, the first reliever after starter Kolby Allard's five innings, worked the sixth for his first major league victory since 2017. It was his first win for the Rangers since 2007, before the former starter was traded to Cincinnati for Josh Hamilton. Rafael Montero worked a perfect ninth for his second save in as many nights.The Angels are 5-10 under new manager Joe Maddon, matching the worst 15-game start in team history. They had been 5-10 five other times, most recently in 2013.''If these things happen in the middle of the season and you're doing well, it's unrecognizable,'' Maddon said. ''But under the circumstances, what we're doing right now, it becomes more recognizable. We've got to figure it out quickly.'' It was the second shutout this season for the Rangers, who won the opener at their new stadium 1-0 over Colorado just over two weeks ago. Los Angeles was held scoreless for the second time in this shortened 60-game season.Gallo went the opposite way in the sixth off Patrick Sandoval (0-1), the line shot landing in the Angels bullpen in left-center field. All four of Gallo's homers this season have come off left-handed pitchers.That drive ended an 0-for-10 slide for Gallo that included eight strikeouts, including his first at-bat against Sandoval.''It was affecting me for sure. I felt like I had to manipulate my swing a little bit,'' said Gallo, whose wrist started bothering him in the series opener at Oakland on Tuesday night. ''I felt a lot better today, felt like I could get my normal swing off.'' Volquez was 4-8 for Miami in 2017 before Tommy John surgery, but returned as a free agent to Texas, where he spent 2018 rehabbing and then spent much of last season on the injured list with elbow issues. The 37-year-old right-hander, who made his big league debut for Texas in 2005, had indicated he might retire after last season before deciding to pitch another year.Allard, the youngest Rangers pitcher, struck out six and walked one while throwing 94 pitches five days before his 23rd birthday. It was the right-hander's second start filling in the rotation spot of two-time AL Cy Young winner Corey Kluber, who went on the 45-day injured list with a torn muscle in his shoulder after throwing only one inning.Sandoval, who was on the Angels' taxi squad before being recalled to make the start, struck out four and walked one in six innings. The 23-year-old left-hander's 11 consecutive starts without a win to begin his big league career is the longest streak in team history, though only one big swing by the Rangers really hurt him.''I felt I had command of most of my pitches today,'' Sandoval said. ''A lot of positives to take from this.'' BIG SLUMPSNew Angels 3B Anthony Rendon is hitless in his last 18 at-bats and is hitting .111 this season. ''I know how good he is. He's going to get blazing hot because the numbers will come back,'' Maddon said. ''There's a lot of good offense in store for us from him.'' ... Rangers 2B Rougned Odor has gone 17 at-bats without a hit, a stretch that includes nine strikeouts.TRAINER'S ROOMAngels: Maddon said SS Andrelton Simmons (left ankle) is ''getting better'' but still doesn't have a timetable on when he will be back. Simmons has been on the injured list since July 28.Rangers: CF Danny Santana (right forearm strain) is eligible to come off the injured list Sunday, but Woodward said the versatile Santana was still ''two or three days away from maybe throwing where we'd feel comfortable even putting him at first base.'' UP NEXTLance Lynn (1-0, 0.49 ERA) has allowed only one run over 18 1-3 innings in his three starts, but his only win in that season-opening win over the Rockies. Angels lefty Andrew Heaney (1-0, 2.35) struck out 14 with no walks against Texas last August.---More MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/-Sports)
Former prep rivals square off as Rangers host AngelsFormer high school rivals Patrick Sandoval of the Los Angeles Angels and Kolby Allard of the Texas Rangers will match up for the first time as major leaguers when they take the mound on Saturday evening in Arlington, Texas.Sandoval graduated from Mission Viejo High School in 2015, the same year Allard graduated from San Clemente High School. Both left-handers played in the six-team South Coast League in South Orange County, Calif.Allard, the 14th overall pick by the Atlanta Braves in 2015, hopes to continue taking advantage of the opportunity that opened up in the rotation when two-time AL Cy Young Award winner Corey Kluber was shut down with a tear in his throwing shoulder.Allard (0-0, 2.25 ERA) did well in his first audition in Kluber's spot, allowing one run and two hits over four innings in San Francisco on Sunday, earning another chance to take the ball on Saturday."It's not fair to ask anybody to be Corey Kluber, but could (Allard) give you the kind of performance for 2 1/2 months that Corey would," Rangers general manager Jon Daniels said, per the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. "I think he can." Sandoval (0-0, 2.25) had longer odds to reach the majors. He was drafted in the 11th round out of high school by the Astros and was traded to Anaheim in 2018 before making his major league debut last August.Sandoval also went four innings in his lone outing this season, allowing two runs and four hits, striking out four and walking one in a 10-2 win on July 28 against the visiting Seattle Mariners.He made two starts against the Rangers last season. He struggled in the first appearance in Arlington (four runs, eight hits over 3 1/3 innings), but shut them out on one hit over five innings in a 3-0 loss in Anaheim on Aug. 28. He did not receive a decision in either game."He's going to get plenty of wins," Angels manager Joe Maddon said of Sandoval. "He's going to get stretched out, stay healthy, and have a long career ahead of him. He's really good." The Angels hope to play better behind Sandoval than they did Friday night in the series opener, committing three errors and allowing three unearned runs in the 4-3 loss.The Angels are also searching for offense, especially behind leadoff hitter David Fletcher and No. 2 batter Mike Trout.Justin Upton (.109) and Albert Pujols (.154) have already been dropped in the order, and Shohei Ohtani (.147) and Anthony Rendon (.121) also continue to struggle in the meat of the order.The Rangers have some players who are overdue, as well.Five players in the starting lineup on Friday were hitting below .200 by the end of the game, including veteran shortstop Elvis Andrus (.178), one of the team's best hitters last season who went 0-for-4 in the series opener and left runners in scoring position his first two times up.The hottest hitter for the Rangers has been catcher Isiah Kiner-Falefa, who went 2-for-4 Friday and is 9-for-18 during a five-game hitting streak with four runs scored.--Field Level Media
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