Rangers Take Down Angels 4-1 in Extra Innings Battle

In his first season with the Texas Rangers, Brandon Nimmo has come up clutch in left-on-left matchups time and time again.

On Monday night, Nimmo provided yet another big swing as he laced a go-ahead RBI single to kick off a three-run 10th inning in a 4-1 Rangers win over the Los Angeles Angels.

“I’m confident with any hand they throw at Brandon Nimmo,” Rangers manager Skip Schumaker said after the game.

“He’s so good, but his numbers are real against left-handers. He sticks his nose in it; he’s in the fight, not afraid of a good slider or good fastball against any lefty; it’s impressive…”

After Nimmo’s go-ahead hit, Jake Burger came through with a two-RBI single to cap off the three-run 10th and put the game away.

MacKenzie Gore got the start for the Texas, making his first appearance since he and his fiancée, Alex, welcomed their daughter Billi last Thursday.

In what will no doubt be a special start for Gore, he stepped up big, going 5.1 innings and allowing just one run while striking out nine.

“It’s been a great week, it’s been busy” Gore said after the game. “Really just an awesome however many days it’s been.”

Gore’s lone blemish of the night came in the first inning as Mike Trout deposited a low curveball over the left-center field wall for a solo home run to open the scoring. Rangers catcher Elias Diaz would get the run back in the fourth inning, coming through with an RBI single to score the lone Texas run prior to extra-innings.

After the Trout blast, Gore was able to keep Los Angeles off balance in large part thanks to the effectiveness of his changeup.

“I think I located it [changeup] well, I think I threw it aggressively and kinda kept them on heaters” Gore said. “I thought I threw it aggressive enough and in good enough locations and I thought we sequenced it well with everything else.”

After Gore’s performance, five Rangers relievers combined to pitch 4.2 shutout innings to help lead he team to victory.

Peyton Gray earned the victory, throwing a perfect ninth inning and Jacob Latz came on in the 10th to earn his 23rd save of the season. Tyler Alexander, Chase Silseth, and Robby Ahlstrom also each pitched scoreless outings.

“Our bullpen was fantastic tonight and a big reason why we won” Schumaker said.