Gallo stops slump, beats shift as Rangers top Angels 12-7
ARLINGTON, Texas — Joey Gallo clubbed one of his typical long balls to get the Texas Rangers even against the Los Angeles Angels.
The left-handed slugger’s tiebreaking single an inning later resonated even more in the Texas dugout.
Gallo grounded the go-ahead hit through the vacant spot at shortstop against the shift, helping the Rangers beat the Angels 12-7 on Monday night in Mike Trout’s return after the Los Angeles star missed three games with a groin injury.
“That was like the coolest thing I did all day there,” said Gallo, who had three hits after his average bottomed out at .167 on an 0-for-16 skid with a groundout in the first. “I don’t know how I did that. I’ll try to do that more.”
Throughout his five seasons in the big leagues, Gallo has faced all kinds of shifts, from four infielders on the right side to four men across the outfield. With a runner at third, Zack Cozart was close to his normal spot at third when the sharp grounder sped past him, well out of his reach.
“Everybody was so excited about it that he’s able to do that, especially on a fastball that’s up,” manager Chris Woodward said.
Gallo’s fifth homer was among the hardest-hit in the majors this season at 115.1 mph, a liner into the porch in right field off starter Trevor Cahill. The single against Cam Bedrosian sparked a four-run fifth, and he added a double in the eighth.
Trout, the designated hitter while the club waits a little longer before putting the twotime AL MVP back in center field, went 0 for 2 with three walks. Trout scored twice, including on Brian Goodwin’s second homer , a two-run shot in a three-run first. Goodwin added a sacrifice fly.
Shin-Soo Choo, who had three hits, homered leading off the third for his first of the season. Asdrubal Cabrera matched Gallo for the team lead with his fifth homer , a two-run shot for an 11-4 lead in the sixth.
Reliever Kyle Dowdy (1-0) earned his first major league victory, giving up one run on one hit in 2 2/3 innings. Closer Jose Leclerc was forced to come on for his fourth save, getting Cozart on a groundout after Kyle Bird hit a batter and walked two with two outs in the ninth.
Bedrosian (1-1) allowed five of the seven hitters he faced to reach, starting with Elvis Andrus’ leadoff double in the fifth. Two runs scored on Isiah Kiner-Falefa’s RBI single when right fielder Kole Calhoun’s throw home skipped past Kevan Smith, allowing Gallo to score.
Calhoun had three hits, capped by his third homer — a two-run shot in the eighth.