Vladimir Guerrero singled in the decisive run in the bottom of the eighth inning as the Texas Rangers defeated the visiting Los Angeles Angels 3-2 on Thursday night.
Guerrero’s hard-hit single to left field scored Nelson Cruz, who had doubled to right-center field and stole third.
Angels rookie Peter Bourjos had the tied the game in the top of the eighth with his fifth homer of the season.
Neftali Feliz worked the ninth for his 39th save.
Texas scored first on Michael Young’s sacrifice fly in the third inning and made it 2-0 in the fourth on Guerrero’s run-scoring double.
The Angels got a run on Bobby Abreu’s sacrifice fly in the sixth inning.
Rangers starter Cliff Lee was in line for his 13th win until reliever Darren O’Day (6-2) allowed Bourjos’ homer. Lee gave up one unearned run and four hits in seven innings.
Jordan Walden (0-1) lost in relief for Los Angeles. Angels starter Scott Kazmir allowed two runs and six hits in 5 1/3 innings.
Cruz had three of the Rangers’ nine hits, while Bourjos had three of the Angels’ five hits.
LA Angels | Texas | |
Scott Kazmir | Player | Cliff Lee |
No Decision | W/L | No Decision |
5.1 | IP | 7.0 |
2 | Strikeouts | 8 |
6 | Hits | 4 |
3.38 | ERA | 0.00 |
LA Angels | Texas | |
Peter Bourjos | Player | Nelson Cruz |
3 | Hits | 3 |
1 | RBI | 0 |
1 | HR | 0 |
7 | TB | 5 |
.750 | Avg | .750 |