|
 Cron has endured two demotions this season to Salt Lake, the Los
Angeles Angels' Triple-A affiliate, but in the last month or so Cron
has been one of the club's few productive hitters.
In the opener of a critical three-game series against the Texas
Rangers Friday, Cron provided all the offense in a 5-2 victory at
Angel Stadium.
Cron drove in five runs with a single, double and triple, leading
Los Angeles to a big win that allowed the Angels to creep closer to
the Rangers, who are holding onto the American League's second
wild-card spot.
The win moved the Angels to within 2 1/2 games of the Rangers, while
the Minnesota Twins, losers on Friday, remained 1 1/2 games back.
"We need to start winning ballgames," said Cron, who started as the
designated hitter and batted in the cleanup spot. "Whatever it
takes, I'm on board. We needed the runs, it's big for us."
While much of the Angels offense has struggled over the last month,
Cron has been a bright spot. With his three hits Friday, he's
hitting .341 (31 for 91) with 17 RBIs over his last 25 games.
"My timing is good, I'm playing basically every day now so I'm
definitely more comfortable in the box than I was earlier," Cron
said. "Being sent down was good for me, getting a hundred or so ABs
down there, and coming back and feeling comfortable.
"You definitely down want to be down there, that's for sure; this is
where you want to be. I took it as a way to get better, get my
at-bats so when I got the call I could help the team."
Cron had a two-run single in the third inning, an RBI triple in the
fifth and a two-run double in the seventh, all three hits coming
with two out. The first two hits came off Rangers starter Martin
Perez (2-4), who got the loss after giving up three runs on five
hits and four walks in six innings.
"We've had our challenges with C.J. this year," Rangers manager Jeff
Banister said. "He showed up big with the three two-out hits, two of
them with two strikes. Other than that, we felt like we pitched
everybody else good."
Angels starter Garrett Richards (13-10) got the win, but he had to
work for every out it seemed. He gave up two runs on five hits, five
walks and a hit batter in six-plus innings. The Rangers had a runner
in scoring position against Richards in all but one inning.
"In the sixth there were the first signs of him losing his release
point," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. "He had trouble getting
the ball into the zone."
Richards worked his way out of trouble in the early innings before
the Rangers scored in the sixth, but just barely.
The Rangers had the bases loaded with one out when Rougned Odor hit
a fly ball to left field. Left fielder Shane Victorino made the
catch in foul territory, then threw to the cutoff man, shortstop
Erick Aybar.
[to top of second column] |
Aybar quickly threw to second base, catching first baseman Mitch
Moreland drifting too far off the bag. Second baseman Taylor
Featherston made the tag just as designated hitter Prince Fielder,
who tagged from third, slid across the plate.
Scioscia asked for a replay review, claiming the out at second came
before Fielder crossed the plate. But after a review that lasted
several minutes, the call stood and the Rangers cut their deficit to
3-1.
An RBI triple by Rangers right fielder Shin-Soo Choo in the seventh
inning cut the Angels' lead to 3-2, but Cron's two-run double in the
bottom of the inning gave the Angels some breathing room.
Like Cron, Choo, who hit for the cycle on July 21, had a single,
double and triple in the game, but the Rangers offense couldn't get
much going, stranding 10 runners on base and going 1 for 9 with
runners in scoring position.
"It was a challenge for us tonight," Banister said. "Couldn't get
the big hit when we needed it and push the runners along. A couple
situations where we got doubled up. Other than that it felt like we
played a clean game, just made a few mistakes to Cron."
Angels relievers Trevor Gott (seventh inning), Joe Smith (eighth)
and Huston Street (ninth, 32nd save) closed it out.
NOTES: Angels 2B Johnny Giavotella, out since Aug. 20 with a
previously undisclosed medical condition, has been diagnosed with
fourth nerve palsy, a condition that causes weakness or paralysis of
muscles in the eye and causes double vision. It's unclear if he'll
return this season. In 119 games, Giavotella has hit .265 with 21
doubles 40 RBIs and 47 runs scored. ... Rangers 1B Mitch Moreland
has a team-high 11 game-winning RBIs, tied for ninth best in the
American League. ... Angels CF Mike Trout began the night homerless
since Aug. 7, a stretch of 25 games without one. ... Rangers RF
Shin-Soo Choo went into the game hitting .309 (42 for 136) with five
homers, 11 doubles and 22 RBIs in 39 games since the All-Star break.
[© 2015 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.]
Copyright 2015 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
 |
