Rangers 10, Angels 3
ANAHEIM, Calif. -- Leonys Martin and Elvis Andrus combined for five hits, five runs and six stolen bases, leading the Texas Rangers to a 10-3 win over the Los Angeles Angels on Wednesday that completed a three-game sweep.
In all, the Rangers had seven stolen bases (three each from Martin and Andrus, one from Craig Gentry) and 16 hits, and they moved into a first-place tie with the Oakland A's in the American League West.
Martin and Andrus wreaked havoc on Angels pitching from the top of the order, each getting two stolen bases in the first inning alone. It all came one night after the Rangers had six stolen bases, including three from Martin and two from Andrus. Martin now has 26 stolen bases this season, Andrus 30.
Unlike Tuesday night, when all 12 of the Rangers' hits were singles, Texas mixed in some extra-base hits Wednesday, getting doubles from Martin, Andrus and David Murphy and a home run from Adrian Beltre. Beltre had three hits, scored four times and drove in three.
Rangers starter Alexi Ogando (5-3) lasted just five innings but kept the Angels offense in check. He allowed only two runs on four hits, both runs coming in on a two-run homer by Mike Trout in the first inning. Ogando recorded his first win since May 15.
Angels starter Tommy Hanson's struggles continued, as he gave up five runs and seven hits in 4 2/3 innings. He is winless since June 15.
The Rangers took a 1-0 lead in the first inning without the benefit of a hit. They did, however, steal four bases in the inning. Mitch Moreland drove in the run with a sacrifice fly.
The Angels responded with two runs in the first, both coming on Trout's 20th home run of the season. With the blast, Trout, who turned 22 Wednesday, became the first player in major league history to hit a home run on both his 21st and 22nd birthdays.
The Rangers regained the lead with three runs in the fourth inning to go up 4-2. They had four hits in the inning, including a double by Martin to get things started, and RBI singles from Ian Kinsler and Moreland. Texas scored another run in the fifth inning to go up 5-2, knocking Hanson out of the game.
NOTES: With 77 career stolen bases though Tuesday, Trout joined Rickey Henderson and Ty Cobb as the only players in major league history to have 75 or more stolen bases before the age of 22. The first-inning home run Wednesday extended Trout's streak of reaching base safely to 38 consecutive games. ... Angels 2B Howie Kendrick's sprained left knee is feeling better. Kendrick, who was hurt in a collision with RF Collin Cowgill on Monday, had his knee wrapped but was in uniform and walking without crutches. ... Andrus has been successful on 14 consecutive steal attempts and has been successful on 91 percent of his steal attempts this season (30 steals in 33 attempts). This year he became the first player in Rangers history to have five consecutive seasons with at least 20 steals. ... Rangers DH Lance Berkman might begin a rehab assignment this weekend. He has been on the disabled list since July 7 because of left hip inflammation. ... Texas LHP Matt Harrison will make a rehab start for Triple-A Round Rock on Friday. It'll be the third rehab start for Harrison, who is recovering from surgery to repair a herniated disk in his back and has been out since April.
