Rangers power past Angels, 10-6

This article was originally on a blog post platform and may be missing photos, graphics or links. See About archive blog posts.

Right-hander Dan Haren gave up a three-run second-inning home run to Texas’ David Murphy, and the Angels never recovered, falling 10-6 to the Rangers in a Cactus League exhibition Wednesday.

After one-out singles by Michael Young and former Angel Mike Napoli and a balk that moved the runners into scoring position, Haren went inside to Murphy with a two-strike fastball and the Ranger outfielder turned on it, lining the ball onto the berm behind the right-field wall.

And though Haren was mostly pleased with his two-inning outing, one in which he threw 22 of his 29 pitches for strikes, he said the home run bothered him.

‘I’m happy the ball feels good coming out. But I didn’t want to give up the three runs,’ he said. ‘I’m not happy about that. If giving up a homer doesn’t bother you, then you shouldn’t be on the mound. I’ve bought into that. Every time I go out there, I want to do well. I want to put up zeroes.

‘The ultimate goal is to get guys out. If I’m not getting guys out, then I’m not happy.’

But Haren wasn’t the only Angel victimized by the Rangers’ power. Right-hander Trevor Bell gave up a long three-run home run to Ian Kinsler in a four-run Texas fourth, Jason Bulger allowed a solo homer by Chad Tracy in the sixth, and Doug Deeds blasted a massive two-run shot off Francisco Rodriguez in the seventh.

The four homers were one more than the defending American League champions had hit in their first three spring-training games.

The Angels clawed back to briefly make a game of it behind Maicer Izturis and Jeff Mathis, the only two regular position players who made the hourlong trip from the Angels’ Tempe home to Surprise Stadium. Mathis singled to drive in a run, stole a base, then scored himself in the third while Izturis had an RBI double and a two-run seventh-inning home run.

Left fielder Chris Pettit also had a good afternoon with a single, a walk and two runs scored for the Angels, who stole three more bases to give them 10 -- in 12 tries -- this spring.

Shortstop Andrew Romine was the only Angel starter who didn’t get a hit.

-- Kevin Baxter, reporting from Surprise, Ariz.