Nathan Eovaldi, Texas Rangers Respond by Blasting Angels

The Texas Rangers built another nice lead Saturday night against the Los Angeles Angels.

This time it stuck.

Nathan Eovaldi turned in his second consecutive scoreless outing as the Rangers snapped a two-game losing streak with a 10-1 rout at Angel Stadium.

Texas (19-13) also opened up a one-game lead over the Angels (19-15) in the American League West. The Rangers have been first or tied for first in the division for all but one day this season.

The modest skid was especially frustrating for the Rangers. Texas lost late leads in the last two games, including a blown four-run edge Friday.

Nathan Eovaldi followed up Dane Dunning’s solid spot start in the series opener with an eight-inning gem, allowing just five hits and striking out five. The right-hander improved to 4-2, lowered his ERA to 3.22 and has a streak of 20 consecutive scoreless innings.

Eovaldi blanked the New York Yankees a week ago for his first career complete-game shutout and was in line to do it again, but the Rangers scored seven runs in the ninth. The long inning ended the night for Eovaldi.

After getting a hit in each of the first three innings, the Rangers finally broke through in the fourth off Angels starter Reid Detmers. Four hits led to a 3-0 lead, with Jonah Heim, Travis Jankowski and Marcus Semien each driving in runs.

Detmers (0-3) was chased in the fifth after walking leadoff hitter Nathaniel Lowe.

The Rangers tacked on eight runs in the ninth and finished with 15 hits. Heim had three RBI, while Semien and Jankowski each had two.

Brandon Drury had a solo home run for Los Angeles in the ninth off Yerry Rodriguez to spoil the shutout.

The series continues Sunday afternoon with a 3:07 p.m. CT first pitch. Texas is starting Martín Pérez (4-1, 2.41), with José Suarez (1-1, 7.89) going for Los Angeles.

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