Tuesday MLB: Texas Rangers (45-36) at L.A. Angels (46-35)
Texas star Josh Hamilton returned from the DL on Monday night against the Angels with first place on the line, but the Halos won 9-4 to beat Texas for just the second time in seven meetings this year and take back a one-game lead in the AL West.
The Rangers had led Los Angeles by 4½ games when Hamilton went on the DL for the second time this season on June 2. Hamilton, who was 2 for 4 with a double and two strikeouts, missed 30 games after undergoing abdominal surgery and the Rangers went 15-15 in his absence.
“I would have stayed down longer if I didn’t feel like I was ready,” said Hamilton, who will play in his second straight All-Star Game. “It’s good to be back up here and be around the guys again and actually feel like part of the team, instead of just a guy hanging out.”
Two guys on the Angels typically batter Texas, and they did Monday. Juan Rivera had three hits and is 10 for 26 (.385) with two homers and nine RBIs versus Texas this year. The left fielder is hitting .340 (16 for 47) with three homers and 12 RBIs over his last 11 games. And Vladimir Guerrero went 2 for 4 to improve to 8 for 19 against the Rangers this season. For his career, he’s batted .398 against Texas.
The Halos have opened as -166 money line favorites on WagerWeb.com for tonight’s game.
L.A. starts John Lackey (3-3, 4.70). He faced Texas in his season debut off the disabled list but was thrown out of the game after two pitches. The first was behind the body of Texas econd baseman Ian Kinsler, while the second hit Kinsler’s left side. Lackey has been back to his old self of late, winning two of his last three decisions, dropping his ERA by more than one run. Lackey is 10-10 with a 5.79 ERA against the Rangers in his career.
Texas counters with Dustin Nippert in his season debut. Nippert, who hurt his back in spring training, replaces Vicente Padilla, who is being pushed back because of a strained right shoulder. Nippert had a 2.25 ERA in five games during a minor league rehab assignment. He was 0-1 with a 6.92 ERA in three games against the Angels last season, and he was 2-3 with a 5.63 ERA in six starts for the Rangers last year.
The Rangers are 12-25 in the last 37 meetings in Los Angeles.
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