 won his second straight decision in the right-hander's first season with Texas, allowing 10 baserunners (seven hits, three walks) but just two runs in 5 2/3 innings.The Rangers swept the Angels in a series of at least three games for the first time since 2013 after LA won the last three of four in Anaheim two weekends ago. Texas has its first four-game winning streak since last July.Choo's go-ahead liner into the right field corner ended Matt Harvey's night with one out in the fifth after the right-hander had allowed one unearned run on one hit through four innings.Both losses for Harvey (0-2) in his first season with the Angels are against the Rangers. The former New York Mets star gave up five runs, four earned, and five hits in 4 1/3 innings after tying his career high by allowing eight runs in an 11-4 loss to Texas in his second LA start.Trout walked and singled and has reached base in all 15 games he has played, extending the longest season-opening streak of his career. The two-time AL MVP was the designated hitter for a third straight game, staying out of center field after missing three games with a left groin strain.Simmons, Brian Goodwin and Jonathan Lucroy had three straight singles for a 1-0 LA lead in the second before Trout scored on Simmons' double in the third.After Choo scored on La Stella's two-out error in the fourth, the Rangers got even in the fifth on consecutive singles from Asdrubal Cabrera, Logan Forsythe and Isiah Kiner-Falefa before Choo's second triple of the season.Tommy La Stella hit his fourth homer , a solo shot in the eighth, to get the Angels within two.UP NEXTAngels: RHP Chris Stratton (0-1, 5.54 ERA) is set to open a four-game series at home against Seattle and Felix Hernandez on Thursday. Stratton's only decision was a 6-3 loss to the Mariners in his first start of the season.Rangers: Already the second series at home the season against rival Houston starts Friday. LHP Drew Smyly (0-1, 7.15) made his Texas debut against the Astros on April 1, giving up a run on four hits in three innings in a no-decision.---More MLB: https://apnews.com/tag/MLB and https://twitter.com/-Sports)
Angels' Harvey seeks improvement vs. Rangers Los Angeles Angels right-hander Matt Harvey got an extra day's rest after his scheduled start Tuesday was moved to the Wednesday series finale against the Texas Rangers in Arlington, Texas.Harvey (0-1) hopes to instill some confidence in manager Brad Ausmus after an underwhelming start to the season. He can do that by pitching well enough to salvage the series finale. Texas has pounded Los Angeles for 17 runs and 23 hits in the first two games, including a 5-0 win Tuesday.A former New York Mets ace, Harvey hasn't put together a winning season since 2015, and he enters his fourth start of 2019 carrying a disappointing 10.05 ERA. Since an encouraging performance in his season debut with his latest team, Harvey has struggled mightily.Harvey has managed to go just 14 1/3 innings combined in his three starts, giving up 21 hits, including four home runs, and seven walks. He was handed an early 6-0 lead on April 9, but he quickly blew it Los Angeles' eventual 11-8 win over the Milwaukee Brewers. Harvey lasted only 4 1/3 innings, allowing six runs on seven hits and two walks with five strikeouts."I just have to do a better job of locating pitches," Harvey told reporters following the rough outing. "Just frustrated the offense came up to play and I was lagging behind." The Rangers also did plenty to frustrate Harvey when they faced him April 4 in Anaheim. Texas tagged him for eight runs on 10 hits and two walks in four-plus innings.Harvey, who was slowed during spring training by a glute strain, will make just his second career start against Texas.The Angels signed Harvey, 30, in the offseason to a one-year, $11 million deal that includes $3 million in incentives. The Mets traded him to Cincinnati last season believing his best days were behind him considering Harvey pitched to a 5.93 ERA over his last 2 1/2 seasons in New York.Harvey goes up against another one of Texas' newcomers in the rotation, right-hander Lance Lynn (1-1, 4.82 ERA). He provided his new club with some optimism in his most recent start, April 10 against the Diamondbacks, keeping the Rangers in the game until the Texas bats woke up for a 5-2 win that snapped a four-game losing skid.Lynn, who spent six seasons in the National League with the St. Louis Cardinals before playing for the Minnesota Twins and the New York Yankees last season, got his first Texas win in the game vs. Arizona. He allowed just one run on four hits and two walks while striking out nine over six innings.It was one of just two victories by a Rangers starter this season until Mike Minor made it three Tuesday night with a complete-game shutout."We did a lot of things well, got a lot of solid at-bats in big spots, good baserunning," Rangers manager Chris Woodward said after the victory over the Diamondbacks last week. "Obviously, Lance had himself a great performance, just a gritty, gritty game." The Rangers have two hitters in good slugging form heading into the series finale. Joey Gallo and Asdrubal Cabrera each hit a homer and knocked in two runs on both Monday and Tuesday.--Field Level Media
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