Situation Is Not Good for Angels

When Andres Galarraga’s three-run home run sailed over the wall in the fifth inning Wednesday night, giving the Texas Rangers a six-run lead, it seemed to render the Angels’ earlier disappointments moot.

Why fret over the fact the Angels didn’t score after loading the bases with one out in the first and second innings when it probably wouldn’t impact the outcome of a game played before 34,321 at The Ballpark in Arlington?

Because of what happened in the ninth inning, that’s why. The Angels rallied for three runs, two on a rare Orlando Palmeiro homer, but instead of another patented Angel comeback, the outburst merely made the final score, a 7-3 Ranger victory, more respectable.

“We had the right guys up in the right situations,” Manager Mike Scioscia said. “Unfortunately, our situational hitting wasn’t where it needs to be. We couldn’t get that hit that would have made a difference early on.”

The first-inning threat ended when Garret Anderson lined to second to start a double play. The second inning ended with Ranger left-hander Darren Oliver striking out Darin Erstad and Benji Gil.

Oliver, who went 2-9 with a 7.42 earned-run average in 2000, the highest ERA of any major league pitcher with 100 innings or more, went on to record his first victory since May 31, an ugly five-inning shutout in which he gave up three hits, struck out six but walked five.

The Angels, meanwhile, were left to ponder some disturbing statistics: In their first two games, both losses, they were five for 21 with runners in scoring position. In four straight innings, from the eighth Tuesday to the second Wednesday, they failed to score after loading the bases with one out or less.

“Some guys might be a tad tentative,” Scioscia said, “and some might be trying a bit too hard.”

Tim Salmon, who was 0 for 4 with two strikeouts before homering in the ninth, put himself in the latter group.

“If anything, I’m overswinging,” he said. “You get so amped up to play, but that’s what happens at the start of the season. You’ve got to relax, find that even keel. Everyone wants to get off to a good start, to get the job done in key situations, and maybe that works against you.

“But we’re only two games into the season. Gee whiz, it’s going to take a few at-bats to get into the flow.”

Perhaps the ninth inning will help. With two out, Palmeiro stroked a two-run homer to right-center off Ranger reliever Mark Petkovsek to make it 7-2. It was Palmeiro’s second career homer in 968 big league at-bats--his first was at The Ballpark in Arlington, off pitcher John Burkett on April 9, 1999--and it was the Angels’ first homer of the season.

Salmon followed with a homer to left, his 26th career homer against Texas and 12th in this park, to make it 7-3 before Ranger right-hander Jeff Zimmerman came on to retire Anderson on a first-pitch fly ball to left.

“When O.P. crossed the plate, I told Pudge [Texas catcher Ivan Rodriguez], ‘There’s our home run leader,’ ” Salmon said. “But maybe that sparked us a bit and loosened me up. Maybe the ninth inning will carry over. It’s just a matter of a guy coming through with a big hit to get things going.”

Like the Rangers did Wednesday night. Texas nicked Angel starter Pat Rapp for sacrifice flies in the first (Rafael Palmeiro) and second (Ruben Mateo) innings, and Rodriguez lined an RBI single to center in the third.

Galarraga then jumped on a 3-and-0 Rapp pitch in the fifth, launching it over the wall in center for a three-run homer and a 6-0 lead. It was Galarraga’s 361st home run, tying him with Joe DiMaggio for 52nd on baseball’s all-time list. Rodriguez’s homer off reliever Lou Pote in the seventh made it 7-0.

“I was getting ahead of guys in the first three innings but couldn’t put them away,” said Rapp, who was tagged for six runs on six hits in five innings of his Angel debut. “Even the home run pitch was low and away, but I guess he was looking for that and hit it good. . . . It wasn’t like I got shelled. They just picked the right time to get hits.”

And timing, as the Angels can tell you, is everything.