Angels Vs. Rangers: Texas Rallies For Win In Opener, Garrett Richards Leaves Game In First With Groin Strain

The Los Angeles Angels lost the opener of a four-game series to the Texas Rangers 8-4 on Monday night, but the news was even worse for the Halos. Starting pitcher Garrett Richards left the game with a right groin strain after facing just four batters, putting the Angels in a bind all game.The Angels are now five games behind the Rangers in the American League West.

Texas rallied for six runs in the fifth inning to put the game away. Ian Kinsler had four hits for the Rangers, including a single in the fifth, and scored on a two-run single by Michael Young, which gave Texas a 5-1 lead. Rich Thompson then allowed home runs to Nelson Cruz and former Angel Mike Napoli.

Russell Branyan hit a two-run pinch home run in the bottom of the seventh inning to pull the Angels within 8-4, but they couldn't get any closer. Torii Hunter singled to extend his hitting streak to a season-high 13 games.

Richards will undergo tests on Tuesday to determine the severity of his groin injury, but regardless of that it seems the Angels might need to make a roster move to bolster the bullpen. Joel Pineiro had his finest outing since being removed from the starting rotation, pitching three scoreless innings with three strikeouts. The Angels used four relievers to collect the final 25 outs of the game.

For more news and information on the Angels, or on Monday's game, be sure to read Halos Heaven.

The showdown in Anaheim between the Los Angeles Angels and Texas Rangers begins Monday night. Texas leads the division by four games over the Angels, who will send rookie Garrett Richards to the mound in the opening game, making his second major league start. Here are Monday's starting lineups:

Rangers (69-52)

Kinsler 2B
Andrus SS
Hamilton CF
Young 3B
Cruz RF
Napoli C
Murphy LF
Torrealba DH
Moreland 1B

Alexi Ogando starts for the Rangers, making his third appearance against the Halos this season. Ogando pitched into the seventh inning allowing one run in a win in Texas on May 13, and he won again in Anaheim with eight shutout innings on July 19.

Angels (65-56)

Izturis 2B
Callaspo 3B
Abreu DH
Hunter RF
Trumbo 1B
Wells LF
Aybar SS
Bourjos CF
Wilson C

The Angels are 5-4 against the Rangers this season, including winning two of three in Anaheim. These two clubs play 10 times over the final 41 games of the season.

Monday's 7:05 p.m. game will be televised by KCOP. For more news and information on the Angels, or on Monday's game, be sure to read Halos Heaven.

The Los Angeles Angels and Texas Rangers will face each other 10 times in the final 41 games of the season, including a four-game series beginning Monday night in Anaheim. The Angels are four games behind the Rangers in the American League West. Here are the pitching matchups, game times, and television schedule for the four-game series in Anaheim:

Monday, 7:05 p.m. (KCOP) - Garrett Richards (0-1, 10.80 ERA, 8.61 FIP) vs. Alexi Ogando (11-5, 3.22 ERA, 3.46 FIP): Richards makes his second MLB start, and his first in front of the home crowd. Ogando has faced the Angels twice this season and allowed one total run.

Tuesday, 7:05 p.m. (Fox Sports West) - Tyler Chatwood (6-8, 4.07 ERA, 4.54 FIP) vs. Derek Holland (10-4, 4.30 ERA, 4.66 FIP): Chatwood allowed three runs in five innings in a loss to Texas on July 19.

Wednesday, 7:05 p.m. (Fox Sports West) - Ervin Santana (9-8, 3.10 ERA, 3.63 FIP) vs. C.J. Wilson (11-5, 3.28 ERA, 3.14 FIP): Santana, Mr. No-Hitter, has won six straight decisions and his shortest outing in his last four starts was 8 1/3 innings.

Thursday, 7:05 p.m. (Fox Sports West) - Jered Weaver (14-6, 2.13 ERA, 2.81 FIP) vs. Colby Lewis (11-8, 4.01 ERA, 4.10 FIP): Weaver allowed eight runs in his last start, matching the total for his previous seven starts combined.

For more news and information on the Angels, or on Monday's game, be sure to read Halos Heaven.