Texas Rangers Start Road Trip With Loss at Angels

Big games by spot starter Dane Dunning and Marcus Semien weren't enough as the Texas Rangers opened their road trip by losing to the Los Angeles Angels.

The Texas Rangers opened up a 10-game road trip by squandering a four-run lead in a 5-4 loss in 10 innings Friday night to the Los Angeles Angels at Angel Stadium.

The Rangers (18-13) dropped a game into a tie atop the American League West with the Angels (19-14) after the late meltdown.

The Angels scored the winning run on a wild pitch on the first pitch thrown by reliever Josh Sborz, with Zach Neto scoring from third. 

Dane Dunning made his first start of the season for the Rangers, stepping into Jacob deGrom’s spot in the rotation. Dunning came up big, going five scoreless innings and giving up just two hits but did not get a decision after reliever Will Smith allowed three runs in the ninth.

The Dunning outing was especially important for Texas, which is without its ace for at least the next couple of week. Dunning struggled as a starter last year, but has been incredibly effective in long relief this season.

Freshly-minted closer Smith failed to pick up his fifth save after giving up a 4-1 lead in the ninth. Texas was up 4-0 going into the bottom of the eighth. 

Marcus Semien scored twice and drove in a run to pace the Texas offense. Adolis García’s sacrifice fly accounted for another run, scoring Semien. Nathaniel Lowe singled home a run in the eighth.

The series continues in Saturday’s 8:07 p.m. CT start. Nathan Eovaldi (3-2, 3.93) goes for Texas, while Reid Detmers (0-2, 4.85) is on the mound for the Angels.

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