Marcus Semien, Manager Ejected as Angels Beat Texas Rangers

With Thursday's loss to the Los Angeles Angels, the Texas Rangers have dropped consecutive series for just the second time this season.

© Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports

A series of ejections left the Texas Rangers dejected Thursday night.

Marcus Semien, manager Bruce Bochy and pitching coach Mike Maddux were all ejected late in the 5-3 loss to the Los Angeles Angels at Globe Life Field.

The American League West-leading Rangers (42-26) have dropped consecutive series for the first time since early April against the Baltimore Orioles and Chicago Cubs. Texas also lost a set for the first time within the division (6-1) and is 3-4 against the Angels this season.

The Rangers are just 2-6 since being a season-high 20 games over .500 at 40-20. The Angels (39-32) won three of four in Arlington.

In what figured to be pitching duel between Shohei Ohtani and Nathan Eovaldi, the histrionics before the start of the eighth stole the show.

A questionable strikeout of Semien in the seventh inning started the mess. The ejections didn’t occur until Semien returned to the field for the top of the eighth.

He took issue to being called out on a check swing by first base umpire Ramon De Jesus. The ball was low and inside, and Semien appeared to hold up. Angels catcher Chad Wallach motioned for an appeal and De Jesus punched Semien out.

Semien approached De Jesus before the eighth began, emphatically saying multiple times that the pitch in question was “ball four.” De Jesus ejected Semien. Maddux, who had been chirping since the seventh, was sent packing after coming to Semien’s defense. Bochy exited the dugout to say his peace and was quickly tossed, too.

Speechless....
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Ohtani didn’t get the win after leaving the mound after the sixth inning, having allowed two runs on six hits. But the dual-threat superstar did drill a upper-deck, two-run home run in the eighth, his league-leading 22nd long ball.

The Rangers had their chances in the ninth, as Angels closer Carlos Estevez walked the first three batters. Jacob Webb came on in relief to face Ezequiel Duran, who replaced Semien at second.

Duran popped out in foul territory, Corey Seager hit a weak flare that was caught behind second but Nathaniel Lowe drew a walk to make it 5-3. Adolis García struck out to end the game.

The Angels, up 1-0 early on Wallach’s homer, took a 4-3 lead on solo blast by Mike Moniak in the seventh off Eovaldi. The de facto Texas ace had a quality start by giving up three runs over seven innings, striking out nine, but took the loss to fall to 9-3.

The Rangers did jump ahead with a two-out rally in the third. Nathaniel Lowe and García both stroked back-to-back opposite-field doubles after Ohtani got the first two outs of the inning. García would come around to score on Jonah Heim’s single to make it 3-2.

Texas completes a seven-game homestand with a three-game weekend series against the Toronto Blue Jays. Rangers left-hander Martín Pérez (6-2, 4.67) starts the opener Friday against Kevin Gausman (5-3, 3.12). First pitch is set for 7:05 p.m.

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