Marcus Semien and Kyle Higashioka had runs batted in to back the shutout pitching of Tyler Mahle and four relievers as the Texas Rangers blanked the Los Angeles Angels 4-0 on Tuesday in the first of a three-game American League West series in Arlington, Texas.
Mahle (3-0) started for the Rangers and was brilliant for the third straight outing, pitching six scoreless innings while allowing just three hits. He struck out nine and walked two and allowed just one runner to reach third base in his stint. Mahle’s ERA dropped from 1.32 to. 0.92 in four starts.
Luke Jackson pitched the ninth inning for the Rangers, allowing one hit and striking out one.
Texas snapped a three-game losing streak while the Angels lost for the second straight outing and the third time in their past four contests.
Los Angeles starter Yusei Kikuchi (0-3) all but matched Mahle for six innings, surrendering one run on three hits while fanning six and walking two in his 79-pitch effort. His performance was wasted by the Angels’ anemic offensive attack; Los Angeles was shut out for the first time this season.
The Rangers got some help from the visitors to take a 1-0 lead in the sixth. Leody Taveras singled off Kikuchi to open the inning, stole second and went to third base on a throwing error on the steal by Los Angeles catcher Travis d’Arnaud. Tavares then came home on a sacrifice fly to left field by Semien to give the Rangers all the runs they would need.
Texas added to its lead in the seventh off Angels reliever Reid Detmers. Jonah Heim doubled with one out and came home when Kyle Higashioka followed with a double off the left field wall.
The Rangers stoked their advantage to 3-0 in the eighth. Corey Seager hit a one-out double off the base of the wall in the left field corner and then sprinted across the plate on Jung’s single to left that bounced off the glove of Los Angeles shortstop Tim Anderson.
Texas added a fourth run when Jung scored on a throwing error by Angels third baseman Luis Rengifo, the second error of the game by Los Angeles.
