ARLINGTON, Texas – Apparently, Matt Shoemaker just needed one inning to warm up.
Shoemaker gave up three runs and left a few balls over the middle of the plate in the first inning, but that was all he allowed in 6 1/3 innings of the Angels’ 6-3 victory over the Texas Rangers on Monday night.
Shoemaker allowed four of the first five Texas hitters to get hits, but then he retired 18 of the next 21.
A year after his breakthrough campaign, Shoemaker has won in each of his first two starts.
He was able to pick up this victory because the Angels offense, which had been in a slump for most of the season’s first week, sprung to life against Ross Detwiler in the fifth inning.