Vladimir Guerrero's RBI double in the seventh extended Los Angeles' advantage to 7-0.
Notes
3B Chone Figgins (right elbow injury) returned for the Angels, leading off after missing 11 games. He went 1-for-4. ... Rangers SS Michael Young sat out his second straight start due to a broken finger on his right hand. Young has missed all or parts of the last four games. ...Texas INF Ramon Vazquez was still angry on Sunday after being ejected from Saturday night's game by home plate umpire Tom Hallion. Vazquez was tossed for arguing a called third strike by Hallion on teammate German Duran. Vazquez, who2 0sprinted onto the field and had to be physically restrained by manager Ron Washington and teammate Milton Bradley from going after Hallion, contended that some umpires have a wider strike zone for young players than for veterans. "I look at the video," Vazquez said. "I see what they're calling as strikes. When (Angels veterans) get up there, they're balls. But when young guys get up there, they're strikes. Pitches six, seven inches outside the plate (are strikes), that's not fair. I said, 'Those pitches are too far outside, clean it up.' And he tossed me." ... Lackey's previous high for strikeouts was 11 on two occasions. ...Texas has 358 doubles, breaking the 2006 club record and fifth-highest total in major league history.Play FOX Fantasy Football Today >
ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) - John Lackey and the Los Angeles Angels look like they're primed for a deep playoff run.
MLB roundup
Monday's action
- Phils increase East lead
- Mets drop third straight
- BoSox must wait to clinch
- D-backs gain on Dodgers
- Rays extend AL East lead
- Angels hand M's loss No. 99
- Reds push Marlins to brink
- A's edge Rangers in 11
- Royals get best of Tigers
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Lackey gave up two hits and struck out a career-high 12 in six shutout innings, Mark Teixeira and Sean Rodriguez homered, and the Angels completed a three-game sweep of the Texas Rangers with a 7-3 victory Sunday.
Lackey (12-4) walked three and allowed only two runners to reach third as the AL West champs continued their playoff tuneup.
"I feel pretty confident," Lackey said. "When you go out there that way it helps."
In one stretch from the first through the third innings, Lackey struck out seven in a row and fanned nine in the first four innings.
A native of Abilene, Texas, Lackey struggled in his previous road start against the Rangers on July 10. Lackey gave up six runs and 15 hits in 5 2-3 innings of a game that the Angels rallied to win in 11 innings, 11-10.
Lackey had lost his previous two decisions and had a 6.75 ERA in his last three starts.
This time, he was able to get ahead of hitters with all his pitches.
