Rangers snap scoreless streak, walk off on Soto's blas

By T.R. Sullivan
MLB.com

ARLINGTON -- The Rangers, trailing, 3-0, after five innings, rallied with two home runs from A.J. Pierzynski and Geovany Soto in the ninth for a 4-3 walk-off victory over the Angels at the Ballpark in Arlington on Monday night.

The Rangers, who snapped their streak of 26 consecutive scoreless innings with a run in the sixth, also snapped their four-game losing streak by getting to Angels closer Ernesto Frieri. Ian Kinsler drove in the Rangers first two runs with a single in the sixth and a sacrifice fly in the eighth.

Pierzynski led off the ninth by hitting a 1-2 pitch into the right-field seats for his 11th home run of the season. Nelson Cruz followed with a single to left, but David Murphy grounded into a double play.

But Soto came up and hit a 3-2 pitch high and deep down the left-field line, which just got over the wall for the game-winner. It also set off a big celebration at home plate.

Rangers starter Matt Garza took a no-decision in his second start since being acquired from the Cubs. He allowed three runs -- all in the fifth inning. The Angels had five hits and three walks in seven innings against Garza and he struck out six. Garza had won six straight starts with a 1.23 ERA.

Angels starter Jered Weaver also went seven innings, holding the Rangers to one run on five hits and a walk while striking out six. He is 5-1 with a 1.32 ERA in his last six starts.

Garza had allowed two hits going into the fifth and struck out Hank Conger to start the inning. But J.B. Shuck, hitting at the bottom of the Angels order, hit a 3-1 fastball into the right-field seats for a home run. Garza then got ahead 0-2 on Erick Aybar and ended up walking him.

After Kole Calhoun flied out, Mike Trout doubled to center -- putting runners on second and third -- and Josh Hamilton bounced a single to left to bring home two runs.

The Rangers came through in the sixth and snapped Weaver's own streak of 19 2/3 scoreless innings. Leonys Martin reached on a one-out bunt base hit and went to second when Elvis Andrus was thrown out trying to bunt his way on base. Kinsler followed with a single to center to bring home Martin. Adrian Beltre also singled, his second hit of the night. But Weaver struck out Pierzynski to end the inning.

Texas fell two short of the club record for consecutive innings without scoring a run. The 1972 Rangers still hold that record with 28 consecutive scoreless innings.

T.R. Sullivan is a reporter for MLB.com. Read his blog, Postcards from Elysian Fields, and follow him on Twitter @Sullivan_Ranger. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.