Jonathan Ornelas hit a two-run single as a pinch hitter in Texas’ four-run ninth inning, helping the Rangers come back to beat the Los Angeles Angels 9-8 on Saturday night.
Nathaniel Lowe contributed a home run and three hits, driving in three runs, including one from a bases-loaded walk that marked the Rangers’ first run of the ninth. Dane Dunning (5-7) pitched a scoreless inning to earn the win, and Kirby Yates closed the game with three outs for his 33rd save.
“We got down pretty good there and they just kept fighting,” Rangers manager Bruce Bochy said. “It was a very entertaining game. A little sloppy on both sides at times.”
For the Angels, rookies Gustavo Campero and Niko Kavadas hit back-to-back home runs, while Logan O’Hoppe matched his career high with four hits and scored twice. Los Angeles wasted a 7-1 lead after three innings and lost their fifth game in a row. They have now lost 14 of their last 17 games and set a franchise record with 98 losses in a season.
In the ninth inning, with Angels left-hander Jose Quijada (2-2) pitching, the Rangers loaded the bases with two walks and a hit batter. Lowe added his third run with another walk, bringing Texas closer at 8-6.
The Angels then brought in rookie right-hander Ryan Miller, who allowed Ornelas’ two-run single to right field. The go-ahead run scored after Campero made a bad throw back to the infield.
“Ornelas, I put him in a little tough of a situation but nice piece of hitting on his part,” Bochy said about the pinch-hit move instead of Leody Taveras.
Campero had a busy night for the Angels in just his 12th game.
“If we could throw some strikes and put some balls in play, maybe some good things would have happened,” Angels manager Ron Washington said. “But it turned out to be an ugly ninth for us. And the kid in right field (Campero) threw the ball into no man’s land. They’re feeling the heat and the pressure.”
