Rangers Take Series from Angels in Sunday Matinee

Photo by Sam Hodde/Getty Images

September 8, 2024

Rangers 7, Angels 4

ARLINGTON, Texas (Sep. 8) — The Texas Rangers secured their fourth straight series victory when they beat the Los Angeles Angels, 7–4, on Sunday afternoon with a rare open roof at Globe Life Field. Home runs by Marcus Semien and Nathaniel Lowe in the first set the tone in this Sunday matinee in front of a crowd of 32,240. With this four-game series and 10–game home stand in the rearview mirror, the Rangers will embark on a six-game road trip.

They’ll open a short two-game set Tuesday against the Arizona Diamondbacks, with first pitch scheduled for 6:40 pm Arizona time (8:40 pm Central) at Chase Field. It will be a duel of righties as Nathan Eovaldi (11–7, 3.55 ERA) will get the ball for the Rangers and Zac Gallen (11–6, 3.69 ERA) will take the hill for the Diamondbacks.

The Angels, meanwhile, will head north to begin a three-game series against the Minnesota Twins, beginning on Monday evening. First pitch is scheduled for 6:40 pm Central at Target Field. Left-hander Reid Detmers (3–6, 5.87 ERA) will toe the rubber for the Angels against Twins righty David Festa (2–5, 4.75 ERA).

Semien’s Leadoff Power

The Rangers put three in the run column in the top of the first against Angels starter Caden Dana. Semien led off with his 19th home run of the season, a solo shot to left-center. It was also the sixth leadoff dinger that Semien has hit this year. Josh Smith followed with a double to right. Two batters later, Lowe plated Smith with a two-run blast to right, his 12th of the season, extending the Rangers’ lead to 3–0.

They added on in the bottom of the second. Ezequiel Duran opened the frame with his third homer of the year, a solo shot to center. Carson Kelly and Travis Jankowski hit back-to-back singles to put pressure on Dana. Semien plated Kelly with a single to right, stretching the lead to 5–0.

Angels Close Gap

The Angels fought back in the top of the third against Rangers lefty Andrew Heaney. Taylor Ward drew a leadoff walk. Zach Neto moved him to third on a sharp double to left. Moments later, Charles Leblanc deposited one into the seats in left for his first home run of the season, making the score 5–3.

They cut the deficit to one run in the top of the seventh. Matt Thaiss reached on a fielding error on the left-field line by Wyatt Langford. It was originally ruled a foul ball, but the Angels challenged the call. The replay showed that Langford touched it with his glove over fair ground before it hit the ground in foul territory, making it a fair ball and putting Thaiss on second. After this occurred, Rangers manager Bruce Bochy brought in Jose Leclerc to relieve Heaney. Jordyn Adams flied to center, advancing Thaiss to third before a Michael Stefanic groundout to short brought Thaiss home.

The Rangers scored two insurance runs off reliever Ryan Miller in the bottom of the eighth. A leadoff single by Lowe set the table for Duran, who reached on a fielding error by Leblanc at third. Lowe advanced to third on the play. He was thrown out at home on a 6–2 fielder’s choice that allowed Carson Kelly to reach base. On deck was Jankowski, who singled to right and advanced to third on a throwing error by Adams in right. Duran was able to score on the single by Jankowski and the miscue by Adams.

Closer Kirby Yates walked and stranded Stefanic in the ninth en route to his 29th save of the season.

What Went Right for the Rangers

The Rangers did a little bit of everything in this contest. Semien, Lowe, and Duran all chipped in with their homers in the early innings. Semien also got another RBI base hit in the second. They also had the RBI single by Jankowski and the errors by the Angels as well. One of the things that the Rangers have been trying to do more of is score more runs early on, and Sunday was a step in the right direction.

What Went Wrong for the Rangers

One of the things that didn’t go the Rangers’ way was the three-run homer by Leblanc in the third. There was also the run that Thaiss scored in the seventh.

Milestone for Heaney

Rangers lefty Andrew Heaney made his 200th career appearance and 182nd start on Sunday. His final line was 4 R (3 ER), 6 IP, 3 H, 1 BB, 8 K, 91 pitches/61 strikes. He earned his fifth win of the season, first since July 21 against the Baltimore Orioles. Heaney did not allow a baserunner his first time through the Halos’ order, collecting four strikeouts over his first three frames before walking the leadoff man in the fourth.

Heaney returned to the mound for the seventh but exited after the leadoff batter reached on an error. He received five runs of support from the Rangers offense in this contest, eclipsing his run support total from his last seven starts. Heaney’s 1.05 runs of support per nine innings since July 31 was the second-lowest lowest qualified mark in the AL in that span. His record now sits at 5–13 with an ERA of 3.84.

Dana’s Afternoon

Angels starter Caden Dana took the loss after retiring three batters in his second career start. His line on the afternoon was 1 IP, 7 H, 5 R-ER, 1 BB, 1 K, 3 HR, 43 pitches/29 strikes. He matched the shortest outing, by innings pitched, for any Angels starting pitcher this season, and the three homers he allowed are also tied for the most by a Halos starter in 2024. He now owns a record of 1–1 with an ERA of 9.00.

Bochy’s Postgame Comments

One of the keys to this game was the run support that Heaney received. Bochy expressed his gratitude after the game. “It was really nice to get him some runs,” Bochy said. “Another great job by him. He gave us another Quality Start. The one pitch left the ballpark, but again, he’s done a terrific job every time out. He gives us a chance to win. I keep telling people not to let his record fool you. He’s been great for us all year.”

Heaney’s Postgame Comments

Heaney also made an appearance to reflect on the run support he received. “Very happy about that. Happy for those guys,” Heaney said. “I know it’s not intentional. I know those guys aren’t having a meeting about, ‘Hey, don’t forget. Heaney’s on the mound. Let’s not support him.’ I know it’s been trying for them.”