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MAY 18, 1973
The Rangers travel to California for a three game series that does not promise many runs will be scored. In fact, these are the two lowest scoring teams in the American League. They are also tied for the fewest home runs hit in the league. The Angels have had strong pitching and defense which is even worse news for the abysmal Texas offense. Only one team in the league has allowed fewer runs. Only one team has a lower starters ERA. And only one team has a better defensive efficiency than California. The Angels have lost 4 of their last 6 and are just 5-10 in May. These two teams played in Texas in April and the Rangers won 2 out of 3. The Rangers have lost RP Danny Fife for the rest of the year because of a torn flexor tendon in his elbow. He is expected to miss 13 months.
OTHER GAMES SCHEDULED
AMERICAN LEAGUE
Milwaukee 19-16 at New York 19-17
Baltimore 20-15 at Cleveland 15-21
Boston 20-15 at Detroit 16-19
Minnesota 20-15 at Chicago 13-21
Kansas City 28-9 at Oakland 21-17
NATIONAL LEAGUE
St Louis 15-20 at Montreal 14-19
Pittsburgh 15-21 at New York 27-7
Chicago 15-25 at Philadelphia 22-12
San Diego 16-22 at Cincinnati 18-17
Los Angeles 18-19 at Atlanta 20-16
San Francisco 25-14 at Houston 13-26
TEXAS RANGERS 7-29 AT CALIFORNIA ANGELS 15-19
MATCHUPS
SP Rich Hand vs Nolan Ryan Advantage California
C Dick Billings vs Jeff Torborg Advantage Push
1B Frank Howard vs Jim Spencer Advantage Texas
2B Dave Nelson vs Sandy Alomar Sr Advantage Texas
3B Jim Mason vs Ken McMullen Advantage California
SS Ted Kubiak vs Leo Cardenas Advantage Push
LF Tom Grieve vs Billy Parker Advantage Texas
CF Elliott Maddox vs Ken Berry Advantage Texas
RF Jeff Burroughs vs Leroy Stanton Advantage Texas
DH Toby Harrah vs Orlando Cepeda Advantage Texas
Overall Advantage Texas
The top of the first ended with Ryan striking out Howard with two men on. That put Ryan's strikeout total to 80 on the season which, surprise surprise, leads the American League.
Kubiak put the Rangers on the board in the top of the second with an RBI single. Nelson also got an RBI with a grounball out. A wild pitch and an error helped manufacture that run.
After three: Texas 2 California 0.
Hand struck out Berry in the bottom of the fourth for his 10th K of the season. Just 70 more to go to catch Nolan Ryan.
Ryan was having trouble with the strike zone and his 7th walk of the game came in the top of the fifth and loaded the bases with nobody out. That was followed by a run-scoring infield single by Harrah. Howard then brought a run home with a sacrifice fly.
Cepeda got the Angels on the board with a 2-run single in the bottom of the sixth.
After six: Texas 4 California 2.
Ryan found his groove in the top of the seventh and struck out the side.
The Rangers got the first two men on base in the top of the ninth and the Angels pulled Ryan and brought in Dave Sells to pitch. The Rangers did not score as Burroughs flied out to retire the side and ended his hit streak at 12 games.
A one out walk in the bottom of the ninth ended the night for Hand as Bill Gogolewski was brought in to try and close it out. One 4-6-3 double play later and the Rangers losing streak ended at 5 games.
Final score: Texas 4 California 2.
PLAYER OF THE GAME
Rich Hand 8.1 IP 7 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 4 K
OTHER SCORES
AMERICAN LEAGUE
Milwaukee 4 New York 3
Baltimore 7 Cleveland 1
Detroit 7 Boston 1
Minnesota 5 Chicago 4
Kansas City 4 Oakland 2 13 innings
NATIONAL LEAGUE
St Louis 8 Montreal 4
Pittsburgh 6 New York 2
Chicago 7 Philadelphia 5
San Diego 12 Cincinnati 5
Los Angeles 7 Atlanta 4
Houston 8 San Francisco 4
TOP PERFORMERS
1. Billy L Williams Chicago Cubs 2 for 3, 2 HR, 3 RBI, 2 R, 2 BB
2. Jim Palmer Baltimore Orioles 9.0 IP, 6 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 4 K, W
3. Mickey Lolich Detroit Tigers 8.1 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 8 K, W
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