Matthews Rallies Angels, Sends Rangers to 5th Straight Loss

By Chip Bayers,  Newser Staff
Posted Apr 15, 2008 6:47 PM CDT
Matthews Rallies Angels, Sends Rangers to 5th Straight Loss
Texas Rangers' Josh Hamilton, right, is tagged out while trying to steal second base by Los Angeles Angels shortstop Erick Aybar, as teammate Maicer Izturis looks on during the ninth inning of a baseball game in Arlington, Texas, Tuesday, April 15, 2008. The Angels won 7-4.    (AP Photo/LM Otero)

Gary Matthews Jr. snapped out of a slump with a tiebreaking, three-run double, and the Los Angeles Angels rallied to beat Texas 7-4 on Tuesday as the Rangers ended their first homestand of the season with their fifth straight loss. Matthews was in a 3-for-27 slide before his double to left-center in the sixth inning off Josh Rupe (0-1) broke a 4-all tie.  

Rupe took over to start the sixth for Kevin Millwood, who left after 70 pitches due to a bruised left shin sustained when he was hit by a batted ball in the second. The Rangers said Millwood came out because his leg started to stiffen up on him. The problem didn't appear to be serious. Rupe walked two batters and allowed a single, with a sacrifice bunt in between, before Matthews cleared the bases. (More Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim stories.)

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