Los Angeles bullpen falters in loss to Rangers

ARLINGTON, Texas – With two chances to close out their main rival, Ernesto Frieri and a weary Los Angeles bullpen couldn't finish the deal.

Elvis Andrus had a game-ending two-run single in the 10th inning, and the Texas Rangers rallied from six runs down to beat the Angels 11-10 Wednesday night.

Los Angeles won the first two games of the four-game series by a combined 21-10 and appeared on its way to making it three in a row.

Texas was down 7-1 in the fifth before rallying to force extra innings. The Angels scored three in the 10th inning to take a 10-7 lead before the wild finish to a game that lasted 4 hours, 1 minute.

The Rangers extended their lead in the American League West to four games over the Angels and 4 1/2 over third-place Oakland.

"We took advantage of some things early and we had the lead." Los Angeles manager Mike Scioscia said. "Our bullpen unraveled a bit. Those guys have pitched a lot of innings."

Frieri hadn't blown a save opportunity in 13 chances before giving up Ian Kinsler's home run in the ninth that tied it at 7.

In the 10th, Frieri allowed Nelson Cruz's homer, and two other base runners reached before Jason Isringhausen (3-1) came into the game.

The short-handed Angels bullpen is without lefty Scott Downs, who went on the disabled list Tuesday with a shoulder strain.

"You can chalk it up to good hitting and bad pitching." Isringhausen said.

Cruz homered, and Mitch Moreland singled off Isringhausen to bring the Rangers to 10-9. With the bases loaded, Andrus drove a single past third baseman Alberto Callaspo to set off a wild celebration near second base.

"Our mentality was to win no matter what," said Andrus, who went 4 for 6 with three RBIs. "It was a great game for us."

Albert Pujols connected twice for his second straight multihomer game. His second home run, a two-run shot in the 10th, was one of four long balls hit between the two teams in the final two innings.

It was Pujols' 44th multihomer run of his career, third-most among active players. He had never had consecutive multihomer games in the regular season.

Chris Iannetta also homered in the 10th for the Angels.

Joe Nathan (2-3) gave up Iannetta's homer on a full-count pitch and Pujols' two-run drive but still earned the win.

"You have to give those guys credit," Scioscia said. "But we'll bounce back."

New acquisition Ryan Dempster will take the mound for the Rangers on Thursday night as they look to split the series against their rivals. He will face left-hander C.J. Wilson, who left Texas as a free agent in the offseason.

"It was a great team effort from top to bottom," Texas' Michael Young said. "It was definitely a great win for us."

Pujols had four RBIs to give him 1,400 for his career. Hunter and Callaspo each added two RBIs for Los Angeles.

Yu Darvish started for the Rangers and equaled his season high by allowing seven runs and walking six over five innings.

Garrett Richards, who was starting in place of an ailing Dan Haren, gave up five runs and nine hits before he was chased with two outs in the sixth.

The Angels led 7-1 before the Rangers rallied with four in the fifth and one in the eighth.

David Murphy, who was 3 for 3 and reached base five times, had an RBI single in the eighth that closed the gap to 7-6.

This was Texas' largest comeback since a six-run rally Aug. 13, 2010, against the Red Sox.

The Angels scored six runs on only two hits in their third-inning outburst. They benefited from four walks, an error and Darvish's poor throw on a fielder's choice as 10 men came to the plate.

Pujols lined a 1-1 pitch from Darvish into the Angels bullpen — the first hit for Los Angeles in the game — to make it 4-0.

After two more walks in the third, Callaspo doubled in a pair to make it 6-0.

NOTES: Rangers right-hander Neftali Feliz underwent Tommy John surgery on his right elbow Wednesday. Team physician Dr. Keith Meister performed the operation. ... With temperatures over 100 degrees, the Angels limited their pregame work outside. Scioscia said his players only spent about 25 minutes outside taking fielding and batting practice, which is about 20 minutes less than average. ... After three games batting fifth, Rangers CF Josh Hamilton was moved in the third slot Wednesday and went 0 for 5 with two strikeouts.