Elvis leaves building twice, Rangers beat Angels 7-6
ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) - Elvis Andrus hit two of the four Texas home runs and the Rangers held on beat the Los Angeles Angels 7-6 Sunday in the rubber game of a series with wild-card implications for both teams.
The Rangers (68-68) went ahead to stay when Robinson Chirinos and Delino DeShields hit back-to-back homers in the fourth inning. No. 9 hitter Chirinos' two-run homer tied the game at 4 before DeShields went deep.
With four weeks left in the regular season, Texas was within three games of Minnesota for the AL's second wild-card spot. The Angels (70-67) are 1 1/2 games back of that playoff spot.
Martin Perez (11-10) threw a career-high 117 pitches over six innings to win his sixth straight start.
Tony Barnette earned his second save in six chances after coming on with two on and no outs in the ninth. Barnette gave a two-run double to Andrelton Simmons after getting Albert Pujols on a popout with the bases loaded, and before a walk forced in another run.
Andrew Heaney (1-1) has allowed 11 homers in 19 1-3 innings over four games since getting called up last month.
C.J. Cron put the Angels ahead with a two-run double in the first. His two-run homer with two outs in the ninth inning Saturday night tied the game the Angels won in 10 innings.
Will Middlebrooks had an RBI single in the Texas second, and Andrus led off the third with a tying homer. Andrus hit a two-run shot, his 18th, in the sixth after DeShields walked.
LONG, LONG TIME
The game took 3 hours, 49 minutes to play, the shortest of the series that had a combined playing time of 12 hours, 31 minutes. The opener Friday took 4 hours, 33 minutes - the longest nine-inning game in the history of both franchises. The 10-inning game Saturday took 4 hours, 9 minutes.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Angels: Closer Bud Norris (sore right knee) is eligible to be activated from the disabled list Wednesday. The right-hander expects to be ready to pitch then.
Rangers: Adrian Beltre (strained left hamstring) was placed on the 10-day disabled list. Even though the rosters have been expanded, that move had to be made to allow the recall of RHP Nick Gardewine from Double-A Frisco since it had been less than 10 days since the pitcher was sent down from an early stint with the Rangers. ... RHP Keona Kela, out nearly a month because of right shoulder soreness, is set to throw another bullpen session Monday.
UP NEXT
Angels: Back to the West Coast, and a day game Monday at Oakland in a series opener.
Rangers: A holiday reunion with former manager Ron Washington, who is Atlanta's third base coach. The Rangers open a three-game interleague series at Atlanta on Monday night.
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