SB Nation Los Angeles - Big Bad Vladdy: Two-Run Home Run By Guerrero Haunts Old Mateshttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48949/la-fave.png2010-07-31T22:08:56-07:00http://losangeles.sbnation.com/rss/stream/13629812010-07-31T22:08:56-07:002010-07-31T22:08:56-07:00Rangers Defeat Angels 2-1
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<p>Anaheim, CA (Sports Network) – Vladimir Guerrero’s two-run homer in the fourth inning was enough against his former team as the AL West-leading Rangers edged the Angels, 2-1, in the middle installment of a three-game series.</p>
<p>Nelson Cruz extended his career-high hitting streak to 19 games as Texas, despite playing without major league-leading hitter Josh Hamilton, bounced back from a 9-7 defeat on Friday. Hamilton was out because of patella tendinitis in his right knee.</p>
<p>Rich Harden (4-3), activated off the disabled list earlier in the day, limited Los Angeles to one run on five hits over seven innings.</p>
<p>“They were aggressive and that was my plan, to go out there and throw strikes,” Harden said. “I was hitting my spots and I was happy with my pitch count.”</p>
<p>Dan Haren (0-2), making his second start with his new club, was charged with five hits, walked two and fanned six in a complete game effort. It was his second complete game of the season and 11th of his career, but he’s winless (0-6) over his last nine starts.</p>
<p>Howie Kendrick homered in the seventh inning for LA, which lost for the eighth time in 10 contests.</p>
<p>David Murphy walked to start the fourth inning and Guerrero homered on the first pitch to left-center for his 21st long ball of the year.</p>
<p>“The pitch was low, but it should have been more outside. It caught too much of the plate,” Haren said.</p>
<p>Erick Aybar struck out swinging to leave men at the corners in the bottom of the fifth. Hideki Matsui grounded out to strand a runner in scoring position in the LA sixth, but Kendrick homered to center with one out in the seventh. Mike Napoli doubled with two outs and Aybar was hit by a pitch, but Maicer Izturis grounded out to end the frame.</p>
<p>Frank Francisco retired the side in order in the eighth and Neftali Feliz did the same in the ninth for his 29th save.</p>
<p>Harden hadn’t pitched since June 11 due to a gluteal strain…To make room for Harden on the roster, Texas optioned pitcher Doug Mathis to Oklahoma City…Texas has prevailed in seven of the 11 meetings this season…Feliz has saved all 15 of his opportunities on the road…The Rangers acquired infielder Cristian Guzman from the Washington Nationals on Saturday. Texas also sent catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia to Boston in exchange for pitcher Roman Mendez, first baseman Chris McGuiness, a player to be named later and cash considerations.</p>
https://losangeles.sbnation.com/2010/7/31/1599288/rangers-defeat-angels-2-1Eric Stephen2010-07-31T16:15:05-07:002010-07-31T16:15:05-07:00Tonight's Angels-Rangers Lineups
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<p>Here are tonight’s lineups:</p>
<p><b>Rangers</b><br> Andrus SS<br> Young 3B<br> Hamilton LF<br> Guerrero DH<br> Cruz RF<br> Guzman 2B<br> Cantu 1B<br> Molina C<br> Borbon CF<br> Harden P</p>
<p><b>Angels</b><br> Aybar SS<br> Izturis 2B<br> Abreu RF<br> Hunter CF<br> Matsui DH<br> Callaspo 3B<br> Kendrick 1B<br> Rivera LF<br> Napoli C<br> Haren P</p>
https://losangeles.sbnation.com/2010/7/31/1598945/angels-rangers-lineupsEric Stephen2010-07-31T16:08:53-07:002010-07-31T16:08:53-07:00Haren Faces Harden As Angels Try To Inch Closer To Rangers
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<p>(Sports Network) - The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../mlb/teams/ANA">Los Angeles Angels</a> of Anaheim continue their quest to gain ground on the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../mlb/teams/TEX">Texas Rangers</a> as the top two teams in the AL West continue their three-game weekend series.</p>
<p>Newly-acquired <span>Dan Haren</span> will make his second start for Los Angeles this evening. The former Arizona hurler's first start ended early on Monday, as Haren was struck by a line drive on his right pitching forearm. He lasted 4 2/3 innings and allowed two earned runs on seven hits while striking out eight <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../mlb/teams/BOS">Red Sox</a>. Haren is a combined 7-9 this season with a 4.57 ERA, numbers less impressive than we are accustomed to seeing from the standout hurler.</p>
<p>In his career against Texas, Haren is 3-5 with a 4.29 ERA in 10 games.</p>
<p><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../mlb/players/71/Rich_Harden">Rich Harden</a> returns from a stint on the disabled list and will take the ball for Texas today. The hard-throwing righty has been on the DL since June 12 with a lower back injury, and he hopes to improve his 3-3 record and 5.68 ERA. Harden pitched six strong innings on Monday in his most recent rehab assignment.</p>
<p>Harden has yet to face the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/mlb/teams/ANA">Angels</a> this season and is 5-3 lifetime against the club with a 3.96 ERA.</p>
<p><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../mlb/players/1102/Juan_Rivera">Juan Rivera</a> had two hits yesterday, including a three-run homer, and the Angels overcame an early five-run deficit to beat the rival <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/mlb/teams/TEX">Rangers</a>, 9-7.</p>
<p>Rivera drove in four runs total for the Angels, who still trail the AL West- leading Rangers by eight games after snapping a four-game losing streak. <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../mlb/players/715/Erick_Aybar">Erick Aybar</a> also homered and drove in two runs, while <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../mlb/players/761/Alberto_Callaspo">Alberto Callaspo</a> went 2-for-4 with a pair of runs scored.</p>
<p><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../mlb/players/716/Ervin_Santana">Ervin Santana</a> (10-7) was the beneficiary of the support, getting the win despite allowing seven runs -- four earned -- on 10 hits and two walks in six innings. <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../mlb/players/561/Brian_Fuentes">Brian Fuentes</a> notched his 19th save.</p>
<p>"I felt like I had no command and no concentration, and I still came away with a win," Santana said. "Credit my teammates, offensively and defensively. That's a tough lineup, and I just tried to focus and get guys out."</p>
<p><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../mlb/players/137/Nelson_Cruz">Nelson Cruz</a> belted a solo homer, while <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../mlb/players/638/Vladimir_Guerrero">Vladimir Guerrero</a> and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../mlb/players/288/David_Murphy">David Murphy</a> each drove in a pair of runs for the Rangers, who have dropped two of three. <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../mlb/players/31582/Elvis_Andrus">Elvis Andrus</a> went 4-for-5 with an RBI and a pair of runs scored in defeat.</p>
<p><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../mlb/players/33942/Tommy_Hunter">Tommy Hunter</a> (8-1) dropped his first decision of the season, giving up eight runs, eight hits and a walk in three-plus frames.</p>
<p>"Tommy wasn't able to hit his spots," said Rangers manager Ron Washington. "He had trouble with his command. I wasn't expecting three innings out of him. We played well enough to win that game, but we couldn't stop them."</p>
<p>Infielder <span>Jorge Cantu</span>, who was acquired by Texas in a trade with Florida on Thursday, did not start. He did pinch-hit with two outs in the ninth and flied out.</p>
<p>Cruz extended his hit streak to 18 games.</p>
<p><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../mlb/players/440/Josh_Hamilton">Josh Hamilton</a> left late in the game due to tendinitis in his right knee, an ailment that has bothered him all season. His status for tonight's game is unknown.</p>
<p>Texas has prevailed in six of the 10 previous meetings between these AL West rivals, but is just 2-6 in its last seven visits to Angel Stadium.</p>
https://losangeles.sbnation.com/2010/7/31/2318694/haren-faces-harden-as-angels-try-to-inch-closer-to-rangersEric Stephen