The Texas Rangers defeated the visiting Los Angeles Angels 8-3 on Tuesday night, extending the Angels’ losing streak to seven games, their longest of the season. Alejandro Osuna’s three-run homer during a five-run eighth inning propelled the Rangers to pull away for the victory at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas.
Osuna’s home run was his first of the season and came after RBI singles by Ezequiel Duran and Justin Foscue in a six-hit eighth inning against Angels pitcher Sam Bachman (1-2). Foscue also hit a pinch-hit solo home run in the seventh inning to tie the score 3-3. Rookie Peyton Gray (4-0) secured the win by pitching a scoreless eighth inning.
With the win, the Rangers narrowed the gap to just half a game behind the American League West-leading Seattle Mariners. The Angels, currently in last place in the division, have now lost seven consecutive games, matching their longest streak of the year.
Texas starter Jacob deGrom exited the game after five innings, having thrown 80 pitches, due to tightness in his left hip and leg. DeGrom reported feeling occasional tightness in the area between starts that typically resolves itself, but this time the discomfort persisted, preventing him from throwing his changeup effectively and worsening in the fifth inning. He expects to be available for his next start. DeGrom allowed two runs in the first inning, both with two outs, on a double by Jorge Soler that bounced off the left-field wall and a single by Josh Lowe following a wild pitch. After that shaky start, deGrom settled down and allowed only three more hits and two walks through five innings. Over 18 starts this season, deGrom’s earned run average (ERA) stands at 9.50 in the first inning, dropping to 2.29 in subsequent innings.
On the Angels’ side, José Soriano pitched six innings and yielded just two hits while issuing two walks in the second inning, where Texas tied the game at 2-2 on Nicky Lopez’s two-out opposite-field single following two walks. Soriano leads the American League with 51 walks this season but did not allow any additional free passes in Tuesday’s outing.
In the seventh inning, rookie Wade Meckler extended the Angels’ lead to 3-2 with an RBI single off Rangers reliever Chris Martin, but Foscue’s ensuing home run off Tayler Saucedo erased the lead for Texas. Earlier in the season, the Angels had swept the Rangers in their first three meetings.