ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Dylan Bundy pitched shutout ball into the seventh inning in the opening day starter's second appearance since returning from a demotion to the bullpen, and the Los Angeles Angels beat the Texas Rangers 5-0 on Thursday. 


What You Need To Know

  • Dylan Bundy pitched shutout ball into the seventh inning in the opening day starter’s second appearance since returning from a demotion to the bullpen

  • The Los Angeles Angels beat the Texas Rangers 5-0

  • Adam Eaton homered, and José Iglesias added a two-run single as the Angels took the four-game series from last-place Texas after losing the opener

  • Bundy retired 13 consecutive batters from the first inning to the fifth

Adam Eaton homered, and José Iglesias added a two-run single as the Angels took the four-game series from last-place Texas after losing the opener.

Bundy (2-8), who had a 6.78 ERA when he was sent to the bullpen in late June, retired 13 consecutive batters after allowing Nathaniel Lowe's single and walking Adolis García with one out in the first.

The right-hander gave up three hits and struck out six in 6 1/3 innings in his first scoreless start since Aug. 11 last year, when he went seven innings in a 6-0 win over Oakland.

Bundy, who allowed three runs in 4 1/3 innings in a 4-0 loss to Oakland last week in his return to the rotation, came out after Andy Ibáñez’s single and a walk to Jason Martin in the seventh. Junior Guerra finished the inning with two strikeouts.

Closer Raisel Iglesias preserved the shutout in a non-save situation, coming on with two outs and two runners on in the ninth inning and striking out Jose Trevino.

Spencer Howard (0-3) lost his debut for the rebuilding Rangers after coming over from Philadelphia at the trade deadline in a deal that sent ace Kyle Gibson and closer Ian Kennedy to the Phillies.

The 25-year-old rookie right-hander's first strikeout with the Rangers came against Shohei Ohtani, part of two hitless innings to start.

Eaton led off the third with his sixth homer, and Jack Mayfield singled for his fourth consecutive hit. David Fletcher reached on a single when his grounder wide of first base was fielded by Lowe, whose toss to the bag sailed past Howard just as the pitcher turned for it.

Mayfield went to third on Lowe's error and scored on a wild pitch. Howard walked Ohtani and was finished after Phil Gosselin's sacrifice fly scored Fletcher for a 3-0 LA lead. 

Howard, whose outing wasn't expected to last long, gave up three earned runs on three hits and struck out three in 2 1/3 innings.

Ohtani, the major league home run leader with 37, was 0 for 3 with two strikeouts and two walks a day after the two-way standout won for the third time in his past four mound starts with six solid innings.

Trainer's Room

Angels: Manager Joe Maddon indicated All-Star 1B Jared Walsh is still in line to return this weekend after going on the injured list last week with a right intercostal strain.

Rangers: OF Eli White went on the IL a day after the rookie was scratched from the lineup because of the elbow issue. Manager Chris Woodward said White was undergoing further evaluation.

Up Next

Angels: LHP Patrick Sandoval (3-5, 3.38 ERA) is scheduled for the opener of a three-game series at the Dodgers on Friday. He has allowed three runs or fewer in 11 of his 12 starts.

Rangers: RHP Mike Foltynewicz (2-10, 6.00) is scheduled for the opener of a three-game series at Oakland on Friday. He has a 14.34 ERA in three starts since the All-Star break.