Texas Rangers Rebound, Pick Up Needed AL West Win

3. 102. 7. 126. Final

Friday night, the Texas Rangers rebounded picking up a much needed win against their divisional opponent, the Los Angeles Angels.

On The Mound

As the Rangers looked to rebound from a string of losses to start off the season, they handed the ball to the unofficially official fifth starter, AJ Griffin. Griffin was making his first Major League start since 2013 and looked comfortable on the mound with the spotlight on him. Griffin went 6 innings against the Angels allowing just 3 earned runs on 6 hits. Griffin said that baseball is all about embracing opportunities and Griffin thrived in his return to the MLB.

The bullpen who has been struggling early on this year came up big putting together 3 scoreless innings to hold on for the Texas Rangers win. Wilhelmsen came in to start the seventh inning and threw 1.2 innings allowing just 1 hit and no runs on 29 pitches. Wilhelmsen loaded the bases with two outs in the eighth and Tony Barnette was brought in to get out of the jam.

Hard-throwing lefty, Jake Diekman threw the ninth for Texas in the non-save opportunity and struck out 2 in his 3 up 3 down inning.

At The Plate

For the first time this season, the Texas Rangers eclipsed the double digit hit total mark stringing together 10 hits in their 7 run performance. All Rangers reached base against the Angels with Ian Desmond being the only player to not record a hit, reaching on 2 walks. The top of the order got the job done for Texas with the first five hitters in the order recording hits on the day.

Leadoff man Delino DeShields went 2 for 4 stealing 3 bases and scoring 2 runs, one on an Angels wild pitch. Slugger Prince Fielder went 1-3 with 2 walks, scoring a run and recording an RBI.

Young second baseman Rougned Odor made the biggest single statement on the game when he launched a two-run homerun over the right-center field fence in the fifth after an Ian Desmond walk.

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