SURPRISE, Ariz. -- Yunel Escobar and Daniel Nava continued their strong springs to lead the Los Angeles Angels to a 5-1 victory over the Texas Rangers on Sunday.
Escobar, acquired from Washington in the offseason, singled leading off the game for his eighth consecutive hit. Escobar's streak ended in the third when he grounded out, but he doubled and walked in his final two plate appearances, hiking his average to .486.
Nava hit his first home run off Nick Martinez in the third and has hit safely in all 13 of his games, going 15 for 29 for a .517 batting average.
"Those guys can literally do nothing wrong, unbelievable," said winning pitcher Andrew Heaney.
Albert Pujols scored in the Angels' third on shortstop Jurickson Profar's second error. The Rangers committed five errors, three before they recorded four outs.
Heaney allowed one run, a homer to Ryan Rua, and four hits in four innings. He struck out five and walked one.
"That's not normal for me, usually a little bit less strikeouts," Heaney said. "The one walk would have been nice not to have, but it happens."
Martinez yielded three runs, one unearned, on seven hits, while striking out five and walking none.
"Nick got a few more swings and misses than he normally does," Rangers manager Jeff Banister said. "He was a little sharper with his fastball, pitched in, the breaking ball had good life to it, but still I'd like to see little more efficiency with his pitches. We didn't play well behind him. He got the one pitch up to Nava and he tomahawked it out of the ball park."
STARTING TIME
Angels: Heaney threw 40 strikes in 63 pitches, lowering his ERA to 2.00 in three starts. "I felt really good about it," Heaney said. "Each time out I've felt better, a little bit more comfortable every time. If it keeps progressing like that it's a good sign."
Rangers: Martinez, who is competing for the fifth slot vacancy, faced 21 batters and retired eight on ground balls.
ACES IN MINORS
Rangers LHP Cole Hamels pitched for Triple-A Round Rock against the Royals' Omaha club and allowed three earned runs on five hits, including two home runs, in 5 1/3 innings. He struck out nine and walked none throwing 48 strikes in 70 pitches.
Angels RHP Jered Weaver pitched in a minor-league game at Tempe, allowing three runs pm seven hits in four innings, walking none and striking out three. "There were definitely some positives to take out of it," Weaver said. "I haven't had some positives come out of a start in a while." Weaver, who is battling a neck issue and had not pitched in a competitive game in 10 days, was 78-81 mile per hour on the radar guns, hitting 83 once.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Angels: SS Andrelton Simmons (sore arm) has not played the field in a week, but could return Tuesday. . LHP Tommy Skaggs (rehabbing from Tommy John surgery) is penciled in to start a minor league game Thursday.
Rangers: OF Nomar Mazara left with a bruised right big toe after fouling off a pitch in the sixth. X-rays were negative. . RHP Yu Darvish (rehabbing from Tommy John surgery) is slated to throw a 30-pitch bullpen session for the first time Monday. . OF Josh Hamilton (left knee injury) said he is pain-free and will likely return to a full workout with restricted running by mid-week.
FOREVER AN ANGEL
Chone Figgins will sign a one-day contract Monday with the Angels, so he can retire as an Angel. Figgins, 38, hit .291 with a .363 on-base percentage from 2002-09 with the club.
UP NEXT
Angels: RHP Nick Tropeano will make his fourth start against the Brewers.
Rangers: LHP Martin Perez will face the Rockies.
Escobar, acquired from Washington in the offseason, singled leading off the game for his eighth consecutive hit. Escobar's streak ended in the third when he grounded out, but he doubled and walked in his final two plate appearances, hiking his average to .486.
Nava hit his first home run off Nick Martinez in the third and has hit safely in all 13 of his games, going 15 for 29 for a .517 batting average.
"Those guys can literally do nothing wrong, unbelievable," said winning pitcher Andrew Heaney.
Albert Pujols scored in the Angels' third on shortstop Jurickson Profar's second error. The Rangers committed five errors, three before they recorded four outs.
Heaney allowed one run, a homer to Ryan Rua, and four hits in four innings. He struck out five and walked one.
"That's not normal for me, usually a little bit less strikeouts," Heaney said. "The one walk would have been nice not to have, but it happens."
Martinez yielded three runs, one unearned, on seven hits, while striking out five and walking none.
"Nick got a few more swings and misses than he normally does," Rangers manager Jeff Banister said. "He was a little sharper with his fastball, pitched in, the breaking ball had good life to it, but still I'd like to see little more efficiency with his pitches. We didn't play well behind him. He got the one pitch up to Nava and he tomahawked it out of the ball park."
STARTING TIME
Angels: Heaney threw 40 strikes in 63 pitches, lowering his ERA to 2.00 in three starts. "I felt really good about it," Heaney said. "Each time out I've felt better, a little bit more comfortable every time. If it keeps progressing like that it's a good sign."
Rangers: Martinez, who is competing for the fifth slot vacancy, faced 21 batters and retired eight on ground balls.
ACES IN MINORS
Rangers LHP Cole Hamels pitched for Triple-A Round Rock against the Royals' Omaha club and allowed three earned runs on five hits, including two home runs, in 5 1/3 innings. He struck out nine and walked none throwing 48 strikes in 70 pitches.
Angels RHP Jered Weaver pitched in a minor-league game at Tempe, allowing three runs pm seven hits in four innings, walking none and striking out three. "There were definitely some positives to take out of it," Weaver said. "I haven't had some positives come out of a start in a while." Weaver, who is battling a neck issue and had not pitched in a competitive game in 10 days, was 78-81 mile per hour on the radar guns, hitting 83 once.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Angels: SS Andrelton Simmons (sore arm) has not played the field in a week, but could return Tuesday. . LHP Tommy Skaggs (rehabbing from Tommy John surgery) is penciled in to start a minor league game Thursday.
Rangers: OF Nomar Mazara left with a bruised right big toe after fouling off a pitch in the sixth. X-rays were negative. . RHP Yu Darvish (rehabbing from Tommy John surgery) is slated to throw a 30-pitch bullpen session for the first time Monday. . OF Josh Hamilton (left knee injury) said he is pain-free and will likely return to a full workout with restricted running by mid-week.
FOREVER AN ANGEL
Chone Figgins will sign a one-day contract Monday with the Angels, so he can retire as an Angel. Figgins, 38, hit .291 with a .363 on-base percentage from 2002-09 with the club.
UP NEXT
Angels: RHP Nick Tropeano will make his fourth start against the Brewers.
Rangers: LHP Martin Perez will face the Rockies.
4:05PM,EDT,March 20, 2016
Surprise Stadium, Surprise, Arizona
Surprise Stadium, Surprise, Arizona
| View: Play-By-Play | Pitch-By-Pitch | Inning: All | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 |
| Los Angeles - Top of 1st | SCORE | |
|---|---|---|
| Nick Martinez pitching for Texas | LAA | TEX |
| Y Escobar reached on infield single to shortstop, Y Escobar to second on throwing error by shortstop Juri. Profar. | 0 | 0 |
| D Nava struck out looking. | 0 | 0 |
| A Pujols grounded out to third, Y Escobar to third. | 0 | 0 |
| K Calhoun safe at first on error by second baseman P Ciriaco, Y Escobar scored. | 1 | 0 |
| K Calhoun caught stealing second, catcher to second. | 1 | 0 |
| 1 Runs, 1 Hits, 2 Errors | ||
| Texas - Bottom of 1st | SCORE | |
| Andrew Heaney pitching for Los Angeles | LAA | TEX |
| Choo flied out to left. | 1 | 0 |
| Desmond singled to right. | 1 | 0 |
| Moreland struck out swinging. | 1 | 0 |
| Desmond caught stealing second, pitcher to first to second. | 1 | 0 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Los Angeles - Top of 2nd | SCORE | |
| Nick Martinez pitching for Texas | LAA | TEX |
| C Cron continues to bat after dropped foul ball by first baseman Moreland. | 1 | 0 |
| C Cron doubled to left center. | 1 | 0 |
| J Giavotella struck out swinging. | 1 | 0 |
| C Gentry singled to center. | 1 | 0 |
| J Bandy struck out swinging. | 1 | 0 |
| G Petit struck out looking. | 1 | 0 |
| 0 Runs, 2 Hits, 1 Errors | ||
| Texas - Bottom of 2nd | SCORE | |
| Andrew Heaney pitching for Los Angeles | LAA | TEX |
| Beltré grounded out to shortstop. | 1 | 0 |
| Odor singled to center. | 1 | 0 |
| Rua struck out swinging. | 1 | 0 |
| Odor stole second. | 1 | 0 |
| Juri. Profar walked. | 1 | 0 |
| Chirinos grounded into fielder's choice to second, Juri. Profar out at second. | 1 | 0 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Los Angeles - Top of 3rd | SCORE | |
| Nick Martinez pitching for Texas | LAA | TEX |
| Ruggiano at first base. | 1 | 0 |
| Y Escobar grounded out to second. | 1 | 0 |
| D Nava homered to center. | 2 | 0 |
| A Pujols singled to center. | 2 | 0 |
| K Calhoun doubled to center, A Pujols to third. | 2 | 0 |
| C Cron safe at first on error by shortstop Juri. Profar, A Pujols scored, K Calhoun to third. | 3 | 0 |
| J Giavotella grounded into fielder's choice to pitcher, K Calhoun out at home, C Cron to second. | 3 | 0 |
| C Gentry grounded into fielder's choice to shortstop, J Giavotella out at second. | 3 | 0 |
| 2 Runs, 3 Hits, 1 Errors | ||
| Texas - Bottom of 3rd | SCORE | |
| Andrew Heaney pitching for Los Angeles | LAA | TEX |
| P Ciriaco fouled out to right. | 3 | 0 |
| Choo singled to right. | 3 | 0 |
| Desmond struck out looking. | 3 | 0 |
| Choo stole second. | 3 | 0 |
| Ruggiano lined out to shortstop. | 3 | 0 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Los Angeles - Top of 4th | SCORE | |
| Nick Martinez pitching for Texas | LAA | TEX |
| J Bandy struck out swinging. | 3 | 0 |
| G Petit grounded out to shortstop. | 3 | 0 |
| Y Escobar doubled to right center. | 3 | 0 |
| Y Escobar safe at third on throwing error by pitcher Martinez. | 3 | 0 |
| D Nava hit by pitch. | 3 | 0 |
| A Pujols grounded out to shortstop. | 3 | 0 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 1 Errors | ||
| Texas - Bottom of 4th | SCORE | |
| Andrew Heaney pitching for Los Angeles | LAA | TEX |
| Beltré fouled out to catcher. | 3 | 0 |
| Odor struck out looking. | 3 | 0 |
| Rua homered to right. | 3 | 1 |
| Juri. Profar struck out swinging. | 3 | 1 |
| 1 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Los Angeles - Top of 5th | SCORE | |
| Alex Claudio pitching for Texas | LAA | TEX |
| A Claudio relieved Martinez. | 3 | 1 |
| K Calhoun singled to center. | 3 | 1 |
| C Cron lined into double play, pitcher to first, K Calhoun out at first. | 3 | 1 |
| J Giavotella walked. | 3 | 1 |
| C Gentry doubled to left, J Giavotella scored. | 4 | 1 |
| J Bandy flied out to right. | 4 | 1 |
| 1 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Texas - Bottom of 5th | SCORE | |
| Jose Alvarez pitching for Los Angeles | LAA | TEX |
| J Alvarez relieved A Heaney. | 4 | 1 |
| Chirinos singled to center. | 4 | 1 |
| P Ciriaco singled to left, Chirinos to second. | 4 | 1 |
| Choo flied out to left. | 4 | 1 |
| Desmond struck out looking. | 4 | 1 |
| Ruggiano struck out swinging. | 4 | 1 |
| 0 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Los Angeles - Top of 6th | SCORE | |
| Shawn Tolleson pitching for Texas | LAA | TEX |
| Brinson in right field. | 4 | 1 |
| Stubbs in center field. | 4 | 1 |
| Tolleson relieved A Claudio. | 4 | 1 |
| G Petit flied out to center. | 4 | 1 |
| Y Escobar walked. | 4 | 1 |
| A Phillips ran for Y Escobar. | 4 | 1 |
| D Nava grounded out to first, A Phillips to second. | 4 | 1 |
| R Navarro hit for A Pujols. | 4 | 1 |
| R Navarro singled to right, A Phillips scored. | 5 | 1 |
| K Calhoun walked, R Navarro to second. | 5 | 1 |
| Fletcher ran for K Calhoun. | 5 | 1 |
| C Cron walked, R Navarro to third, Fletcher to second. | 5 | 1 |
| Valdespina relieved Tolleson. | 5 | 1 |
| T Cunningham ran for C Cron. | 5 | 1 |
| J Choi hit for J Giavotella. | 5 | 1 |
| J Choi lined out to left. | 5 | 1 |
| 1 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Texas - Bottom of 6th | SCORE | |
| Mike Morin pitching for Los Angeles | LAA | TEX |
| A Phillips at second base. | 5 | 1 |
| N Buss in right field. | 5 | 1 |
| Fletcher at shortstop. | 5 | 1 |
| T Cunningham in center field. | 5 | 1 |
| J Choi at first base. | 5 | 1 |
| R Ortega in left field. | 5 | 1 |
| J Marte at third base. | 5 | 1 |
| M Morin relieved J Alvarez. | 5 | 1 |
| Beltré struck out swinging. | 5 | 1 |
| Odor struck out swinging. | 5 | 1 |
| Mazara hit for Rua. | 5 | 1 |
| Mazara struck out looking. | 5 | 1 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Los Angeles - Top of 7th | SCORE | |
| Andrew Faulkner pitching for Texas | LAA | TEX |
| Gallo at third base. | 5 | 1 |
| Mazara in left field. | 5 | 1 |
| Alberto at shortstop. | 5 | 1 |
| Robinson at second base. | 5 | 1 |
| Faulkner relieved Valdespina. | 5 | 1 |
| J Marte grounded out to third. | 5 | 1 |
| J Bandy singled to right center. | 5 | 1 |
| R Ortega grounded into fielder's choice to shortstop, J Bandy out at second. | 5 | 1 |
| A Phillips struck out swinging. | 5 | 1 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Texas - Bottom of 7th | SCORE | |
| Javy Guerra pitching for Los Angeles | LAA | TEX |
| J. Guerra relieved M Morin. | 5 | 1 |
| Alberto fouled out to first. | 5 | 1 |
| Chirinos flied out to center. | 5 | 1 |
| Robinson tripled to center. | 5 | 1 |
| Brinson flied out to center. | 5 | 1 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Los Angeles - Top of 8th | SCORE | |
| Andrew Faulkner pitching for Texas | LAA | TEX |
| J Gonzalez in left field. | 5 | 1 |
| Nicholas catching. | 5 | 1 |
| N Buss flied out to center. | 5 | 1 |
| R Navarro grounded out to second. | 5 | 1 |
| Fletcher walked. | 5 | 1 |
| T Cunningham grounded into fielder's choice to shortstop, Fletcher out at second. | 5 | 1 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Texas - Bottom of 8th | SCORE | |
| Javy Guerra pitching for Los Angeles | LAA | TEX |
| J Graterol catching. | 5 | 1 |
| Stubbs struck out looking. | 5 | 1 |
| Ruggiano struck out swinging. | 5 | 1 |
| Gallo flied out to center. | 5 | 1 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Los Angeles - Top of 9th | SCORE | |
| Tony Barnette pitching for Texas | LAA | TEX |
| T Barnette relieved Faulkner. | 5 | 1 |
| J Choi popped out to shortstop. | 5 | 1 |
| J Marte grounded out to shortstop. | 5 | 1 |
| J Graterol singled to right. | 5 | 1 |
| R Ortega singled to right, J Graterol to third. | 5 | 1 |
| J Graterol caught stealing home, catcher to shortstop to catcher. | 5 | 1 |
| 0 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Texas - Bottom of 9th | SCORE | |
| Ramon Ramirez pitching for Los Angeles | LAA | TEX |
| R Ramirez relieved J. Guerra. | 5 | 1 |
| Odor grounded out to first. | 5 | 1 |
| J Gonzalez popped out to shortstop. | 5 | 1 |
| Alberto reached on infield single to shortstop, Alberto to second on throwing error by shortstop Fletcher. | 5 | 1 |
| Nicholas grounded out to second. | 5 | 1 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 1 Errors | ||
| Los Angeles Angels | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hitters | AB | R | H | RBI | BB | SO | #P | AVG | OBP | SLG |
| Y Escobar 3B | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 16 | .486 | .548 | .297 |
A Phillips PR-2B
| 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 9 | .000 | .000 | .000 |
| D Nava LF | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 17 | .517 | .632 | .483 |
N Buss RF
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .400 | .429 | .360 |
| A Pujols DH | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11 | .281 | .303 | .281 |
a-R Navarro PH-DH
| 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 6 | .250 | .227 | .450 |
| K Calhoun RF | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 14 | .351 | .385 | .243 |
Fletcher PR-SS
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 6 | .800 | 1.200 | .833 |
| C Cron 1B | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 19 | .279 | .304 | .233 |
T Cunningham PR-CF
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .364 | .417 | .318 |
| J Giavotella 2B | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 10 | .282 | .300 | .410 |
b-J Choi PH-1B
| 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | .205 | .314 | .091 |
| C Gentry CF | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 6 | .367 | .406 | .267 |
J Marte 3B
| 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | .310 | .355 | .483 |
| J Bandy C | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 14 | .409 | .480 | .136 |
| 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | .333 | .400 | .333 | |
| G Petit SS | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 11 | .269 | .269 | .423 |
R Ortega LF
| 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11 | .294 | .333 | .382 |
| Totals | 39 | 5 | 13 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 171 | |||
| a-singled to right for A Pujols in the 6th b-lined out to left for J Giavotella in the 6th | ||||||||||
| BATTING 2B: C Cron (4, Martinez); K Calhoun (4, Martinez); Y Escobar (5, Martinez); C Gentry (2, A Claudio) HR: D Nava (1, 3rd inning off Martinez 0 on, 1 Out) RBI: D Nava (8), C Cron (6), C Gentry (1), R Navarro (8) 2-out RBI: C Gentry, R Navarro Angels RISP: 2-14 (J Bandy 0-2, C Cron 0-1, C Gentry 1-2, K Calhoun 0-1, J Choi 0-1, R Navarro 1-1, A Pujols 0-2, D Nava 0-1, J Giavotella 0-2, G Petit 0-1) Team LOB: 13 | ||||||||||
| BASERUNNING CS: K Calhoun (1, 2nd base by Martinez/Chirinos); J Graterol (1, Home by T Barnette/Nicholas) | ||||||||||
| FIELDING E: Fletcher (1, throw) | ||||||||||
Game Information
| Stadium | Surprise Stadium, Surprise, AZ |
| Attendance | 7,325 (15.2% full) - % is based on regular season capacity |
| Game Time | 3:15 |
| Weather | 88 degrees, sunny |
| Wind | 1 mph |
| Umpires | Home Plate - Sean Barber, First Base - Quinn Wolcott, Second Base - Mike Muchlinski, Third Base - Ryan Blakney |
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