The Los Angeles Angels and the Texas Rangers opened up a huge four-game series Thursday night in Texas with major playoff implications on the line.
The Rangers came into the game with a three game lead in the AL West and with a win, would clinch a playoff spot.
Texas got a great start from their starter Derek Holland, who turned in a great performance in a big spot. The southpaw went 6.1 innings giving up three runs on three hits while striking out six and walking three.
Holland pitched well, but it was the Angels that cracked the scoreboard first in this one. In the top of the second, Shane Victorino hit a sac-fly to score Albert Pujols and that gave Los Angeles a 1-0 lead early on.
Angels starter Andrew Heaney was cruising up until the fifth inning where the Rangers got the offense going. It started with a Delino DeShields RBI double that scored Elvis Andrus to tie things up at 1-1. Then with the bases loaded, Texas took control when Adrian Beltre hit a double scoring three runs and giving his side a 4-1 advantage.
That ended Heaney's night after 4.1 innings as he gave up four runs on five hits while striking out one and walking five. The control just wasn't there for Heaney as evident by the walks.
The Angels got a run back in the top of the sixth off of the bat of Albert Pujols as they inched a little closer to make it 4-2. It was Pujols' 39th home run of the season, the most since 2010 when he belted 42 with the St. Louis Cardinals.
That was followed in the seventh inning when Erick Aybar picked up an RBI single to bring it to a one run game at 4-3. But, with runners on the corners and two outs, Kole Calhoun was unable to tie the game up in a big spot in this ball game.
The Rangers made the Angels pay as they tacked on another run in the seventh to take their lead to 5-3 as Josh Hamilton hit a sac-fly to score Beltre.
Rangers reliever Sam Dyson was able to get through the eighth inning unscathed as he had to face Mike Trout, Albert Pujols, and C.J. Cron.
Then in the ninth inning, Shawn Tolleson came on to secure the win for the Rangers and send them on their way to the playoffs for the first time since 2012.
With the win, the Angels are out of contention for the AL West, but the Rangers have not clinched the division as they lead the Houston Astros by three games. The Angels now must fight for a Wild Card with the Minnesota Twins as well as the Astros. Texas can either clinch the AL West with a win or a Houston loss.
Game two of the four game series continues Friday night in Arlington as Martin Perez of the Rangers faces off against Jered Weaver of the Angels.
WP: Derek Holland (4-3, 4.91 ERA)
LP: Andrew Heaney (6-4, 3.49 ERA)
SV: Shawn Tolleson (35 saves, 2.66 ERA)