ARLINGTON - Juan Rivera and Torii Hunter provided the muscle, and children - Michael Kohn and Andrew Romine - came through late. But the story of the night for the Angels in the glow of a 5-4 decision over the Rangers in 11 innings was a relative.
Jered Weaver pitched well enough to win, but it was not. For the fifth time this frustrating season, the Angels' ace left with a lead but it has nothing tangible to show. Ending the year with a 13-12 record huge deception, which could have easily been in the range of 20 victories.
"I did everything I could, threw the way I could pitch," Weaver said. "Things just did not work. You'll have a season of bad luck. It's never happened before. Just know that nobody will have a season like this. We will not let it happen."
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Rivera's second solo homer
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01/10/1910: Juan Rivera released his second solo home run of the game, giving the Angels a 5-4 lead in the top of the 11 th
Tags: More Than This homer of the game, Juan Rivera, Los Angeles Angels of Los Angeles, hitting
Angels a two-run lead get away in the ninth inning, denying Weaver what his victory would have been 14, then prevailed in Rivera's second homer of the game and relief work superlative Kohn versus 43,149 in the night Friday the Rangers stadium.
On top of 11, Bobby Cassevah walked one batter and hit another. Kohn entered, which has a force of one third of Romine shortstop with a sensational diving tag of the bag into the hopper Julio Borbon on third baseman Alberto Callaspo.
After Elvis Andrus struck out Michael Young looked at a third strike, giving Kohn his first Major League save.
"It was awesome, getting the first save," said Kohn. "But the story was Weav tonight. It's amazing how golf game after game. Is the definition of an ace."
Weaver's final strikeout victim was a young man in the room. He finished with 233 strikeouts - more than Seattle's Felix Hernandez, who has been shut down by the Mariners to one. Giants' Tim Lincecum has 231, but also expected to release another release of the regular season.
Weaver became the first Angels pitcher since Nolan Ryan in 1977 to win a crown of Major League strikeout. The Express delivered 341 of the season.
"That's almost two strikeout seasons," Weaver said, smiling.
The 224 1 / 3 innings are more significant than the 233 strikeouts, Weaver said, because his goal was to reach 200 entries.
"Okay," said Weaver, strikeout title, but nothing that really shooting for. Going into the final, knowing that can happen, it was very exciting. Is that something is going to be able to tell the grandchildren. old man was pretty good in its day. "
Rich Thompson (2-0) claimed the win with Matt Harrison, a victim of unit Rivera left, moving to 3-2 with the loss. With wins in their last two games, the Angels can finish the season at .500.
Mitch Moreland, Rangers first base of young, drilled a pair of solo homers against Weaver for a 2-1 lead in Texas entered the eighth inning when the Angels were stirred to life.
Against reliever Michael Kirkman, Peter Bourj fly "sacrifice scored Reggie Willits, who had run to Mike Napoli after their walk and moved to third on a single shred of Howard Kendrick. Kendrick moved to second on the throw to the plate and scored when Maicer Izturis hit an RBI single to right.
Rivera homered in the ninth inning for a two-run lead that escaped under the supervision of Fernando Rodney.
The 'Angels Esteban German had intercepted more than would have been the final out in the ninth inning, but the German was an abstract and Rivera came out throwing first baseman Jeff Mathis receiver range, allowing Moreland to score the tying run.
An RBI single by Bengie Molina followed a beaten batter (Ian Kinsler) and walking (Moreland) by Rodney. After Bourbon quietly failed for the second out, Andrus was on the plate when captured German Rodney moving - and ran away to Rangers.
Moreland, who had tied for fifth with a blast to center, gave the Rangers the lead with a shot to right-center in the ninth-seventh of the season.
Hunter unleashed a homer in front of the field in the fourth inning against Tommy Hunter Weaver's hand to his head. He had retired 14 in a row when Moreland launched its first rocket to center with two outs in the fifth.
Weaver had gone six starts and 48 1 / 3 innings between homers.
"The last few times that we face has launched the ball very well," said Moreland. "It mixes his pitches very well. I just wanted to be in a position to hit it, see the ball and hit it."
Inactive for 24 games with two broken ribs, Josh Hamilton returned to the lineup for the Rangers in center field and went 0-for-3.
With a diving stab in right center, Hunter stole Nelson Cruz of extra bases with two on and two outs in the sixth inning. But the game of the night belonged to athletics when he defeated Moreland Romine to bag a third by a tab with a dive. Kohn thanked his friend and Andrus and youth struck out to end it.
"Once I retired," said Romine, Bourbon deceiving a bunt, "I have to keep my land in case of rocking. I needed all you have to go. I tried to remain abroad and has base. Sometimes you get caught by surprise and have to react. "