Ervin Santana managed to contain the hot-hitting Texas Rangers for four innings, even after being staked to a 2-0 lead in the first inning, but that all ended in the fifth, sixth and eighth innings. Texas scored a run in the fifth on a Josh Hamilton RBI single to center to score Elvis Andrus, tied the game in the 6th on Mitch Moreland’s 14th home run of the season, and took the lead when Ian Kinsler hit a bloop, two-out, bases loaded single to left to score Nelson Cruz and Mike Napoli. The Rangers had loaded the bases with none out before Santana struck out both Yorvit Torrealba and Endy Chavez before getting within one strike of ending the inning.
The Halo loss drops the club to 7 games behind the Rangers with just 38 remaining to play. It was also the Angels’ fifth loss in-a-row, while Texas has won 6 straight and 9 of 10.
Santana (9-9) went 7.2 innings, allowing 4 runs (3 earned) on 10 hits, while striking out four and walking four. The right-hander had won his last five decisions while compiling a stunning 0.84 ERA. However, with the exception of Andrus, each of the Ranger hitters were able to get at least one base hit. Andrus did walk twice in five plate appearances.
Ranger starter C.J. Wilson improved to 12-5 after holding the Angels to two runs (one earned) on five hits over 7 innings. Wilson allowed just one hit after Howie Kendrick’s two-out single in the third inning. The Texas lefty gave up two runs in the first when Peter Bourjos hit his league-leading (tied with Curtis Granderson) 9th triple of the season, and scored on Kendrick’s ground out. After Torii Hunter reached first on an Andrus error, Mark Trumbo doubled to deep center giving the Halos an early 2-0 lead.
Howie Kendrick brought the Angel to within one run with his 9th home run of the season in the eighth innings.
Torii Hunter extended his hitting streak to 15 games with a single in the sixth inning.