ARLINGTON - If this was the final appearance of Hideki Matsui with the Angels, the great man from Japan came out with a bang.
At the end of the season, Matsui beaten a two-run homer, his 21st of the season against Colby Lewis on Sunday to hand the Angels an early lead en route to a 6-2 decision over the Rangers in the American League West champion. Matsui also singled in his final at-bat before departing for a pinch runner.
"Hideki was frantic, as in the last 100 at-bats or something like that," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said, his team have finished sub-.500 (80-82) for the first time since 2003.
"It was definitely good to see Hideki get a hold of one. You need it."
The Rangers took four regular off the field of individual ovations at the top of the sixth inning in front of 45,446 at Rangers Ballpark, and manager Ron Washington DH Vladimir Guerrero hit by another ovation in the sixth.
Finally settling in on the mound in the sixth after the cheers, Dustin Nippert, starting in place of Lewis, was hit by a Bourj Peter solo homer, his sixth of the season. The Angels added three insurance runs in the ninth, with Mark Trumbo delivery of two with his first major league hit, a line drive single to center off Mark Lowe.
The victory went to Dan Haren with the support of relievers Rich Thompson, Kevin Jepsen and Jordan Walden.
Haren said he was initially confused by the celebration of Texas, adding that he felt that backfired with Nippert grooved a pitch to Bourj.
"It was a bit strange," Haren said. "The thing is I do not know history, we've done something like this in the past. He seemed a little unusual. I feel bad for his pitcher. Had to be there for five minutes and give a home run. He was hung with loss.
"The first time I did, it took me by surprise. It's not like they appear to us. If you are sending a message ... has been the division of the Angels in recent years. We have this year. Let see what happens next year. I like our chances. "
Haren made through six innings of his season's record, even 12-12. Brilliantly finished with an ERA of 1.70 in his last 53 innings. This was a return to the form he showed when he was three times All-Star and one of the elite owners of the game, after struggling in his last half season in Arizona before the July trade.
"It was a year rare for me," Haren said. "I had a good start and was beaten around for some time. I came here, a new beginning, and has been wonderful. Obviously, I would have liked for us to finish better, but from a personal standpoint, I'm glad threw the ball well. "
Scioscia was pleased with the overall performance of Haren after his arrival in exchange for Joe Saunders and three pitching prospects.
"Dan has really pitched good baseball for us," Scioscia said. "His record is certainly not a reflection of how well that launched it. He's pitched deep into games, and that's something I hope we'll see next year."
Scioscia did not express disappointment with the way the Rangers celebrated their first Western League title since 1999.
"Some kids thought it was maybe a bit over the top," Scioscia said. ". I had no problem with it was his party, which certainly deserved to celebrate as they wish and sent off in the playoffs."
Torii Hunter, who led the Angels in almost every major offensive category, expressed the view that the Rangers won the right to act at will.
"They can do whatever they want in their stadium," said Hunter. "It's for their fans. What you can do about it? Cry does not matter whether I like it or not. This is his stage and they can do what they want. I would never do that. They earned it." Returning to champions. "
After a two-run blast to Matsui, the Rangers drew even against Haren in the fifth inning with a pair of runs on RBI singles by Bengie Molina and Julio Borbon.
Haren quelled the riot and worked one more inning, starting having yielded two earned runs and seven hits and struck out three. He set personal bests in the beginning with 35 and innings pitched with 235. The three-time All-Star finished with 216 strikeouts.
Matsui, unsigned for next season, has expressed a desire to return to the angels, but do not know how to develop. He finished his first season with the Angels with a flourish. Since 14 August, when he found his rhythm and timing, in the end, Matsui batted .371 with seven homers and 27 RBIs.
Matsui, 84 RBIs, finished second among the angels to Hunter, who produced 90 RBIs in 91 at-bats more.
Lewis, set-up for a playoff assignment against the Rays in the Division Series American League, gave up only one hit, the explosion Matsui, through five innings. Bobby Abreu had walked and stole second before Matsui downloaded your unit to the right.
"Colby did a great job," said Washington. "We just wanted to get five out of it."
Both teams were packing up after the game, the Angels heading home a long winter, the Rangers on the way to Florida to its first postseason trip in 11 years time.
ARLINGTON - If this was the final appearance of Hideki Matsui with the Angels, the great man from Japan came out with a bang. At the end of the season, Matsui beaten a two-run homer, his 21st of the season against Colby Lewis on Sunday to hand the Angels an early lead en route to a 6-2 decision over the Rangers in the American League West champion. Matsui also singled in his final at-bat before departing for a pinch runner.
"Hideki was frantic, as in the last 100 at-bats or something like that," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said, his team have finished sub-.500 (80-82) for the first time since 2003.
"It was definitely good to see Hideki get a hold of one. You need it."
The Rangers took four regular off the field of individual ovations at the top of the sixth inning in front of 45,446 at Rangers Ballpark, and manager Ron Washington DH Vladimir Guerrero hit by another ovation in the sixth.
Finally settling in on the mound in the sixth after the cheers, Dustin Nippert, starting in place of Lewis, was hit by a Bourj Peter solo homer, his sixth of the season. The Angels added three insurance runs in the ninth, with Mark Trumbo delivery of two with his first major league hit, a line drive single to center off Mark Lowe.
The victory went to Dan Haren with the support of relievers Rich Thompson, Kevin Jepsen and Jordan Walden.
Haren said he was initially confused by the celebration of Texas, adding that he felt that backfired with Nippert grooved a pitch to Bourj.
"It was a bit strange," Haren said. "The thing is I do not know history, we've done something like this in the past. He seemed a little unusual. I feel bad for his pitcher. Had to be there for five minutes and give a home run. He was hung with loss.
"The first time I did, it took me by surprise. It's not like they appear to us. If you are sending a message ... has been the division of the Angels in recent years. We have this year. Let see what happens next year. I like our chances. "
Haren made through six innings of his season's record, even 12-12. Brilliantly finished with an ERA of 1.70 in his last 53 innings. This was a return to the form he showed when he was three times All-Star and one of the elite owners of the game, after struggling in his last half season in Arizona before the July trade.
"It was a year rare for me," Haren said. "I had a good start and was beaten around for some time. I came here, a new beginning, and has been wonderful. Obviously, I would have liked for us to finish better, but from a personal standpoint, I'm glad threw the ball well. "
Scioscia was pleased with the overall performance of Haren after his arrival in exchange for Joe Saunders and three pitching prospects.
"Dan has really pitched good baseball for us," Scioscia said. "His record is certainly not a reflection of how well that launched it. He's pitched deep into games, and that's something I hope we'll see next year."
Scioscia did not express disappointment with the way the Rangers celebrated their first Western League title since 1999.
"Some kids thought it was maybe a bit over the top," Scioscia said. ". I had no problem with it was his party, which certainly deserved to celebrate as they wish and sent off in the playoffs."
Torii Hunter, who led the Angels in almost every major offensive category, expressed the view that the Rangers won the right to act at will.
"They can do whatever they want in their stadium," said Hunter. "It's for their fans. What you can do about it? Cry does not matter whether I like it or not. This is his stage and they can do what they want. I would never do that. They earned it." Returning to champions. "
After a two-run blast to Matsui, the Rangers drew even against Haren in the fifth inning with a pair of runs on RBI singles by Bengie Molina and Julio Borbon.
Haren quelled the riot and worked one more inning, starting having yielded two earned runs and seven hits and struck out three. He set personal bests in the beginning with 35 and innings pitched with 235. The three-time All-Star finished with 216 strikeouts.
Matsui, unsigned for next season, has expressed a desire to return to the angels, but do not know how to develop. He finished his first season with the Angels with a flourish. Since 14 August, when he found his rhythm and timing, in the end, Matsui batted .371 with seven homers and 27 RBIs.
Matsui, 84 RBIs, finished second among the angels to Hunter, who produced 90 RBIs in 91 at-bats more.
Lewis, set-up for a playoff assignment against the Rays in the Division Series American League, gave up only one hit, the explosion Matsui, through five innings. Bobby Abreu had walked and stole second before Matsui downloaded your unit to the right.
"Colby did a great job," said Washington. "We just wanted to get five out of it."
Both teams were packing up after the game, the Angels heading home a long winter, the Rangers on the way to Florida to its first postseason trip in 11 years time.