LIVE: Angels defeat Rangers 6-2

Keep up with Cactus League action between the Texas Rangers and Los Angeles Angels in Tempe.

Chris Halicke | Mar 3, 2021

There are two significant changes in the Texas Rangers' lineup in Wednesday's Cactus League contest with the Los Angeles Angels in Tempe.

Texas Rangers (0-1-2) at Los Angeles Angels (1-1-1)

Wednesday, March 3, 2021
1:10 PM MT (2:10 PM CT)
Tempe Diablo Stadium | Tempe, AZ

Probables:
TEX: RHP Jimmy Herget (0-0, -.-- ERA)
vs
LAA: RHP Dylan Bundy (0-0, -.-- ERA)

Broadcast

TV: FOX Sports Southwest (via FOX Sports West feed), MLB.TV

No audio broadcast on the Rangers side.

Unique Rules in Spring Training

Wednesday's game between the Rangers and Angels will be six official innings. According to Major League Baseball's 2021 Operations Manual, games up to March 13 can be shortened if both managers agree.

There is also a temporary rule that allows for managers of a defensive team to end (or roll) an inning prior to three outs following any completed plate appearance, provided the pitcher has thrown more than 20 pitches. The Rangers utilized this rule twice in Sunday's matchup with the Kansas City Royals, and utilized it three times in Tuesday's contest with the White Sox.

Texas Rangers Starting Lineup

CF Leody Taveras
DH David Dahl
1B Nate Lowe
3B Rougned Odor
LF Ronald Guzmán
C Jonah Heim
RF Steele Walker
2B Andy Ibáñez
SS Charlie Culberson

Los Angeles Angels Starting Lineup

RF Dexter Fowler
DH Shohei Ohtani
CF Mike Trout
3B Anthony Rendon
1B Albert Pujols
LF Justin Upton
2B Luis Rengifo
C Kurt Suzuki
SS José Iglesias

Texas Rangers Scheduled Pitchers

RHP Jimmy Herget
RHP Nick Vincent
RHP Hunter Wood
RHP Drew Anderson
RHP Hans Crouse
RHP Joe Gatto

Chris Woodward on Starting Lineup

There are a few things that should grab your attention.

Ronald Guzmán is determined to earn a roster spot. While he prefers to play first base, which he is the best defensive first baseman the Rangers have, he understands versatility can help him make the roster out of camp.

In that effort, Guzmán has been shagging fly balls in the outfield throughout camp thus far. It's gotten to the point where manager Chris Woodward wants to see how it plays in a game.

"It has progressed a lot quicker than I thought," Woodward said. "Just watching him shag out there, watching him do the work with [Tony Beasley], it's a lot better than I anticipated."

Originally, the Guzmán experiment in the outfield was destined to remain on the back burner. However, Woodward has admitted he's allowed his imagination to go pretty far if Lowe and Guzmán make legitimate cases for roster spots.

"I've established with the team from day one, even when the season ended last year, it's going to be a dog fight," Woodward said. "If we have a roster full of hitters with that mentality, our offensive approach and production is going to be a lot better."

Rougned Odor is another Ranger who seems to be embracing that mentality. While he's not fond of playing third base, he approached Woodward on Tuesday about playing there in Wednesday's game.

"He felt it was important for him to get out there as soon as possible, which is music to my ears," Woodward said. "I thought it was great. It's great for the team. It's obviously a late adjustment, but getting him over there is going to be important for him."

Odor has exclusively been a second baseman throughout his major league career. With Nick Solak getting a serious look at second base, Odor has been taking reps at third base before practice throughout camp, and pushed Woodward to put him there to see necessary game action.

"His willingness and openness — like Guzy — to do it, shows a lot about where they're at right now," Woodward said.

Injury Report

David Dahl (right shoulder surgery): No restrictions at the plate. Dalh hit as the DH in Monday's game and had no issues. Progressing well in throwing program.
Demarcus Evans (right lat strain): Has yet to throw off a mound. Will not be ready for the start of the season. The Rangers expect him to be able to throw off a mound in mid-March.
Joely Rodríguez (sprained ankle): Rodríguez's ankle is no longer bothering him, but he is having to build up arm strength since the injury set him back. His chances of being available on Opening Day are in doubt.
Brock Burke (left shoulder surgery): The Rangers are taking it slow with him coming off surgery in 2020. They like his progress so far, but have no urgency to rush him.
Sam Huff (grade two hamstring strain): Still rehabbing. Will get MRI in less than two weeks.
Luis Ortiz (inflamed peroneal tendon - ankle): Was originally scheduled to throw an inning in Sunday's game against the Royals. The Rangers hope he can resume baseball activity in the next few days.
Anderson Tejeda (right elbow infection): GM Chris Young announced the infection Tuesday morning. Tejeda will miss a few days and be further evaluated.

LIVE In-Game Updates

2:10 CT: Leody Taveras takes strike one and we're underway in Tempe.

2:16 CT: Taveras earned an eight-pitch walk to lead off the inning, but David Dahl flies out, Taveras gets caught stealing, and Nate Lowe strikes out looking to end the top of the first inning.

2:30 CT: Rangers starter Jimmy Herget walks the first two Angels of the first inning, but retires Mike Trout, Anthony Rendon, and Albert Pujols in order to get out of the jam.

2:45 CT: The Rangers and Angels have a quiet second inning. Still scoreless in Tempe.

2:48 CT: HOME RUN. Rangers prospect Steele Walker smokes a solo homer to the opposite field to lead off the third inning. Rangers lead 1-0.

Oppo 🌮 for @Rangers' Steele Walker. pic.twitter.com/s9cdbrProU
— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) March 3, 2021

3:02 CT: Rangers right-hander Hunter Wood is able to work around a Dexter Fowler double and get the shut down inning for Texas in the bottom of the third. Rangers lead 1-0.

3:14 CT: Odor and Guzmán reach base with two outs, but Jonah Heim flies out to right field to end the inning. Rangers lead 1-0.

3:25 CT: RUN. Luis Rengifo hits a tapper up the middle that Charlie Culberson gets a piece of, but it goes into center field and drives in a run for the Angels to tie the game at 1-1.

3:29 CT: Luis Rengifo steals second base, then advances to third base on a throwing error by catcher Jonah Heim. Game tied 1-1.

3:29 CT: RUN. Kurt Suzuki hits a flare into right field to drive in Rengifo. Angels lead 2-1.

3:32 CT: Rougned Odor stabs a hard liner to get the final out of the fourth inning. Angels lead 2-1.

3:35 CT: Andy Ibáñez smokes one into the gap in right-center for a one-out triple in the top of the fifth inning. Angels lead 2-1.

3:44 CT: The Rangers can't drive in Ibáñez. To the bottom of the fifth. Angels lead 2-1.

3:52 CT: HOME RUN. Shohei Ohtani clears the batters eye in center field for a two-run home run off Rangers prospect Hans Crouse. Angels lead 4-1.

3:56 CT: Rangers manager Chris Woodward rolls the inning over with one out. Crouse was up to 22 pitches. Angels lead 4-1.

4:07 CT: RUN. Adolis García drives in a run with a two-out RBI single. Angels lead 4-2.

4:09 CT: Justin Foscue grounds out to end the sixth inning. The Rangers and Angels will play a bottom of the sixth inning, but the Angels have clinched the victory today. Angels lead 4-2.

4:19 CT: RUN. Angels ground into a double play, but get a run home with the bases loaded. Angels lead 5-2.

4:21 CT: RUN. Franklin Barreto slices one down the left field line for an RBI double off Joe Gatto. Angels lead 6-2.

4:24 CT: After two runs allowed and only two outs recorded in the inning, Chris Woodward rolls the final inning of the game. Angels beat the Rangers 6-2.

Chris Halicke covers the Texas Rangers for InsideTheRangers.com. Follow him on Twitter @ChrisHalicke.
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Published Mar 3, 2021

CHRIS HALICKE