Rangers struck back on a three-run homer by Alfonso Soriano in the sixth.
With Texas trailing, 6-5, with runners on second and third and two outs in the seventh, Soriano was struck out looking by Scot Shields (10-11). The sixth of seven pitchers, Shields pitched 1 1/3 scoreless innings for the win.
The Rangers pulled within 7-6 when Mark Teixeira tripled in a run with one out against Anaheim closer Francisco Rodriguez in the ninth. But the righthander did not unravel, getting Hank Blalock and Soriano on ground outs for his 44th save.
Jarrod Washburn started and pitched just two innings in a playoff tuneup for the Angels.
“I got everything accomplished in two innings that I wanted to,” Washburn said.
Scioscia said that was the plan going in.
“We’ve talked about Jarrod’s elbow for the last month or so,” he said. “There was no need to risk setting himself back. There was nothing positive to come out of him continuing to pitch.
“At the cost of losing two or three of these guys for the playoffs trying to win this weekend, that doesn’t make a lot of sense. Obviously we’re trying to win every game, but we’re going to have to do it with our depth.”
Juan Dominguez (4-6) did not get out of the first inning for Texas, yielding four runs and six hits while recording just two outs.
Game Recap #2
ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Los Angeles Angels manager Mike Scioscia isn’t overly concerned about getting home-field advantage in the first round of the playoffs.
Still, the Angels, who won the World Series in 2002 despite not having the home-field edge in the first two rounds, preserved the chances for this year with a 7-6 win Saturday night against the Texas Rangers.
“Home field is significant” Scioscia said. “But it’s not the end all. There’s no magic formula that says you have to have home field.”
The Angels (94-67) got homers from Garret Anderson, Orlando Cabrera and Juan Rivera to stay a game behind AL East champion New York (95-66) for the league’s second-best record.
If Los Angeles wins Sunday and the Yankees lose at Boston, the Angles would have the home-field advantage over New York in the first round because they won the season series 6-4.
In addition to the three home runs Saturday, the Angels got some clutch relief pitching late as they almost blew a five-run lead.
Scot Shields (10-11) pitched 1 1-3 innings of scoreless relief to help Los Angeles win for the 13th time in 15 games.
Francisco Rodriguez then escaped a jam in the ninth to pick up his 44th save in 49 chances. He’s converted 17 straight chances.
With the loss, Texas (79-82) has posted five losing seasons in the past six years.
Mark Teixeira’s RBI triple off Rodriguez in the ninth made it 7-6, but Rodriguez got Alfonso Soriano to ground out to end the game.
Los Angeles used seven pitchers as starter Jarrod Washburn only lasted two innings.
“We may have given our bullpen a little too much work,” Scioscia said. “But (Saturday) was the day needed to pitch and they did a good job.”
Los Angeles played without outfielder Vladimir Guerrero, who was given the night off. Scioscia said before the game that the 2004 AL MVP will play Sunday.
Soriano hit a three-run homer in the sixth to bring Texas within 6-4, but he also struck out against Shields with runners on second and third and two outs in the seventh.
Jason Botts led off the seventh with a single and Michael Young walked one out later. After Teixeira struck out, Hank Blalock had an RBI double off Jason Christiansen that cut Los Angeles’ lead to 6-5 before Shields fanned Soriano.
Washburn threw two perfect innings before being relieved by Kevin Gregg to start the third. Scioscia said the plan was to limit Washburn, who has been plagued by arm problems this season and went on the disabled list in August with a sore left elbow.
“I got everything accomplished in two innings that I wanted to do,” Washburn said. “That’s all I needed to do to get ready for the playoffs, in whatever capacity I’ll be helping the team.”
Anderson, who had three hits, hit a two-run homer in the first to highlight a four-run first off Texas starter Juan Dominguez. Dominguez (4-6) gave up four runs in a career-low two-thirds of an inning.
“Juan came out flat and he didn’t have a sense of urgency,” Texas manager Buck Showalter said. “It’s a tough way for him to end the season.”
Cabrera homered leading off the fifth and Rivera added a solo shot in the eighth.
After Anderson’s homer, Casey Kotchman added an RBI single to make it 4-0.
The Angels then loaded the bases off Dominguez. Texas manager Buck Showalter went to the bullpen and replaced Dominguez with Erasmo Ramirez.
“I was surprised when he took me out,” Dominguez said through a translator. “I felt like I was getting a better feel of what was going on.”
After Cabrera led off the fourth with a home run, Darin Erstad had an RBI single to give Los Angeles a 6-1 cushion.
Notes
Figgins set an Angels record for hits by a switch-hitter with 185. Johnny Ray had the previous mark with 184 in 1988. … Texas’ Michael Young, who leads the AL in batting average, went hitless for a second straight game after hitting in 25 straight games.
Box Score
ML FINAL 11 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 - - - - - - - - - TEXAS 0 0 0 0 4 0 0 0 0 CINCINNATI 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 10 11 R H E -- -- - - - TEXAS 0 0 4 6 0 CINCINNATI 0 1 5 14 1 (FINAL 11) BATTERIES: TEX - KENNY ROGERS, FRANK FRANCISCO (7TH), CARLOS ALMANZAR (8TH), BRIAN SHOUSE (8TH), FRANCISCO CORDERO (8TH), ERASMO RAMIREZ (10TH), DOUG BROCAIL (11TH) AND ROD BARAJAS CIN - JUNG BONG, MIKE MATTHEWS (7TH), DANNY GRAVES (9TH), TODD JONES (11TH) AND JASON LARUE WP - TODD JONES (5-1) LP - ERASMO RAMIREZ (3-3) SAVE - NONE HOME RUNS: TEX - ALFONSO SORIANO (9) OFF JUNG BONG IN THE 5TH, 2 ON HERBERT PERRY (5) OFF JUNG BONG IN THE 5TH, 0 ON CIN - NONE TIME: 3:45 ATT: 36,501 PROBABLES: TEX - NICK BIERBRODT (NR) CIN - PAUL WILSON (7-0, 3.18) Box Score TEXAS (4) VS CINCINNATI (5) - FINAL IN 11 INNINGS TEXAS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg E Young cf-lf-cf 3 1 2 0 2 0 0 .319 M Young ss 5 0 0 0 0 1 6 .326 A Soriano 2b 5 1 2 3 0 2 0 .294 M Teixeira 1b-rf 4 0 0 0 1 0 0 .235 H Perry 3b 4 1 1 1 0 1 3 .253 C Almanzar p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 B Shouse p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 J Conti cf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .000 E Ramirez p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 B Fullmer 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .231 K Mench lf 4 0 0 0 0 0 3 .267 F Cordero p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 D Dellucci lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .280 R Barajas c 5 0 1 0 0 0 1 .278 G Matthews Jr rf 3 0 0 0 2 1 1 .277 D Brocail p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 K Rogers p 3 1 0 0 0 2 2 .000 F Francisco p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 H Blalock 3b 2 0 0 0 0 1 1 .290 Totals 40 4 6 4 5 9 17 BATTING: 2B - E Young (6, J Bong). HR - A Soriano (9, 5th inning off J Bong 2 on, 1 Out), H Perry (5, 5th inning off J Bong 0 on, 2 Out). RBI - A Soriano 3 (37), H Perry (16). 2-out RBI - H Perry. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - K Mench 2, M Young 1. GIDP - K Rogers. Team LOB - 8. BASERUNNING: SB - G Matthews Jr (1, 2nd base off J Bong/J LaRue). FIELDING: Outfield assists - E Young (J LaRue at Home), G Matthews Jr (K Griffey Jr at Home). CINCINNATI ab r h rbi bb so lob avg R Freel 2b 4 0 1 0 2 1 2 .245 B Larkin ss 5 1 2 1 0 0 2 .295 S Casey 1b 5 0 0 1 0 0 1 .363 K Griffey Jr cf 4 1 2 1 1 1 0 .262 W Pena rf 3 0 1 1 0 1 0 .272 M Matthews p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 a-B Larson ph 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .227 b-J Cruz ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .254 D Graves p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 c-F Lopez ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .171 T Jones p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 A Dunn lf 5 1 3 0 0 1 0 .267 J LaRue c 4 1 3 1 0 0 0 .237 T Hummel 3b 3 0 1 0 0 1 2 .222 J Bong p 2 0 0 0 0 1 2 .000 J Clark rf 2 1 1 0 0 1 1 .167 Totals 39 5 14 5 3 7 12 a-hit for W Pena in the 8th; b-fouled out to left for B Larson in the 8th; c-grounded to shortstop for D Graves in the 10th. BATTING: 2B - B Larkin (9, K Rogers); K Griffey Jr (15, K Rogers); T Hummel (3, K Rogers); A Dunn (11, F Cordero). S - T Hummel 2, B Larkin. RBI - K Griffey Jr (50), W Pena (15), S Casey (48), J LaRue (20), B Larkin (24). 2-out RBI - K Griffey Jr, W Pena. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - J Cruz 1, B Larkin 1, R Freel 1. Team LOB - 11. BASERUNNING: Picked Off - W Pena (1st base, K Rogers). FIELDING: E - T Hummel (3, ground ball). DP: 1 (J Bong-B Larkin-R Freel). ---------------------------------------------------- TEXAS - 000 040 000 00 -- 4 CINCINNATI - 200 000 011 01 -- 5 One out when winning run scored. ---------------------------------------------------- TEXAS ip h r er bb so hr era K Rogers 6 6 2 2 0 5 0 3.71 F Francisco (H, 2) 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 3.37 C Almanzar (H, 9) 1/3 1 1 1 1 0 0 2.90 B Shouse (H, 3) 1/3 0 0 0 1 0 0 2.00 F Cordero (B, 1) 1 1/3 2 1 1 1 1 0 2.08 E Ramirez (L, 3-3) 1 1/3 3 1 1 0 0 0 4.87 D Brocail 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 14.14 CINCINNATI ip h r er bb so hr era J Bong 6 5 4 4 4 6 2 7.71 M Matthews 2 0 0 0 0 1 0 3.29 D Graves 2 1 0 0 0 2 0 3.37 T Jones (W, 5-1) 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 3.69 D Brocail pitched to 2 batters in the 11th. WP - J Bong. IBB - K Griffey Jr (by B Shouse). HBP - J LaRue (by K Rogers); J Clark (by E Ramirez). Pitches-strikes: K Rogers 94-59; F Francisco 12-7; C Almanzar 9-3; B Shouse 9-3; F Cordero 26-18; E Ramirez 26-17; D Brocail 8-5; J Bong 105-61; M Matthews 24-16; D Graves 22-15; T Jones 20-13. Ground balls-fly balls: K Rogers 5-6; F Francisco 0-2; C Almanzar 1-0; B Shouse 1-0; F Cordero 1-2; E Ramirez 3-0; D Brocail 0-0; J Bong 7-6; M Matthews 4-1; D Graves 0-4; T Jones 0-3. Batters faced: K Rogers 23; F Francisco 3; C Almanzar 3; B Shouse 2; F Cordero 7; E Ramirez 7; D Brocail 2; J Bong 28; M Matthews 6; D Graves 7; T Jones 4. UMPIRES: HP--Mike Winters. 1B--Hunter Wendelstedt. 2B--Tim Timmons. 3B--Bruce Froemming. T--3:45. Att--36,501. Weather: 75 degrees, rain. Wind: 5 mph, out to right.
Game Log
Top 1st: LA Angels
– C. Figgins singled to center
– C. Figgins stole second
– O. Cabrera reached on bunt single to third, C. Figgins scored, O. Cabrera to third on H. Blalock’s throwing error
– G. Anderson homered to deep right, O. Cabrera scored
– J. Rivera struck out swinging
– D. Erstad doubled to left
– B. Molina walked
– C. Kotchman singled to right center, D. Erstad scored, B. Molina to second
– S. Finley flied out to center
– A. Kennedy singled to right, B. Molina to third, C. Kotchman to second
– E. Ramirez relieved J. Dominguez
– C. Figgins popped out to shortstop
4 runs, 6 hits, 1 errors
LA Angels 4, Texas 0
Bottom 1st: Texas
– G. Matthews Jr. flied out to deep center
– M. Young grounded out to shortstop
– M. Teixeira grounded out to third
0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors
LA Angels 4, Texas 0
Top 2nd: LA Angels
– O. Cabrera struck out swinging
– G. Anderson struck out swinging
– J. Rivera singled to right
– D. Erstad grounded out to second
0 runs, 1 hits, 0 errors
LA Angels 4, Texas 0
Bottom 2nd: Texas
– H. Blalock grounded out to first
– A. Soriano struck out swinging
– K. Mench grounded out to first
0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors
LA Angels 4, Texas 0
Top 3rd: LA Angels
– B. Molina grounded out to third
– C. Kotchman walked
– S. Finley singled to left, C. Kotchman to second
– A. Kennedy grounded out to first, C. Kotchman to third, S. Finley to second
– C. Figgins grounded out to third
0 runs, 1 hits, 0 errors
LA Angels 4, Texas 0
Bottom 3rd: Texas
– K. Gregg relieved J. Washburn
– R. Barajas doubled to deep center
– M. DeRosa safe at first on shortstop O. Cabrera’s fielding error, R. Barajas to third
– J. Botts struck out looking
– G. Matthews Jr. singled to center, R. Barajas scored, M. DeRosa to second
– M. Young grounded into double play shortstop to second to first, G. Matthews Jr. out at second
1 runs, 2 hits, 1 errors
LA Angels 4, Texas 1
Top 4th: LA Angels
– D. Brocail relieved E. Ramirez
– O. Cabrera homered to deep left center
– G. Anderson doubled to deep right
– J. Rivera grounded out to first, G. Anderson to third
– D. Erstad singled to left, G. Anderson scored
– B. Molina lined out to right
– C. Kotchman grounded out to pitcher
2 runs, 3 hits, 0 errors
LA Angels 6, Texas 1
Bottom 4th: Texas
– M. Teixeira struck out swinging
– H. Blalock flied out to right
– A. Soriano singled to center
– K. Mench grounded out to second
0 runs, 1 hits, 0 errors
LA Angels 6, Texas 1
Top 5th: LA Angels
– S. Finley struck out looking
– A. Kennedy popped out to shortstop
– C. Figgins tripled to deep right center
– O. Cabrera struck out swinging
0 runs, 1 hits, 0 errors
LA Angels 6, Texas 1
Bottom 5th: Texas
– E. Yan relieved K. Gregg
– R. Barajas singled to center
– M. DeRosa struck out swinging
– J. Botts struck out swinging
– G. Matthews Jr. walked, R. Barajas to second
– M. Young grounded out to second
0 runs, 1 hits, 0 errors
LA Angels 6, Texas 1
Top 6th: LA Angels
– G. Anderson singled to center
– J. Rivera popped out to shallow right
– D. Erstad grounded into fielder’s choice, G. Anderson out at second
– B. Molina flied out to right
0 runs, 1 hits, 0 errors
LA Angels 6, Texas 1
Bottom 6th: Texas
– M. Teixeira doubled to left
– H. Blalock walked
– A. Soriano homered to deep left, H. Blalock and M. Teixeira scored
– K. Mench flied out to center
– R. Barajas struck out swinging
– M. DeRosa struck out looking
3 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors
LA Angels 6, Texas 4
Top 7th: LA Angels
– C.J. Wilson relieved D. Brocail
– C. Kotchman grounded out to second
– S. Finley grounded out to shortstop
– R. Quinlan hit for A. Kennedy
– R. Quinlan safe at first on second baseman A. Soriano’s fielding error
– R. Quinlan to second on balk
– C. Figgins walked
– O. Cabrera grounded into fielder’s choice, C. Figgins out at second
0 runs, 0 hits, 1 errors
LA Angels 6, Texas 4
Bottom 7th: Texas
– C. Figgins at second
– M. Izturis at shortstop
– J. DaVanon in left field
– J. Molina catching
– R. Quinlan at third
– B. Donnelly relieved E. Yan
– J. Botts singled to right
– G. Matthews Jr. fouled out to third
– M. Young walked, J. Botts to second
– M. Teixeira struck out swinging
– J. Christiansen relieved B. Donnelly
– H. Blalock doubled to deep right, J. Botts scored, M. Young to third
– S. Shields relieved J. Christiansen
– A. Soriano struck out looking
1 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors
LA Angels 6, Texas 5
Top 8th: LA Angels
– J. Wasdin relieved C.J. Wilson
– J. DaVanon flied out to left
– J. Rivera homered to deep right
– D. Erstad popped out to shortstop
– J. Molina flied out to right
1 runs, 1 hits, 0 errors
LA Angels 7, Texas 5
Bottom 8th: Texas
– K. Mench grounded out to shortstop
– R. Barajas flied out to right
– M. DeRosa singled to center
– D. Dellucci hit for J. Botts
– D. Dellucci struck out looking
0 runs, 1 hits, 0 errors
LA Angels 7, Texas 5
Top 9th: LA Angels
– D. Dellucci at designated hitter
– B. Shouse relieved J. Wasdin
– C. Kotchman grounded out to pitcher
– S. Finley singled to shortstop
– S. Finley caught stealing, catcher to second
– R. Quinlan grounded out to second
0 runs, 1 hits, 0 errors
LA Angels 7, Texas 5
Bottom 9th: Texas
– F. Rodriguez relieved S. Shields
– G. Matthews Jr. tripled to deep center
– M. Young popped out to center
– M. Teixeira tripled to deep right, G. Matthews Jr. scored
– H. Blalock grounded out to second
– A. Soriano grounded out to third
1 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors
LA Angels 7, Texas 6
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