OC Register: Angels rally after intentional walk to Mike Trout, beating Rangers

[AngelsWin.com]

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  Los Angeles Angels starting pitcher Matt Shoemaker throws to a Texas Rangers batter during the first inning of a baseball game in Anaheim, Calif., Tuesday, Sept. 25, 2018. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)

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  ANAHEIM, CA – SEPTEMBER 25: Justin Upton #8 slides safely at home plate on a sacrifice fly hit by Kaleb Cowart #22 of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim during the sixth inning of a game against the Texas Rangers at Angel Stadium on September 25, 2018 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)

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  ANAHEIM, CA – SEPTEMBER 25: Mike Trout #27 of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim catches a fly ball hit by Elvis Andrus #1 of the Texas Rangers during the third inning of a game at Angel Stadium on September 25, 2018 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)

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  ANAHEIM, CA – SEPTEMBER 25: Shohei Ohtani #17 of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim lines into a double play during the first inning of a game against the Texas Rangers at Angel Stadium on September 25, 2018 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)

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  ANAHEIM, CA – SEPTEMBER 25: Mike Trout #27 of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim watches the ball leave the stadium after a solo homerun hit by Joey Gallo #13 of the Texas Rangers during the third inning of a game at Angel Stadium on September 25, 2018 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)

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  ANAHEIM, CA – SEPTEMBER 25: Elvis Andrus #1 and Rougned Odor #12 of the Texas Rangers get tangled up fielding an infield single hit by Andrelton Simmons #2 of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim during the sixth inning of a game at Angel Stadium on September 25, 2018 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)

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  ANAHEIM, CA – SEPTEMBER 25: Elvis Andrus #1 and Rougned Odor #12 of the Texas Rangers look on after getting tangled up fielding an infield single hit by Andrelton Simmons #2 of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim during the sixth inning of a game at Angel Stadium on September 25, 2018 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)

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  ANAHEIM, CA – SEPTEMBER 25: Mike Trout #27 congratulates Kaleb Cowart #22 of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim on his sacrifice fly during the sixth inning of a game against the Texas Rangers at Angel Stadium on September 25, 2018 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)

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  The Angels’ Shohei Ohtani tosses his broken bat after hitting an RBI single during the sixth inning of Tuesday’s game at Angel Stadium. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)

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  Texas Rangers starting pitcher Yovani Gallardo throws to a Los Angeles Angels batter during the first inning of a baseball game in Anaheim, Calif., Tuesday, Sept. 25, 2018. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)

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  Texas Rangers first baseman Ronald Guzman, right, doubles off Los Angeles Angels’ Mike Trout out at first after Shohei Ohtani lined out to Guzman during the first inning of a baseball game in Anaheim, Calif., Tuesday, Sept. 25, 2018. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)

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  Texas Rangers third baseman Joey Gallo, right, celebrates next to Los Angeles Angels catcher Joe Hudson after a home run during the third inning of a baseball game in Anaheim, Calif., Tuesday, Sept. 25, 2018. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)

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  Texas Rangers’ Joey Gallo celebrates with Shin-Soo Choo in the dugout after hitting a home run against the Los Angeles Angels during the third inning of a baseball game in Anaheim, Calif., Tuesday, Sept. 25, 2018. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)

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  Texas Rangers’ Ronald Guzman, right, dives back to second as Los Angeles Angels shortstop Andrelton Simmons waits for the pickoff throw during the third inning of a baseball game in Anaheim, Calif., Tuesday, Sept. 25, 2018. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)

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  Los Angeles Angels’ Jose Fernandez, right, is tagged out at home by Texas Rangers catcher Robinson Chirinos while trying to score on a ball hit by Shohei Ohtani during the fourth inning of a baseball game in Anaheim, Calif., Tuesday, Sept. 25, 2018. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)

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  Los Angeles Angels’ Shohei Ohtani, of Japan, breaks his bat and hits an RBI-single against the Texas Rangers during the sixth inning of a baseball game in Anaheim, Calif., Tuesday, Sept. 25, 2018. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)

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  Los Angeles Angels’ Shohei Ohtani, of Japan, celebrates after hitting an RBI single against the Texas Rangers during the sixth inning of a baseball game in Anaheim, Calif., Tuesday, Sept. 25, 2018. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)

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  Los Angeles Angels’ Shohei Ohtani, of Japan, celebrates with Mike Trout in the dugout after being walked in for a run during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Texas Rangers in Anaheim, Calif., Tuesday, Sept. 25, 2018. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)

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  Texas Rangers pitcher Martin Perez leaves the baseball game after giving up two runs to the Los Angeles Angels during the sixth inning in Anaheim, Calif., Tuesday, Sept. 25, 2018. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)

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ANAHEIM — With the tying run at third and out in a one-run game in the sixth inning, Mike Trout walked to the plate.

Just as you would expect, a moment later he jogged to first base with an intentional walk.

Shohei Ohtani, however, then made the Texas Rangers pay, muscling a broken-bat blooper into center to drive in the tying run. It started the Angels toward a four-run inning that would be decisive in their 4-1 victory over the Rangers on Tuesday night.

What’s more, Ohtani got the hit against left-hander Martín Pérez, who had been summoned to face him after the walk to Trout. Ohtani struggled against lefties for most of the season, but he’s now 10 for 32 (.313) against them since Aug. 30, when Albert Pujols went on the disabled list and allowed Ohtani to play against righties and lefties.

Ohtani’s hit tied the game, and the Angels then took the lead on a throwing error by third baseman Jurrickson Profar. After an Andrelton Simmons infield hit loaded the bases, Taylor Ward walked to drive in one. Kaleb Cowart’s sacrifice fly made it 4-1.

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The rally was enough for the Angels to win, but too late for Matt Shoemaker to pick up the victory on a night he had an encouraging start.

Shoemaker gave up one run in five innings, far better than the five runs he allowed in 2-2/3 innings in his last start in Oakland. He struck out seven and walked none.

Shoemaker got up to 73 pitches, one of which was a hanging slider that Joey Gallo drove 413 feet to straightaway center field for a homer.

Shoemaker, who may have one start left on the season’s final day, has compiled a 4.84 ERA in 22-1/3 innings over his five starts since coming back from surgery to repair a split pronator tendon.

Noé Ramírez followed with a scoreless sixth and then, just after the Angels took the lead, Williams Jerez pitched a perfect seventh. Jerez has retired seven of eight batters in his last three games, with four strikeouts. He had allowed either a run or an inherited runner to score in each of his previous six, a stretch that followed him allowing no runs in his first six games.

Blake Parker pitched the eighth and Hansel Robles worked the ninth for his first save with the Angels.

Ty Buttrey, who had been getting the closing opportunities, had pitched two of the previous three days and blown save opportunities both times.

More to come on this story.

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