Weaver Leads Angels To 5-3 Win Over Rangers
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TEMPE, Ariz. (AP) — Jered Weaver allowed only a homer to Robinson Chirinos in five stellar innings, and the Los Angeles Angels beat the Texas Rangers 5-3 Monday.
Weaver struck out five and did not walk a batter. The three-time All-Star dropped his spring ERA to 2.53 over 10 2-3 innings. He is in line to start opening day at Seattle's Safeco Field April 6.
Texas starter Lisalverto Bonilla made his third spring appearance and first start. He sailed through three innings Monday but was roughed up in the fourth inning.
Chris Cron doubled in a run to tie the game at 1. Iannetta followed with his first spring homer, a two-run shot. Efren Navarro then singled and stole second when nobody covered second base. Taylor Featherston singled him in.
Angels reliever Joe Smith made his first spring appearance and allowed one hit in one inning. He had been experiencing lower body soreness throughout camp.
STARTING TIME
Angles: Weaver, 131-69 over nine seasons with the Angels, said he has not been affected in MLB's speed-up rules. "I like to work quickly anyway," Weaver said. "I think (the rules) might affect the game in some ways. I don't think it will affect the game too much. When I'm ready to go, I'm ready to go."
Rangers: Bonilla, obtained in 2012 in the deal that sent Michael Young to Philadelphia, averaged 10.9 strikeouts per nine innings throughout his minor league career.
Manager Jeff Banister said Bonilla needs to learn to work through innings like the fourth.
"The four-pitch walk, yeah, you have to work on," Banister said. "Some things happened behind him that he can't control. You've got to pitch through them."
Bonilla said through a translator that he got a bit tired in the fourth and tried to be too fine with Joyce. He then said he tried to be too fine throwing strikes to Iannetta.
UP NEXT
Angels: Left-hander C. J. Wilson, who missed what was supposed to be his second start with a sore left knee, is slated to start Tuesday vs. Colorado in Scottsdale. Wilson allowed two hits and a run in his only start. He's trying to rebound from a subpar season in which he went 13-10 with a 4.51 ERA, his highest ERA since 2008 with Texas as a reliever.
Rangers: Yovani Gallardo is set to make his second spring start, against the Los Angeles Dodgers in Surprise. Gallardo, heading into his first season with the Rangers, allowed six hits and four runs in 1 2-3 innings in his first start against Kansas City.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Angels: Reliever Joe Smith made his first spring appearance and allowed a hit in one inning. Smith, 7-2 with a 1.81 ERA in 2014 ERA over 74 2-3 innings and 14 saves, had been out of game action this spring after experiencing lower-back soreness.
"I wanted to throw strikes," said Smith, who threw 12 of 12 pitches for strikes. "Right now I just want to work out all the kinks."
Said Scioscia: "Joe looked good. He kept the ball down. It was good to get him back out there."
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