Robinson Chirinos had a career-high five RBIs with a home run and double, backing Nick Martinez and leading the Texas Rangers over the Los Angeles Angels 8-2 Tuesday night.
Chirinos hit a two-run double in the second that fell between centerfielder Mike Trout and leftfielder Matt Joyce as they crossed paths just short of the warning track. Chirinos then made it 4-0 when he scored on a double by Rougned Odor on a sinking liner to center that was nearly caught by the diving Trout.
Elvis Andrus homered off Jose Alvarez in the sixth and Chirinos hit a three-run drive for an 8-0 lead. Andrus had not homered in 481 at-bats since connecting last May 21 against Seattle's Chris Young, the longest active homerless streak in the majors.
Martinez (2-0) allowed one run - unearned - and five hits in seven innings, improving to 2-7 in home games in his season-plus big league career. He has a career 1.50 ERA in April over 30 innings.
Drew Rucinski (0-1), who made his big league debut last year, gave up four runs, six hits and four walks in 2 2-3 innings in his first major league start. The 26-year-old right-hander labored trough a 40-pitch second inning that also included two wild pitches and two of the Rangers' three stolen bases in the first two innings.
Trout needed to see only one pitch in the first inning to double in the gap in left-center and extend his hitting streak to all eight Angels games. He nearly hit his 100th home run in the seventh, sending Carlos Peguero to the wall in left-center. Tuesday's game was the first this season in which a Los Angeles player hasn't homered.
The announced crowd of 21,805 included Cleveland Browns quarterback Johnny Manziel, the 2012 Heisman Trophy winner from Texas A&M. He recently completed a stint in a drug and alcohol rehabilitation facility.
Tonight the #Angels have optioned RHP Drew Rucinski to Triple-A Salt Lake. A corresponding roster move will be announced tomorrow.
— Angels PR (@LAAngelsPR) April 15, 2015
TRAINER'S ROOM
Angels: RF Kole Calhoun (calf) was available to pinch hit but missed his third consecutive start. RHP Garrett Richards (knee) made a rehab start Tuesday night for Triple-A Salt Lake and, according to Los Angeles manager Mike Scioscia, might start for the Angels on Sunday.
Rangers: RHP Kyuji Fujikawa (groin) allowed one earned run while pitching one inning Tuesday in a rehab appearance for Double-A Frisco.
Week ahead for Angels: Six-game road trip vs. division foes
UP NEXT
Angels: Albert Pujols figures to be a DH for Wednesday afternoon's series finale after seeing action at first base in each of Los Angeles' first eight games. LHP Hector Santiago (0-1) is 3-0 in career starts in Arlington.
Rangers: RHP Anthony Ranaudo will be recalled from Triple-A Round Rock to make his Rangers debut. Acquired from Boston last winter, Ranaudo replaces injured LHP Derek Holland.
