Texas Rangers Break Up No-Hitter, But Blanked By Los Angeles Angels

ARLINGTON, Texas – The Texas Rangers were held hitless for more than seven innings and were shutout 2-0 by the Los Angeles Angels Wednesday night at Globe Life Field.

The Rangers' lead atop the AL West dropped to 2 1/2 games with the Astros beating the Miami Marlins early on Wednesday.

Texas was shut out for the ninth time this season.

Mitch Garver led off the ninth with a single, followed by a single from pinch-hitter J.P. Martinez. Pinch-hitter Jonah Heim struck out and Travis Jankowski flew out to the track in right field for the second out. before Leody Taveras struck out to end the game.

Shohei Ohtani's solo homer in the first against Jon Gray was the only run through the first seven innings. Matt Thaiss' solo home in the top of the 9th gave the Angels a two-run cushion.

Angels left-hander Reid Detmers held the Rangers hitless through 7 1/3 innings until Marcus Semien reached on a bloop double in left-center. After Corey Seager was intentionally walked, before Adolis Garcia struck out and Nathaniel Lowe flew out to left.

Detmers walked two in the seventh but jammed Travis Jankowski into a groundout with two outs.

Gray held the Angels to one run on six hits and two walks and struck out four in seven innings.

Ohtani had three of the Angels' seven hits, including an infield single against Aroldis Chapman in the eighth.

Angels 2, Rangers 0

Here are the key takeaways from the Rangers-Angels game Wednesday night:

So Close, So Far

Travis Jankowski was very close to a game-winning three-run homer in the bottom of the ninth. His flyout to the track in right field was measured by StatCast at 381 feet.

According to StatCast, it would have been a home run in one of the 30 MLB parks. The one park? Angels Stadium.

Rangers' Run Differential

The Rangers have an AL-best run differential of +196, down one after Wednesday's loss. The Rangers' previous all-time best run differential at any point during a season was +178 on Sept. 28, 2011.

Only the Atlanta Braves have a higher run differential in 2023. They were at +206 before Wednesday's game.

Semien Streaking

Marcus Semien has reached base safely in 23 consecutive games since July 22. Semien's no-hitter-busting double in the eighth was his 30th double of the season. He has five consecutive seasons with 30 or more doubles, not including the abbreviated 2020 season.

Semien is batting .319/.403/.586/.989 (37-116) with eight homers, two triples, three doubles, 22 RBI, 26 runs, and 16 walks with only 13 strikeouts in 30 games since the All-Star break.

Up Next

The Rangers are off Thursday before starting a three-game series against the Milwaukie Brewers at 7:05 p.m. Friday at Globe Life Field. Rangers left-hander Andrew Heaney (9-6, 4.17) faces Brewers right-hander Brandon Woodruff (2-1, 1.99) in Game 1.

You can follow Stefan Stevenson on Twitter @StefanVersusTex.

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