Rangers at Angels
The Los Angeles Angels emerged victorious following an eventful ninth inning in the middle contest of their three-game set against the visiting Texas Rangers to halt their slide and look to secure a series win when they host Sunday's finale. Los Angeles squandered a lead in the ninth Saturday but came away with a 3-2 triumph to halt its losing streak at five games.
Kole Calhoun gave the Angels a 1-0 lead in the third inning with his 10th home run of the year and, after Texas scored twice in the ninth, doubled home the tying run before scoring the winner on pinch-hitter Jared Walsh's single. Calhoun finished with three hits to match the total from his previous seven contests as Los Angeles improved to 3-5 on its nine-game homestand. Elvis Andrus returned from a hamstring injury to record two of the five hits produced Saturday by the Rangers, who had won five consecutive contests and eight of their previous nine. Andrus has gone 6-for-16 during his four-game hitting streak and hit safely in 10 of his last 11 contests.
TV: 4:07 p.m. ET, FS Southwest (Texas), FS West (Los Angeles)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Rangers RH Ariel Jurado (1-2, 2.08 ERA) vs. Angels LH Andrew Heaney (2018: 9-10, 4.15)
Jurado gets the call for the second time this year after yielding four runs - two earned - and five hits over 4 1/3 innings in a loss to St. Louis on May 18. The 23-year-old Panamanian made his ninth relief appearance of the campaign Wednesday, when he gave up one run and one walk with two strikeouts in one scoreless frame versus Seattle. Jurado allowed six runs and 11 hits over 10 frames in one start and one relief outing against the Angels last season - his first in the major leagues.
Heaney will be making his 2019 debut after beginning the season on the injured list with inflammation in his left elbow. The 27-year-old Oklahoman was stellar in his rehab start for Triple-A Salt Lake as he allowed two hits and one walk while registering 10 strikeouts over 4 1/3 scoreless innings. Heaney has struggled against Texas during his career, going 1-3 while surrendering 27 runs on 49 hits and 14 walks over 37 frames in seven turns.
WALK-OFFS
1. Angels rookie INF Luis Rengifo has recorded two hits in two of his last three games after notching six in his first 12 major-league contests.
2. Texas optioned OF Delino DeShields to Triple-A Nashville on Saturday to make room on the roster for Andrus.
3. Los Angeles placed Matt Harvey (upper back) on the 10-day injured list and optioned fellow RHP Luke Bard to Salt Lake prior to Saturday's game while activating RHP Luis Garcia (lower back) from the IL and recalling RHP Taylor Cole from the Bees.