Angels blanked by Rangers on Jackie Robinson Day

ARLINGTON, Tex. -- It was not a productive day at the plate for the Los Angeles Angels, who were shut out 4-0 by the Texas Rangers on Tuesday night at Globe Life Field as Major League Baseball celebrated Jackie Robinson Day. Los Angeles is now 9-7 and 7-6 on the road. Texas, now 7-1 at home, reclaimed a 1/2 game lead of first place in the AL West with the victory.

The Angels' lineup combined for just five hits, with only two of them managing to come beyond the sixth inning. Right-hander Tyler Mahle and the Texas pitching staff were at their best as the Halos were blanked for the first time in 2025.

It was the fourth start of the season for Mahle, who tossed six innings of shutout baseball and allowed just three hits. He struck out nine along the way and walked just two as he improved to 3-0 with a blistering 0.92 ERA.

Yusei Kikuchi, who took the bump as the starter for Los Angeles, also provided an impressive outing as he earned his third quality start of the year. The southpaw tossed six innings of his own, allowing just one run on a sacrifice fly from Marcus Semien as he matched Mahle, conceding just three hits in the process. 

Kikuchi has now tossed exactly six innings in all four of his starts this season, working to a 4.13 ERA. Despite the consistency and quality starts, he fell to 0-3 on Tuesday and watched a promising effort get nullified by the lack of action for the Angels at the plate.

Out of the bullpen, Reid Detmers and Ryan Johnson conceded runs in their one inning of work each. Detmers allowed an RBI double to Kyle Higashioka in the seventh before Johnson allowed a pair to score in the eighth singles from Josh Yung and former Angel Kevin Pillar. 

Woes on the hitting side of the contest for the Angels were highlighted by hitless performances from Luis Rengifo, Mike Trout, Travis d'Arnaud, Nolan Schanuel and Tim Anderson. The group finished a combined 0-17 with eight strikeouts as Los Angeles struggled to get runners in scoring position all evening.

Their best chance came in the top of the fourth, where a walk and stolen base from Trout put him on second base before a Jorge Soler single put runners on the corners with one out. However, Mahle struck out d'Arnaud and Schanuel to get out of the jam.

Soler was the only one in the lineup to have an extra-base hit as he doubled in the ninth inning off of Luke Jackson. The DH was also the sole Angel to have multiple hits. 

The two squads will meet for the second of three on Wednesday night as Los Angeles looks to avoid suffering their second consecutive series loss after winning their first four series to open the season. 

Right-hander Jose Soriano (2-1, 2.70 ERA) makes the start for the Angels as he faces Rangers' left-handed veteran Patrick Corbin (0-0, 6.75 ERA). It will be just the second start of the season for Corbin.

First pitch is scheduled for 5:05 p.m. PT.