Rangers Vs. Angels Game Recap: Beltre's Eighth-Inning Home Run Gives Texas A 3-1 Win

Texas Rangers third baseman Adrian Beltre yanked a two-run home run in the top of the ninth inning, and the Rangers beat the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim 3-1 on Thursday night.

Beltre's bomb came as soon as an Angels pitcher made his first mistake of the night—the only mistake of the night—a 2-1 hanging slider that Ernesto Frieri left over the plate for Beltre to pull down the left-field line. It was the second batter the Rangers faced against a pitcher other than Zack Greinke; the first was Michael Young, who singled and scored on the home run.

Greinke went eight innings of one-run, five-hit ball. He struck out eight and walked no batters over 109 pitches.

Yu Darvish matched Greinke almost pitch for pitch, throwing eight one-run innings for the Rangers. He surrendered just four hits with nine strikeouts and one walks.

Texas took a 1-0 lead in the fifth inning. Nelson Cruz led off the inning with a single, was singled over to third on a David Murphy liner to center field, and Geovany Soto hit a sacrifice fly to right field to score the run. Torii Hunter's throw was spot on, but Cruz snuck in just behind the tag, swiping his back hand across the plate as his body slid past.

The Angels tied it in the bottom of the sixth when Hunter grounded into a one-out fielder's choice with runners on first and third. The chopped grounder to short wasn't hit hard enough for shortstop Elvis Andrus to turn the double play. Pinch runner Peter Bourjos scored from third.

Joe Nathan earned the save for the Rangers. He gave up a two-out double to Albert Pujols, but that was it.

The Rangers moved to 89-60 on the year and expanded their lead over the Oakland Athletics, who did not play Thursday, to four games. The Angels dropped to 81-69 and fell four games behind the Athletics and the Baltimore Orioles for a wild card spot.

Texas starts a three-game series at the Seattle Mariners on Friday night.

Talk about the game with Rangers fans at Lone Star Ball, and with Angels fans at Halos Heaven. Keep up with all things baseball at Baseball Nation.

Rangers Vs. Angels: Lineups And Starting Pitchers For Game 3

The Texas Rangers take on the Los Angeles Angels on Thursday night, with the three-game series currently tied, 1-1. They'll look to Yu Darvish (15-9, 4.02 ERA) to take the rubber game. He'll face off with Zack Greinke (14-5, 3.56) on the hill for Los Angeles.

The Rangers lineup:
1. Ian Kinsler - DH
2. Elvis Andrus - SS
3. Michael Young - 3B
4. Adrian Beltre - DH
5. Nelson Cruz - RF
6. David Murphy - LF
7. Geovany Soto - C
8. Mitch Moreland - 1B
9. Craig Gentry - CF

The Angels Lineup:
1. Mike Trout - CF
2. Torii Hunter - RF
3. Albert Pujols - 1B
4. Kendrys Morales - DH
5. Alberto Callaspo - 3B
6. Howie Kendrick - SS
7. Erick Aybar - SS
8. Mark Trumbo - LF
9. Chris Iannetta - C

Stick with this StoryStream for scores and more from the Rangers vs. Angels series. For more insight and analysis, check out Rangers blog Lone Star Ball. For the perspective from Los Angeles, check out Angels blog Halos Heaven.

Josh Hamilton Heads Back To Texas To Meet With Rangers Doctors

Texas Rangers all-star center fielder Josh Hamilton was scratched from the team's Thursday lineup and will not play Thursday, according to Dallas Morning News baseball columnist Evan Grant:

Josh Hamilton tried to go out for BP, but was still experiencing issues. Flying back to Texas to be examined by Rangers' doctors.

— Evan Grant (@Evan_P_Grant) September 21, 2012

Hamilton left Tuesday's game in the third inning with sinus symptoms, particularly blurred vision. He reportedly had a sinus MRI Wednesday that came back negative, and was a game-time decision for Thursday's game against the Angels.

Earlier this week, Hamilton told ESPN Dallas his problems are caused by a bug that everyone in his house has caught:

"Any time I get sick, it usually turns into a sinus infection," Hamilton said. "Sometimes it can cause me to be off-kilter, off-balance, but this is the first time it's caused me not to be able to focus the way I want to on the field. ... The more you run when you can't breathe as good, you get a little dizzy, a little thrown off. It just is what it is. I had the MRI just to make sure everything was good to go."

The Rangers close their series with the Angels on Thursday night and travel to Seattle for a three-game series against the Mariners starting Friday evening. There is no word yet from the club if Hamilton will meet them there.

Get all your Rangers news and notes at Lone Star Ball, and talk with Angels fans at Halos Heaven.

Rangers Vs. Angels: Game Time, TV Schedule And More

The Los Angeles Angels are running out of time, and the Texas Rangers would love nothing more than to dim the Angels' postseason hopes even further when the teams meet for the rubber match of their three-game set in Anaheim Thursday night.

The Rangers (15-9, 4.02 ERA) will send Yu Darvish to the mound to take on Zack Greinke (14-5, 3.56). Texas won 6-2 Wednesday night to go up by a likely-insurmountable 7.5 games over the third-place Angels. The Oakland Athletics are still in it in second place, four back of Texas, but the Wild Card is the likelier route for either Oakland or L.A. while Texas closes in on a third straight AL West title.

First pitch is scheduled for 9:05 p.m. CT. The game can be seen locally on Fox Sports Southwest.

Talk about the game with Rangers fans at Lone Star Ball, and with Angels fans at Halos Heaven. Keep up with all things baseball at Baseball Nation and be sure to check us out on YouTube:

Rangers Vs. Angels Game Recap: Texas Beats Anaheim 6-2

The Texas Rangers didn't waste anytime beating the Anaheim Angels 6-2 after exploding early to putting up the first three runs of the game.

The Rangers started things up with Ian Kinsler singling to left center field, then Elvis Andrus sent an RBI triple to deep center to put Texas up 1-0. Michael Young then added an RBI double into shallow right center put field to bring home Andrus. After two outs advanced Young, Mike Napoli had a double to bring him home and put Texas up 3-0 after the top of the 3rd inning.

Alberto Callaspo sent a two-run home run to deep left to cut Texas's lead to 3-2, but the Rangers had another fine response with another three run inning. A Young single to second base started the top of the 8th, and then Nelson Cruz put home a double that brought home Young. Geovany Soto put the game out of reach with a two-run home run later in the inning.

Derek Holland pitched six innings while giving up two earned runs and striking out four to end the game with the win for Texas.

Talk about the game with Rangers fans at Lone Star Ball, and with Angels fans at Halos Heaven.

Rangers Vs. Angels Starting Lineups: Hamilton, Beltre Out

The Texas Rangers are playing a crucial game on Wednesday night against the Los Angeles Angels, and will be without their top two players. Adrian Beltre and Josh Hamilton are both out tonight, replaced in the lineup by Mitch Moreland and Craig Gentry.

The Rangers have just a three-game lead over the Oakland A's for the top spot in the AL West, with the Angels three games back of Oakland.

Starting lineups for tonight:

Texas:

1. Ian Kinsler - 2B
2. Elvis Andrus - SS
3. Michael Young - 3B
4. Nelson Cruz - RF
5. David Murphy - LF
6. Mike Napoli - DH
7. Geovany Soto - C
8. Craig Gentry - CF
9. Mitch Moreland - 1B

Los Angeles:

1. Mike Trout - CF
2. Erick Aybar - SS
3. Albert Pujols - 1B
4. Torii Hunter - RF
5. Howard Kendrick - 2B
6. Vernon Wells - LF
7. Alberto Callaspo - 3B
8. Mark Trumbo - DH
9. Chris Iannetta - C

Read more about the Rangers at Lone Star Ball and SB Nation Dallas. Keep up with the latest on the playoff chase at Baseball Nation, and be sure to subscribe to SB Nation on YouTube.

Rangers Vs. Angels: Josh Hamilton, Adrian Beltre Out Of Wednesday Lineup

Texas Rangers outfielder Josh Hamilton and third baseman Adrian Beltre, will not play on Wednesday night against the Los Angeles Angels, per Jeff Wilson of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.

Hamilton has been bothered by vision problems, leaving Tuesday night's game with reported "sinus issues" although the team has said no sinus infection has been found. Per Wilson, the complaint is more about an inability to focus instead of blurred vision.

Beltre is reported out with an abdomen injury, although it is not related to the previous intestinal injury he suffered earlier this season.

Per Wilson:

Both MVP candidates have seen specialists today, and the Rangers are hopeful they will return for the finale Thursday. But general manager Jon Daniels also said that they won't know how serious the problems are until they get medical tests back.

The Rangers have just a three-game lead over the Oakland A's for home-field advantage in the AL.

Read more about the Rangers at Lone Star Ball and SB Nation Dallas. Keep up with the latest on the playoff chase at Baseball Nation, and be sure to subscribe to SB Nation on YouTube.

Rangers Vs. Angels: Game Time, TV Schedule And More

A day after Ryan Dempster imploded in the fourth inning, the Texas Rangers will try to regroup when they send Derek Holland to the mound against the Los Angeles Angels on Wednesday night.

Facing him will be an old friend, as the Rangers will see their former ace C.J. Wilson, who burned a lot of bridges in his way out of Arlington last winter.

For Holland, it's a chance to out-duel one of his mentors and prove he's ready to take a lead role in the playoff rotation. The 25 year-old has a 10-5 record and a 4.50 ERA on the season, while the 31 year-old Wilson has a 12-9 record and a 3.73 ERA in 2012.

The game has playoff implications for both teams. Texas is at 87-60, 3 games ahead of the Oakland A's for home-field advantage in the AL, while LA is at 81-67, 3 games behind Oakland, New York and Baltimore, who are all tied for the wild card lead.

Read more about the Rangers at Lone Star Ball and SB Nation Dallas. Keep up with the latest on the playoff chase at Baseball Nation, and be sure to subscribe to SB Nation on YouTube.

2012 MLB Standings: Rangers Still Lead In AL West

A blowout loss to the Los Angeles Angels on Tuesday only brought the Halos to within 6½ games of the AL West-leading Texas Rangers with the season drawing to a close in two weeks, but the Oakland Athletics still lurk only three games back of Texas.

The second game of the crucial series between the Rangers and Angels is set to begin Wednesday at 9:05 p.m. CT. Anaheim will send C.J. Wilson to the mound. Wilson is winless in five tries against his former team. Texas counters with Derek Holland, who seeks his 11th win.

Oakland will have to deal with Justin Verlander and the Detroit Tigers on the road Wednesday night following a Tuesday 12-2 defeat Tuesday.

Read more about the Rangers at Lone Star Ball and SB Nation Dallas. Keep up with the latest on the playoff chase at Baseball Nation, and be sure to subscribe to SB Nation on YouTube:

Rangers vs. Angels Score: Jered Weaver, 8-Run 4th Inning Lead L.A. To 11-3 Win

The Texas Rangers were blown out on Tuesday night by the Angels, falling by a score of 11-3. Texas held an early lead, but an eight-run fourth inning proved to be the difference for Los Angeles. With the loss, the Rangers now hold a 6½ game lead over the Angels in the American League west and a three-game lead over the Oakland Athletics.

Texas took a 3-1 lead in the third inning on a solo homer from Mike Napoli and a two-run shot from Ian Kinsler. Ryan Dempster started off the night pitching well, but things escalated quickly in the fourth. Chris Iannetta tied the game at 3-3 with a two-run single, which was followed by a wild pitch that plated a run. Kendrys Morales and Howie Kendrick both singled to make it 7-3, and then a sacrifice fly from Vernon Wells added another run. Alberto Callaspo capped off the inning with an RBI-double to right field to make it 9-3.

Erick Aybar singled home a run in the fifth. Maicer Izturis plated Los Angeles' 11th run of the game with a groundout in the eighth.

Jered Weaver continued to pitch well for the Angels, tossing seven innings of three-run ball. He scattered six hits and a walk while striking out two. His ERA this season is down to 2.79.

The two clubs will meet again on Wednesday night at 10:05 p.m. ET.

Read more about the Rangers at Lone Star Ball and SB Nation Dallas. Follow the Angels at Halos Heaven and SB Nation Los Angeles. Keep up with the latest on the playoff chase at Baseball Nation, and be sure to subscribe to SB Nation on YouTube:

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