Texas ends 6-game skid 7-1 over Angels, who had won 5 in row

ARLINGTON, Texas -- Lance Lynn pitched seven strong innings, Elvis Andrus homered and the Texas Rangers snapped a six-game losing streak with a 7-1 win Tuesday night over the Los Angeles Angels, who had won five in a row.

Lynn (5-2), the first major league pitcher to make 10 starts this season, struck out six, walked two and limited the Angels to one run on four hits, though he hit three batters with pitches -- including Justin Upton twice.

"We won the game, so that's a positive. I hit Upton twice, and hated both of them," Lynn said. "Nothing was intentional and I wasn't even trying to go in there. It was just one of those things where I had to battle some things, I was able to get through seven and only give up one, so I'll take it. But I hit way too many guys tonight."

Upton left the game after getting hit on the left wrist on the fourth, two innings after getting hit in a different spot on the same hand. The Angels said after the game that the X-rays were negative, which Lynn said he was happy to hear. Upton was listed day-to-day with a bruised wrist.

Lynn, who also hit Anthony Rendon with a pitch, had lost his previous two starts. The right-hander in those games allowed 10 runs (nine earned) -- more than he had allowed combined his first seven starts.

Andrus hit a solo shot in the second that put the Rangers, who had lost 18 of their previous 21 games, ahead to stay. They led 3-0 after two unearned runs in the fourth on second baseman Matt Thaiss' two-out fielding error. He was recalled Tuesday and said it was the first time he had played second base since Little League.

"I flat out missed it," said Thaiss, a corner infielder throughout his pro career. "I think that was a play that kind of dictated the way the rest of the game went. Momentum kind of went down the drain."

Angels manager Joe Maddon said Thaiss played well, and made the error on one of the easiest plays he had to make.

"He just didn't get in front of it and tried to backhand it. It crawled up his arm," Maddon said. "It was a mistake he could have made at first or third base."

Andrew Heaney (3-3) allowed five runs (three earned) in five innings. He struck out four and walked one.

Heaney had won his last two starts and had pitched 10 consecutive scoreless innings before Andrus went deep. The lefty also gave up five runs (over 3 2/3 innings) in his first start at the Rangers' new ballpark on Aug. 9.

Jared Walsh led off the fifth with a homer for the only Angels run.

STREAK AND A SAC

Isiah-Kiner Falefa had one of three sacrifice flies for Texas added to its lead. That was after he had a single in the first inning to extend his hitting streak to 11 games.

OVER 100 AGAIN

Lynn threw 114 pitches, his 34th consecutive start with at least 100 pitches. That is the most by a Rangers pitcher since that was first tracked in 1988. It's the longest stretch since Justin Verlander's 80 in a row for Detroit from 2010-12. Randy Johnson is the only other pitcher with more than 34 in a row, and he did that twice.

"You take a lot of pride in taking the ball every five days and going out and doing everything you can for as long as you can. I can do it longer than most so I enjoy that too," Lynn said. "Wear and tear? I don't see it. That's what I work for in between every start and every off-season. I have this big body for a reason and I use it."

TRAINER'S ROOM

Angels: INF David Fletcher (left ankle sprain) missed his eighth game, but could come off the injured list as early as Thursday. Maddon said Fletcher is getting close. "I haven't heard of any setbacks," Maddon said. ... INF Franklin Barreto (left shoulder) was placed on the 10-day injured list.

Rangers: DH/OF Shin-Soo Choo was out of the lineup with a sprained right wrist. He got hurt on a headfirst slide into the plate Monday. Manager Chris Woodward said Choo was "pretty sore" and could go on the injured list if he's not going to be available to play within a couple of days.

UP NEXT

Rangers RHP Kyle Cody (0-1, 0.00 ERA) makes his second career start, while Julio Theran (0-2, 7.94) goes for the Angels.

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