ARLINGTON, Tex. (Aug 14) \u2014 The Texas Rangers<\/a> trounced the Los Angeles Angels<\/a>, 12\u20130, on Monday night in front of a crowd of 27,743 at Globe Life Field. A three-run blast late in the game by Adolis Garcia<\/strong><\/a> was just one of many key moments that propelled the Rangers to the win in the series opener. The first-place Rangers hold a 3.5 game lead in the AL West over the Houston Astros<\/a>, who lost to the Miami Marlins<\/a> earlier in the evening, 5\u20131. The middle game of this three-game set is on Tuesday at 7:05 pm Central. Right-hander Lucas Giolito<\/strong><\/a> (7\u20138, 4.37 ERA) will get the start for the Angels. The Rangers will counter with lefty Jordan Montgomery<\/strong><\/a> (7\u201310, 3.38 ERA).<\/p>\n The Rangers got their offense rolling in the bottom of the second. Robbie Grossman<\/strong><\/a> scored on a single to center by Marcus Semien<\/a><\/strong>. Grossman reached on a walk earlier in the inning. In the bottom of the third, outfielder J.P Martinez \u2014 who made his major league debut against the San Francisco Giants<\/a> on August 11 \u2014 hit a sacrifice fly to center that allowed Garcia to score. Two batters latter, Mitch Garver<\/strong><\/a> scored on a bases-loaded walk to Marcus Semien. Later in the inning, the Rangers extended their lead to 5\u20130 on a wild pitch to Corey Seager<\/strong><\/a> by Angels reliever Griffin Canning<\/strong><\/a> that brought home Ezequiel Duran<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n The score remained 5\u20130 until the bottom of the sixth. A double to left by Garver plated Seager to give the Rangers a comfortable 6\u20130 lead. They broke it open to 9\u20130 in the bottom of the seventh. With Grossman and Martinez on base with a double and a single, respectively, Semien launched one over the wall in center. It was his 19th homer of the year. It was also his fifth RBI of the evening. Three batters later, Garcia belted a two-run home run to center with Nathaniel Lowe<\/a><\/strong> on base to make it 11\u20130. It was the 30th long ball for Garcia this season and also marks the second 30-homer season of his young career.<\/p>\n The Rangers got one more in the bottom of the eighth. Martinez raced home on a double to left by Leody Taveras<\/strong><\/a> to put the finishing touches on this statement game.<\/p>\nFive RBI Night for Semien<\/h4>\n
One-Hitter<\/h4>\n