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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME LOG
ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) – Two starts into the season, Darren Oliver
already has matched his wins total last year.
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| Oliver |
"There's always room for improvement. But, coming from where I
was last year, this is definitely a step in the right direction,"
he said Tuesday night after leading the Texas Rangers over Anaheim
7-5 in the Angels' home opener.
Oliver was 0-6 in his final 10 starts last season and finished
2-9. He's 2-0 this year.
"So I'm definitely not going to complain," he said. "As long
as it keeps getting better every time, that's all I can ask for."
Chad Curtis hit a two-run homer and Ruben Mateo doubled in three
runs for Texas.
Defeating Pat Rapp and the Angels for the second time in a week,
Oliver allowed 12 hits in 5 2/3 innings, stranding five runners in
the first three innings. He gave up four runs on a chilly evening
with the temperatures that dipped into the 40s.
"It was a lot like his first outing in that it seemed like he
was in trouble every inning," Texas manger Johnny Oates said.
"But he did make a couple of big pitches and got a couple of big
strikeouts when he needed them."
Alex Rodriguez, whose $252 million, 10-year contract is the
richest in sports, was booed loudly his first time up, then was
cheered when he grounded out to shortstop. Rodriguez was 0-for-4,
dropping his average to .258 with no homers and three RBI.
Tim Crabtree gave up a run-scoring double to Tim Salmon in the
ninth, then finished for his third save in as many chances.
Rapp (0-2) gave up seven runs, four hits and four walks in
four-plus innings. In his start at Arlington, Rapp allowed six
runs, six hits and four walks in five innings during a 7-3 loss.
"I just had bad location," said Rapp, signed as a free agent
during the offseason. "I've given up more runs in two starts than
I gave up all spring. I'm getting behind on the count, and it seems
like every guy I walk scores. I've got to get better."
His ERA after two starts is 13.00.
"He's a pitcher who moves the ball around in the zone. When he
can't do that, he can't get guys out," Angels manager Mike
Scioscia said. "We definitely need to get that from him, and we
will."
Curtis' two-run homer off Rapp, his second of the season and
100th of his career, put Texas up 6-3 in the fourth. Andres
Galarraga singled home another run in the fifth.
Glenallen Hill, acquired from the New York Yankees during spring
training, hit a solo homer off Mark Petkovsek in the sixth, his
first homer for Anaheim. Hill also doubled in the third for his
1,000th career hit.
Down 4-0, the Angels closed within a run on Benji Gil's RBI
single in the second, and Salmon's RBI double and Garret Anderson's
run-scoring single in the third.
Mateo hit his three-run double in a four-run second that also
included Rusty Greer's RBI single.
The game drew 42,784, about 1,000 short of capacity.
Game notes
The Angels' home opener was the third opener for the
Rangers this season. They opened the major league season at San
Juan, Puerto Rico, with an 8-2 loss to Toronto. Texas then won its
home opener against the Angels 3-2. ... Darin Erstad, who last year
became the only player in Angels history to win a Gold Glove and a
Silver Slugger in the same season, was presented with both awards
in a pregame ceremony. Troy Glaus, who led all third basemen in
hitting, also received his Silver Slugger Award. ... Scioscia was
ejected after the eighth for arguing over two called third strikes.
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RECAPS
Boston 10
Baltimore 1
Toronto 3
Tampa Bay 2
Chi. White Sox 8
Cleveland 7
NY Yankees 9
Kansas City 5
Minnesota 8
Detroit 2
Texas 7
Anaheim 5
Seattle 5
Oakland 1
San Francisco 11
San Diego 6
Chicago Cubs 4
Montreal 2
Philadelphia 7
Florida 6
Houston 3
Milwaukee 0
Arizona 2
Los Angeles 0
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