Solid Ohtani, speedy Lagares help Angels beat Rangers 2-1

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Shohei Ohtani signaled for Juan Lagares to take off from second base on a wild pitch, then the two-way standout just got out of the way when his speedy teammate kept on coming around third.

Lagares gave the Angels the lead for good with his third-inning dash, Ohtani pitched six solid innings and the Los Angeles Angels beat the Texas Rangers 2-1 on Wednesday night.

Jack Mayfield went 3 for 3 while homering from the No. 9 spot for the second consecutive night. His sixth homer was a solo shot in the fifth that gave Ohtani the extra run he needed as the Japanese star won for the third time in four starts.

Before Ohtani’s inning-ending groundout in the third, Kolby Allard bounced a pitch past Jonah Heim, who didn’t find the ball near the backstop until the sprinting Lagares was touching third. The catcher’s hurried flip went over a leaping Allard as Lagares slid under the pitcher and clapped his hands after putting LA in front 1-0.

“It was a great aggressive run by him,” Ohtani said through an interpreter. “I feel like he should be the MVP of the game for that.”

Ohtani (6-1) allowed four hits and struck out six without a walk, losing his shutout in the sixth when a groundout by Adolis García scored Isiah Kiner-Falefa, who lined a leadoff double for one of his three hits.

Ohtani has a 2.93 ERA this season. He leads the majors with 37 home runs.

“Ideally I wish I could have not given up that run in the sixth inning,” Ohtani said. “It would have been snice to give the relievers the ball with a two-run lead.”

Austin Warren struck out Brock Holt looking with the tying run at third to end the seventh, Steve Cishek pitched a scoreless eighth and Raisel Iglesias got a game-ending double play from Andy Ibáñez for his 23rd save in 28 chances.

In his previous...

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