Kiner-Falefa gets 4 hits, leads Rangers over Angels 7-3

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Isiah Kiner-Falefa matched a career high with four hits, Nick Solak drove in a pair of runs and the Texas Rangers had a few rookies get some big firsts in a 7-3 win over the Los Angeles Angels on Wednesday night.

John King (1-0) gave up one unearned run over two innings to get his first big league victory, Eli White's first career hit was an RBI double in a decisive five-run fifth inning, and speedy center fielder Leody Taveras stole home.

“We're all excited honestly every day. They bring it,” manager Chris Woodward said. “One thing we know about these kids, they’re fearless.”

The Rangers, who have turned their focus on younger players for the last stretch of the shortened season, have won consecutive games for only the third time this year. They had lost six in row, and 18 of 21, before winning the series opener Tuesday. They also ended a stretch of seven consecutive series losses by taking the first two games in the three-game set.

King (1-0), the lefty who was the third of seven Texas pitchers, made his second career appearance. He came on after 37-year-old reliever Jesse Chavez retired the only two batters he faced — Shohei Ohtani and Albert Pujols — to get out of a bases-loaded jam in the third after rookie starter Kyle Cody had issued three consecutive one-out walks.

“To come in and keep the game right there, it won us the game,” Woodard said. “That game could have blown wide open.”

Instead, it was the Rangers who busted loose in the fifth. Rookie Anderson Tejada had a one-double before coming home on White's first big-league hit.

“There’s definitely some relief mixed in with some excitement,” said White, who opened his career 0 for 17. “Now I can just play.”

Matt Thaiss homered for the Angels, a solo...

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