Trout’s grand day prevents Rangers from sweeping Angels

Mike Trout, rubber wrist and all, kept the Texas Rangers from the weekend sweep of the Los Angeles Angels that they coveted and needed.

The Rangers cut a game from their deficit in the American League West by winning the first two games and now trail the Angels by 7 1/2 games and four out of the second wild-card spot.

Within the three games, the Rangers did things that contenders do. They got quality starting pitching to win the opener, and then rallied late Saturday, using heady base running, timely hitting and good bullpen work.

They also did things that non-contenders do, like the silly defensive mistakes and shaky relief work that was evident Sunday in a 13-7 loss at Angel Stadium.

Though the weekend and a 5-4 road trip were a success, they did nothing to alter management’s thoughts on the Rangers’ playoff chances with the non-waiver trade deadline arriving Friday.

General manger Jon Daniels believes the Rangers still have a run in them and can play with the AL’s top teams, but he said the Rangers aren’t going to be involved for big-name rental players ahead of the trade deadline.

“It reinforces how we feel about the club,” Daniels said of the series win. “There’s a confidence we can play with these clubs. How we view the team didn’t really change this week. I don’t think one win or one loss is how you make decisions.”

The Rangers will be more focused on smaller deals and for players who can help now while also being controllable for multiple seasons. Philadelphia left-hander Cole Hamels, the prize of the trade market, tops that list, but Daniels declined to discuss any specific player or potential deal.

A major league source, though, said that the Rangers remain involved on Hamels, who tossed a no-hitter Saturday and is signed through 2018 at $23.5 million a season. Another source said that the Rangers have contacted San Diego about right-handers Andrew Cashner, the former TCU star, and Tyson Ross.

While the Rangers have interest in acquiring a right-handed bat, they are not interested in a reunion with Jeff Francoeur, a contributor on the 2010 World Series team who his having a nice comeback season in Philadelphia.

The Rangers want to add to the bullpen, and a deal for a reliever might come down to deadline day. The bullpen had issues during the nine-game run through Houston, Colorado and Anaheim to open the second half.

“We’d like to,” Daniels said. “I don’t think anything’s happened this week that changes that. We have a pretty good feel about where we are in that department.”

Trout hit two home runs, including a grand slam in a five-run sixth in which the Rangers committed an error and used four pitchers, and Nick Martinez lost a fourth straight decision after allowing four runs in five-plus innings.

Martinez fell behind hitters too often, and he was done in the sixth after walking the first batter on four pitches. Anthony Bass entered and was tagged with a throwing error on a sacrifice bunt, and the next two reached to score a run and load the bases with no outs.

Trout, who had crashed onto his left wrist while diving for an Elvis Andrus flare in the fourth inning and writhed in pain, faced Spencer Patton two batters later. Trout fouled off two 3-2 pitches before connecting for his 31st homer of the season.

It was the fifth straight fastball Patton had thrown.

“I was trying to get out of there with minimal damage, but it didn’t happen,” Patton said. “It was probably poor pitch selection, and I didn’t hit my spot.”

Rougned Odor drove in three runs, including two on a ninth-inning homer, and Mitch Moreland had two RBIs in the seventh. The Rangers led 2-1 after four innings, erasing Trout’s solo shot in the first, but C.J. Cron homered to start the Angels’ fourth and Martinez was trailing 3-2 after five.

It wasn’t the cleanest game the Rangers have played this season, but they still feel good about their weekend and their chances, whether or not Daniels acquires any help ahead of the trade deadline.

“You always think you can win with the team you have,” said outfielder Josh Hamilton, who struck out three times Sunday and had only two hits in his series back at Angel Stadium. “It never hurts to see what’s there at the trade deadline, to see what’s available and see if they can contribute to your team. If we don’t get anybody, we’re good how we are.”

This story was originally published July 26, 2015 at 7:34 PM with the headline "Trout’s grand day prevents Rangers from sweeping Angels."