Sep 28, 2024; Anaheim, California, USA; Texas Rangers pinch hitter Jonah Heim (28) slides to a third on a triple during the eighth inning against the Los Angeles Angels at Angel Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images
Jonathan Ornelas had a two-run, pinch-hit single in Texas' four-run ninth and the Rangers scored six times in the final two innings to beat the Los Angeles Angels 9-8 on Saturday night.
Nathaniel Lowe had a home run among his three hits and drove in three runs, including one on a bases-loaded walk for the Rangers’ first run of the ninth. Dane Dunning (5-7) pitched a scoreless inning for the win and Kirby Yates got the last three outs for his 33rd save.
“We got down pretty good there and they just kept fighting,” Rangers manager Bruce Bochy said. “It was a very entertaining game. A little sloppy on both sides at time.”
Rookies Gustavo Campero and Niko Kavadas hit back-to-back home runs, and Logan O'Hoppe had four hits to tie a career-high and scored twice for the Angels. Los Angeles squandered a 7-1 lead after three innings and lost their fifth straight game. They have lost 14th of their last 17 and extended their franchise record for losses in a season to 98.
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With Angels left-hander Jose Quijada (2-2) on the mound to start the ninth inning, the Rangers loaded the bases on two walks and a hit batter. Lowe brought home in his third run on another walk to bring Texas to 8-6.
The Angels called on rookie right-hander Ryan Miller, who gave up Ornelas’ two-run single to right, with the go-ahead run scoring on the play when Campero fired an errant throw back to the infield.
“Ornelas, I put him in a little tough of a situation but nice piece of hitting on his part,” Bochy said of the late pinch-hit assignment in place of Leody Taveras.
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Campero's eventful night for the Angels came in his 12th career game.
“If we could throw some strikes and put some balls in play, maybe some good things would have happened,” Angels manager Ron Washington said. "But it turned out to be an ugly ninth in for us. And the kid in right field (Campero) threw the ball into no man’s land. They’re feeling the heat and the pressure.”
Lowe’s home run in the second inning, his 15th of the season, gave the Rangers a 1-0 lead. The Angels moved in front 3-1 in the bottom of the inning on Michael Stefanic's RBI double, Taylor Ward's run-scoring grounder and Jack Lopez's RBI single.
One batter after Texas starter Andrew Heaney showed discomfort while slipping on a slow roller from O’Hoppe that went for an infield single, Campero hit his first career home run just inside the foul pole in left field for a three-run shot in the third inning. Seven pitches later, Kavadas hit a full-count drive to left, his fourth on the season for a 7-1 lead. It was the sixth time the Angels hit back-to-back home runs.
The Rangers pulled a run back in the fourth when Adolis Garcia scored after Carson Kelly grounded into a double play. Langford hit his 16th of the season in the sixth inning off Hunter Strickland as Texas pulled to 7-3.
The Rangers made it 8-5 in the eighth on an RBI double by Lowe and an RBI triple by Jonah Heim.
Heaney gave up seven runs on 10 hits over four innings in his final start of the season and what could be the last outing of his Rangers tenure after signing a two-year, $25 million deal before the 2023 season.
“I'm extremely thankful to have the opportunity to have these coaches, these players, the fans, being close to home,” Heaney said. “I had amazing things happen in my life here. I had my girls, won a World Series and got to play with these guys who I thoroughly enjoyed getting to play with.”
TRAINER’S ROOM
Rangers: RF Garcia departed in the sixth inning with a sore knee and is not expected to play Sunday, according to Bochy. ... RHP Josh Sborz was placed on the 15-day injured list with right shoulder fatigue, while LHP Walter Pennington was recalled from the minors.
Angels: 1B Nolan Schanuel (lower leg bruise) did not play for the third consecutive game and is not likely to play in Sunday’s season finale, according to manager Ron Washington. ... SS Zach Neto (right shoulder irritation) did not start for the second consecutive game and his status for Sunday remains undecided.
UP NEXT
Rangers: RHP Nathan Eovaldi (11-8, 3.96 ERA) will make his 29th start of the season in Sunday's season finale.
Angels: RHP Jack Kochanowicz (2-5, 4.01 ERA) will close the regular season with his 11th start since his MLB debut July 11.
