Angels Beat Rangers In Preseason Game
Follow CBSDFW.COM: Facebook | Twitter
TEMPE, Ariz. (AP) - Colby Lewis rebounded from a rough spring debut to pitch three scoreless innings for the Texas Rangers in a 5-4 loss to the Los Angeles Angels on Tuesday.
Lewis, who didn't get out of the first inning last week in giving up three homers and six runs to Kansas City, allowed only one hit this time. He walked one and struck out one.
"He got the ball down and moved it around," Rangers manager Jeff Banister said. "He got some innings which was good to see."
Leonys Martin homered off Angels starter Hector Santiago in the third. Santiago, in his in his second start, breezed through two innings before allowing a one-out single Rougned Odor and the homer by Martin.
C.J. Cron, one of five possible regulars in the Angels' lineup, hit a two-run homer in the fourth off Joe Beimel.
The Angels rallied from a late 4-2 deficit. Angels second baseman hopeful Johnny Giavotella doubled with one out in the ninth and scored the game's winning run on Lisalverto Bonilla's wild pitch in the dirt.
Lewis said he missed out on a big part of his conditioning in his first rough outing.
"For me it's about getting my body back into shape," Lewis said.
Santiago, in his in his second start, sailed through two innings before allowing a one-out single Rougned Odor. Martin's towering homer to right then broke up the scoreless tie.
Santiago allowed four hits and two runs with two strikeouts.
"Santiago set the tone today," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. "He had that one slider (the Martin homer). That was it."
STARTING TIME
Rangers: Lewis, Texas' career leader with four playoff wins, missed all of 2013 with major elbow and hip surgeries. He returned in 2014 and posted a 10-14 record with a 4.17 ERA.
He told reporters that he did nothing different than in his first spring start.
"I felt the same," Lewis said. "My location was better, maybe ... When you're throwing the ball the way you need to throw it, the quick outs will come."
Lewis added that ace Yu Darvish's uncertain status for the season doesn't change his spring approach.
"It's a blow to the rotation," he said. "I've got to do what I've got to do."
Angels: Santiago tossed two shutout innings in his first outing against Milwaukee on March 5. Santiago, in his first season with the Angels, recovered from a poor start and a trip to the minors to go 6-9 with a 3.75 ERA in 2014.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Angels: Right-hander Garrett Richards threw a 41-pitch simulated game at Angels camp Tuesday and said after he felt fine. Richards is recovering from surgery to repair the torn patellar tendon in his left knee.
Richards, who was going through a breakthrough season with a 13-4 record and a 2.61 ERA, was hurt last Aug. 20 in Boston while covering first base on an infield play.
"He's progressing," pitching coach Mike Butcher said. "He's made every stop and made them all really well."
A report stated that Richards could see action in a Cactus League game as quickly as this weekend, but Butcher said after Tuesday's game that he wanted to see how Richards felt Wednesday before deciding what is next for him.
Rangers: Left-hander Michael Kirkland, out with left shoulder stiffness, is scheduled to pitch in an 'A' game against the Chicago White Sox.
Kyle Blanks made his first spring appearance after struggling with left Achilles tendinitis and singled in a run in the eighth.
UP NEXT
Rangers: Right-hander Yovani Gallardo will make his second Cactus League appearance Wednesday and try to lower his spring ERA from 21.60 when the Rangers visit the White Sox at Glendale.
Gallardo, an offseason acquisition from Milwaukee, allowed six hits and four runs in 1 2-3 innings in his first spring outing. He went 81-64 in eight seasons in Milwaukee.
Angels: Ace right-hander and expected opening-day starter Jered Weaver makes his second start vs. Arizona in Scottsdale.
(© Copyright 2015 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)
