ARLINGTON, Texas – The only thing that changed in the three-game series between the Texas Rangers and the Los Angeles Angels was the starting time for each game.
Once the games started all three had a déjà vu feel to them. The Texas starter struggled early and the Angels capitalized in a big way. The offense also did little to help the pitching out and the end result was a lopsided loss.
Sunday Colby Lewis was the struggling starter as the Angels pounce on him for 10 runs in his four-plus innings of work as the Angels routed the Rangers 12-6.
The blowout completed a three-game sweep for the Angels in which they outscored the Rangers 33-8, collected 47 hits and batted .392 against Texas. The Texas starting trio of Lewis, Wandy Rodriguez and Chi Chi Gonzalez allowed total of 21 earned runs and had a combined ERA of 17.71.
The Rangers never lead in the series and trailed at the end of 25 of the 27 innings played. While they scored six runs Sunday they trailed 12-1 before putting together any offense.
The loss dropped the Rangers to 15-22 at home and 11-23 against the American League West. The best news is they have an off day Monday to hit the reset button.
"There's an element to being able to flush games like this out," Texas manager Jeff Banister said. "I also think there's an element that you allow these kinds of games to sting. But I also think at times like this you tighten your ranks too. You pull together. These are gut-check times."
Lewis was tagged for two runs in the first inning and the Angels never let up.
They scored runs off him in all five innings he worked and he was gone with no outs in the fourth inning. He was charged with 10 earned runs on 12 hits. It's the second time Lewis has allowed 10 earned runs in a start this season and he's now lost six-consecutive starts to the Angels. His ERA in those six games is 11.35.
Just like they did throughout the series, the Angels hit the good pitches Lewis threw. They hit the bad ones too. And they laid off anything they didn't like.
"I guess you just chalk it up to there's good days and there's bad days," Lewis said. "Hopefully it all equals out. You have good breaks and you have bad breaks and there wasn't too many good breaks tonight. They were aggressive early in the count and swung the bat well when they needed too."
The series, which was bad in every standpoint, pushed the Texas losing streak at Globe Life Park to six-straight games. The lone bright spot from the series which was as bad as things went the Rangers only dropped one game in the American League West.
"It really hasn't happened for us at home," said Texas shortstop Elvis Andrus, who snapped a 0 for 17 slump with an RBI single. "It's kind of weird how to explain that. We came in from Baltimore (winning three of four) playing good baseball and come back here. ...I'm really glad tomorrow is an off day. Think a little bit, and come Tuesday and find a way to finish this first half strong."
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